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HiotDgra{iuc 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WIST  MAIN  STtEET 

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(716)  •72-4503 


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re 


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right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
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method: 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparattra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  —^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

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film6s  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diff^rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6,  il  est  f  ilm6  i  partir 
de  Tangle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mithode. 


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THE 


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WITH   A 

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ANNAf-S     OF     L.OUISTANA, 

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F  R(  A  N  C  O  I  S  -  X  A  V  I  [■   r?      M   ft  R  T  I  N  . 


THE 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA, 


FROM  THE  EARLIEST  PERIOD. 


BY 


FKANCOIS-XAVIER  MARTIN. 


''''  Hcec  igitur  formam  crescendo  nmtat  et  olhn, 
Immensi  caput  orhis  erit  sic  diccre  vates^ 

—OVID  MBTAM.  XV.,  434  and  435. 
WITH   A 

MEMOIR   OF  THE   AUTHOR, 

By  judge  W.  W.  HOWE, 

(N^W   ORLBANR  BAS.) 


TO  WHICH  IB  APPENDED 


ANNALS     OF     LOUISIANA, 

From  the  Close  of  Martin's  History,  1815 ;  to  the  Commencement 

OF  THE  Civil  War,  1861, 

By   JOHN    P.    CONDON. 


NEW  ORLEANS: 

JAMES  A  GRESHAM,  Publisher  and  Bookseller, 

26  CAMP  STREET. 

1882. 


Entered  aecofding  to  the  Act  <>/  VotujresH  in  the  year  It*.*,',  fci/ 

JAMJiti  A.   ailESHAM, 

In  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Vimi/renn,  at  Wanliitiijtun. 


T.  H.  TH0MA80N,  Pkimtkb,  New  Orleans. 


TO    THE 

HONORABLE  LOUIS  BUSH: 

Dear  Sir, 

The  dedication  of  this  new  edition  of  Martin's  "  History  of 
Louisiana  "  to  you  is,  personally,  but  a  slight  acknowledgment  of  your 
manifold  kindness  to  me.  Aside  from  this,  I  am  simply  giving  public 
testimony  to  the  universal  esteem  in  which  you  are  held  in  your  native 
State.  You  have  been  long  identified  with  her  best  interests ;  and  your 
devotion,  zeal,  and  courage  have  been  unquestioned  in  every  position 
which  you  have  been  called  upon  to  occupy.  That  you  may  long  live  to 
ei^oy  the  appreciation  and  confidence  so  justly  won,  is  the  sincere  wish  of 

THE  PUBLISHER. 


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PUBLISHER'S   NOTICE. 


In  issuing  this  New  Edition  of  Martin's  Histouy  of  Louisiana,  the 
publisher  feels  assured  that  ho  is  supplying  a  general  want,  and  preventing 
the  almost  total  disappearance  of  a  rare  and  valuable  record  of  our  State. 
In  addition  to  the  original  work,  which  has  been  faithfully  reproduced, 
will  be  found  much  new  and  important  matter,  consisting  of  a  Memoir 
and  Portrait  of  the  distinguished  author ;  the  Act  of  Purchase  of  Louisiana 
from  the  French ;  Brief  Annals  of  the  leading  events  in  the  History  of  the 
State,  from  1815  to  the  beginning  of  our  Civil  War,  with  other  information 
that  cannot  but  interest  the  general  reader. 

The  mechanical  portion  of  the  work,  which  has  been  entirely  executed 
in  this  city,  will  compare  favorably  with  that  of  similar  publications  issued 
elsewhere. 

The  Publisher  offers  thanks  to  his  numerous  subscribers,  whose 
generous  encouragement  has  done  much  to  promote  the  success  of  this 
enterprise. 


MEMOIR   OF 


FRANCOIS-XAVIER  MARTIN. 


T. 

TiiK  history  of  Louisiana  will  always  be  an  interesting  chapter  in  the 
history  of  the  world.  It  does  not  concern  merely  the  area  which  is  now 
included  within  the  Imundaries  of  the  present  State ;  it  embraces  of 
necessity  the  story  of  the  repeated  and  persistent  attempts  of  France  to 
found  an  empire  in  the  new  world,  which  shouhl  extend  from  the  mouth 
of  the  St.  Lawrence  across  the  great  Tjakes  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Mississippi.  The  Louisiana  of  the  seventeenth  century  extended  from 
the  Alleghanies  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  from  the  Rio  (Irande  and 
the  (lulf  to  the  dim  regions  which  now  constitute  British  America ;  while 
Canada  or  New  France  stretched  from  the  upper  Mississippi  to  the 
Atlantic  Ocean.  There  hav(!  been  few  plans  of  colonization  more  vast, 
and  whatever  may  be  the  judgment  of  the  historian  upon  the  policy  or 
the  work  of  France  in  this  bold  scheme,  there  can  be  little  difference  of 
opinion  as  to  the  qualities  displayed  by  the  Frenchmen  who  were  leaders 
in  the  movement.  They  were  certainly  cast  in  the  heroic  mould.  Their 
voyages  and  their  marches,  their  gay  contempt  of  danger,  their  patience 
under  suffering,  their  cheerful  adaptation  of  means  to  end,  place  them 
easily  in  the  front  rank  of  pioneers.  Such  men  as  De  fJourgcs, 
Champlain,  Marquette,  Frontenac  and  Lasalle,  do  honor  to  their  race. 
Nor  should  Iberville  and  Bienville  be  omitted  from  the  list,  for  though 
born  in  Canada,  they  may  be  credited  to  France,  and  it  was  for  her  good 
and  glory  they  lived  their  laborious  days  in  Louisiana. 

Indeed,  it  seems  well  for  those  of  us  who  have  been  nurtured  on  the 
English  literature  of  the  last  three  centuries  to  make  now  and  then  some 
careful  study  of  the  lives  of  the  French  explorers  during  the  same  period, 
if  only  to  keep  our  perceptions  achromatic  respecting  the  French 
character.  Of  course,  we  do  not  really  think  that  the  French  have  at  all 
times  been  given  over  now  to  frivolity  and  now  to  ferocity.  We  are  not 
quite  sure  that  their  character  is  chiefly  compounded  of  ape  and  tiger. 
Such  an  opinion  would  have  to  be  relegated,  now-a-days,  to  the  limbo  of 
superstitions.  Yet,  without  doubt,  there  are  many  good  people  of  Anglo- 
Saxon  descent  who  have  a  vague  feeling  that  a  Frenchman  has  always 


VIU 


MEMOIR  OF 


been,  comparatively,  a  poor  creature,  a  fop,  a  fribble,  destitute  of  true 
earnestness  of  character,  and  quite  beyond  the  reach  of  saving  grace, 
whether  of  the  political  or  the  theological  sort.  For  such  an  inadequate 
estimate  of  a  great  nation  there  can  be  no  better  corrective  than  a  study 
of  the  story  of  Louisiana.  When  this  story  is  diligently  considered,  it 
will  be  seen  that  beneath  the  superficial  errors  and  follies  of  France  are 
found  and  found  abundantly  those  elemental  virtues  of  courage,  tenacity, 
self-denial,  and  keen  intelligence,  which  have  made  her  great  in  the  past, 
and  will  make  her  great  in  the  future. 

Ten  years  ago  it  was  said  by  many  that  France  was  ruined ;  and  for 
some,  there  seemed  to  be  a  kind  of  satisfaction  in  the  thought.  Yet,  in 
July  of  the  present  year,  the  editor  of  the  Fortnightly  Review  says  of  her, 
in  view  of  the  adjournment  of  her  legislature  : 

"  The  expiring  parliament  has  remitted  taxes  amounting  to  over  eleven 
millions  sterling,  redeemed  a  milliard  of  debt,  devoted  £60,000,000  to 
public  works — spending  over  the  latter  £1,600,000  more  per  annum  than 
the  Empire — and  closes  its  accounts  with  a  surplus  of  two  millions 
sterling.  France  has  regained  her  place  among  the  nations.  Even  the 
deplorable  Tunis  expedition  proved  that  she  dare  transgress  with  a  high 
hand.  While  absorbing  Tunis,  she  has  annexed  Tahiti,  and  is  extending 
her  influence  in  Eastern  and  Western  Africa  and  the  Further  East.  The 
war  against  Clericalism,  marked  as  it  has  been  by  many  unfortunate 
features,  seems  to  have  provoked  no  perceptible  reaction,  while  it  gratified 
the  odium  anti-theologicum  of  the  most  energetic  Republicans.  Education 
has  been  made  free,  compulsory,  and  secular.  Steps  have  been  taken  to 
shorten  the  period  of  military  service.  Order  has  been  maintained 
without  the  sacrifice  of  liberty,  and  the  peasants  have  learned  to  identify 
the  Republic  with  prosperity  and  peace. 

Such  results  seem  surprising.  They  need  surprise  no  one  who  is 
familiar  with  the  story  of  the  French  in  America  during  the  sixteenth, 
seventeenth  and  eighteenth  centuries. 


»ii 


IL 

Judge  Martin's  History  of  Louisiana  was  originally  published  in  the 
year  1827.  It  has  long  been  out  of  print,  and  for  some  time  it  has  been 
diflficult  to  obtain  even  a  single  copy.  In  republishing  the  work,  it  has 
been  thought  proper  to  preface  it  with  some  details  of  the  life  of  its 
author. 

Fran5ois-Xavier  Martin  was  born  in  Marseilles,  in  France,  on  the  17th 
of  March,  1762,  and  his  boyhood  was  passed  in  that  busy  and  cosmopolitan 
seaport.  His  family  seem  to  have  been  plain  and  quiet  people,  from 
whom  he  derived,  as  his  sole  inheritance,  a  rugged  physique,  a  keen 
intelligence,  and  a  robust  will.    So  far  as  we  may  judge,  he  seems  to  have 


FRAN^OIS-XAVIER  MARTIN. 


ix 


been  in  many  respects  such  a  solid  and  serious  youth  as  was  Jules  Grevy, 
now  President  of  the  French  Republic.  He  must  have  received  some 
early  education ;  but  it  was  too  brief  for  much  exactitude  ur  finish ;  for 
at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  he  left  Marseilles  for  the  island  of  Martinique, 
and  never  afterwards  returned  to  the  place  of  his  birth,  except  for  a  brief 
visit  near  the  close  of  his  life.  At  this  time  Martinique  was  a  French  colony, 
famous,  then  as  now,  for  producing  considerable  quantities  of  sugar,  coffee 
and  logwood,  and  an  inordinate  amount  of  rum.  Young  Martin  appears 
to  have  gone  thither  to  engage  in  some  kind  of  mercantile  business,  and 
was  not  very  successful ;  for  in  the  last  years  of  the  American  Revolution 
he  had  come  to  this  country,  landing  at  Newbern,  North  Carolina. 

It  is  said  that  he  volunteered  in  the  Continental  Army,  but  his  military 
career  was  short.  Tradition  relates  that  being  on  outpost  duty,  one  day, 
he  came  rushing  in  with  the  report  that  the  enemy  was  at  hand.  His 
regiment  turned  out  to  meet  the  foe  and  found  instead  of  the  fiery  coats 
of  the  British,  a  row  of  red  flannel  shirts  hung  out  to  dry.  The  fact  was  that 
the  young  scout  was  painfully  near-sighted,  and  his  vision  was  so  defective 
that  he  was  entirely  unfit  for  military  service.  He  must  have  returned 
at  once  to  Newbern,  for  at  the  close  of  the  Revolution  we  find  him  there, 
endeavoring  to  keep  soul  and  body  together  by  teaching  French. 

Such  limited  employment  could  not  long  satisfy  his  active  and 
ambitious  disposition.  He  proposed  to  himself  to  be  a  printer ;  and 
thereafter  to  be  whatever  a  printer  might  become.  He  boldly  applied  for 
employment  as  a  practical  printer.  "  Can  you  set  type  ?  "  was  of  course 
the  first  question  addressed  to  the  applicant,  who  had  never  set  a  type  in 
his  life.  "  Without  doabt,  I  can,"  replied  Martin,  believing,  we  must 
presume,  that  a  man  of  ^er.se  and  determination  need  not  be  daunted  by 
merely  mechanical  difficulties,  but  ought  to  be  guided  by  the  rule  that 
"  what  man  has  done,  man  may  do."  He  was  immediately  employed, 
and  such  were  his  ingenuity  and  keenness  of  observation,  that  the  foreman 
of  the  establishment,  though  he  may  have  scolded  him  now  and  then,  for 
an  error,  never  discovered  but  that  his  journeyman  had  previously  learned 
the  trade.  In  after  life,  the  Chief  Justice  used  to  tell  this  story  with  the 
same  gusto  as  that  which  is  sometimes  displayed  by  a  bishop  in  relating 
his  college  pranks. 

He  soon  after  established  a  newspaper  of  his  own,  which  he  was  not 
ashamed  to  peddle,  newsboy  fashion,  not  only  in  Newbern,  but  in  the 
adjoining  counties ;  and  at  the  same  time  he  published  almanacs,  spelling- 
books,  and  translations  from  the  French.  But  he  could  not  rest  content 
with  work  like  this.  He  studied  law,  at  leisure  moments,  and  in  the  year 
1789,  being  then  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of 
North  Carolina.  He  soon  took  position — not  as  a  brilliant  advocate — for 
he  had  neither  the  taste  nor  the  qualities  which  make  the  brilliant 


X  MEMOIR  OP 

advocate ;  but  as  a  student  of  laws  and  of  jurisprudence  who  was  destined 
to  become  a  jurist. 

On  the  occasion  of  a  visit  of  President  Washington  to  North  Carolina, 
about  this  time,  Mr,  Martin  was  one  of  a  committee  appointed  to  receive 
that  distinguished  man.  Mr.  Gayarre  says  that  this  was  one  of  the  events 
of  Martin's  life  of  which  he  always  loved  to  talk, 

"  When  Washington,  whom  he  had  never  seen  before,  showed  himself 
to  his  admiring  eyes,  in  a  coach  and  four,  with  that  majestic  bearing 
which  is  attributed  to  kings,  and  which  made  that  illustrious  individual 
look  like  the  very  incarnation  of  intensified  aristocracy,  the  young  French- 
man, who  had  been  dreaming  of  Cincinnatus  with  spade  and  plough,  and 
dirt-stained,  hard-fisted  hands,  was  rather  disconcerted.  The  committee 
conducted  this  Louia  Fourteenth  of  republicanism  to  his  apartments; 
but,  before  entering  them,  Washington  said  with  a  smile  to  those  who 
reverently  surrounded  him :  '  Gentlemen,  I  am  in  the  habit  of  attending 
to  the  comfort  of  my  horses  before  thinking  of  my  own :  please,  therefore, 
be  so  kind  as  to  lead  me  to  the  stables.'  And  to  the  stables  the  founder 
of  an  empire  went  with  a  measured  and  august  step,  not  assumed,  but 
prescribed  to  him  by  nature.  With  placid  dignity  he  patted  his  horses, 
and  gave  the  minutest  directions  to  his  groom,  much  to  the  edification  of 
the  astonished  committee."  * 

Martin  was  a  man  whose  industry  could  not  be  appeased  by  any  single 
employment.  Moreover,  he  was  fond  of  money  as  well  as  of  fame,  as  we 
shall  have  occasion  to  notice  more  especially  hereafter.  While  practicing 
law  he  continued  to  carry  on  business  as  a  printer,  and  began  to  busy 
himself  with  the  composition  and  publication  of  books.  Among  these 
may  be  mentioned  a  collection  of  the  Statutes  of  the  Parliament  of 
England  in  force  in  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  published  according  to  a 
resolve  of  the  General  Assembly,  at  Newbern,  from  the  Editor's  Press, 
1792 ;  a  Treatise  on  the  Powers  and  Duties  of  a  SheriiF,  according  to  the 
laws  of  North  Carolina ;  and  a  Treatise  on  Executors. 

In  1802,  he  published  a  translation  of  Pothier  on  Obligations,  a  book 
for  which  he  had  a  profound  respect ;  and  at  this  time  so  complete  was 
his  skill  as  translator  and  type  setter,  that  in  executing  the  work  he  used 
no  manuscript,  but  rendered  the  French  directly  into  English  type  in  the 
composing  stick . 

In  1804,  he  published  a  revision  of  the  Statutes  of  North  Carolina,  and 
some  three  years  after  issued  a  second  edition.  The  copy  to  be  found  in 
the  Law  Library  of  New  Orleans  is  a  stout  quarto,  two  volumes  in  one, 
with  an  appendix,  which  brings  the  work  down  to  1807.  It  is  printed  by  the 
firm  of  Martin  &  Ogden,  Newbern.    Between  the  revision  proper  and  the 

*  Fernando  de  Lemos :  p.  245. 


FRANOOIS-XAVIER  MARTIN. 


Xi 


appendix  is  a  page,  which  shows  that  the  senior  partner  of  the  house 
while  on  jurisprudencp  bent,  yet  had  a  frugal  mind.  This  page  is  not 
wasted  by  being  left  blank,  but  is  discreetly  filled  with  a  list  of  "  Books 
printed  and  for  Sale  at  this  Office,"  and  in  which  we  find  not  only 
Martin's  Sheriff,  and  Martin  on  Executors,  but  a  list  of  novels  which,  it 
is  to  be  hoped,  amused  and  instructed  the  literary  people  of  North 
Carolina  in  that  day,  such  as  "  Lord  Rivers,  "  "  The  Female  Foundling,  " 
"  Delaval,"  and  so  on.  There  is  even  announced,  "  The  Rural  Philos- 
opher, a  Poem,"  Who  the  poet  was  is  a  mystery  which  remains  unrevealed. 
Tt  is  quite  certain  that  it  was  not  Martin  himself. 

Those  who  visit  the  Land  of  the  Sky,  and  breathe  the  pleasant  air  of 
Buncombe  County,  might  be  interested  to  know,  that  as  appears  by  this 
volume,  the  county  was  established  in  1791,  and  included  the  larger  part 
of  western  North  Carolina,  extending'  from  the  head  of  "Swannanoe 
Creek"  to  the  Tennessee  line  on  the  west, and  to  South  Carolina  on  the 
south.  It  was  a  magnificent  domain,  for  scenery  at  least,  and  the 
member  who  insisted  at  every  turn  on  saying  something  "for  Buncombe," 
had  a  large  and  interesting  subject. 

In  1806,  Mr.  Martin  was  elected  and  served  for  one  term  as  a  member 
of  the  Legislature. 

His  researches  into  the  statutes  of  North  Carolina  suggested  to  him  a 
collection  of  materials  for  a  history  of  that  State,  which  he  published  some 
years  later,  chiefly  in  the  form  of  annals. 

In  this  busy  and  useful  method,  he  passed,  in  North  Carolina,  some 
twenty-eight  years  of  his  life.  The  youth  who  had  come  to  Newbern,  a 
forlorn  and  friendless  foreigner,  had  grown  to  be  a  man  of  mature  years 
and  assured  position.  He  had  wasted  no  time.  He  had  become  a  proficient 
in  the  common  law  and  in  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  and  had  not  neg- 
lected thejurisprudenceof  Romeandof  his  native  country.  He  had  learned 
to  express  himself  with  force,  if  not  with  perfect  purity  of  idiom.  He 
had  acquired  a  wide  knowledge  of  history.  He  had  attained  the  age  of 
about  forty-seven  years,  and  had,  with  an  economy  like  that  of  a  French 
peasant,  laid  up  a  modest  competence.  To  some  men  it  might  have 
seemed  that  the  work  of  life  was  about  completed,  and  that  it  was  nearly 
time  for  rest.  For  Martin,  life  had  just  begun.  His  work  thus  far  had 
been  provisional  and  preparatory.  He  was  to  live  and  labor  for  nearly 
forty  years  longer,  and  was  to  use  his  acquirements  and  talent  in  a  very 
different  field.  He  had  exhausted  the  possibilities  of  the  little  town 
of  Newbern,  and  the  same  spirit  of  intelligent  enterprise  which  led  him 
from  Marseilles  to  Martinique,  and  from  Martinique  to  North  Carolina, 
prompted  him  to  leave  North  Carolina  for  newer  fields. 


xii 


MEMOIR  OP 


III. 


James  Madison  had  just  been  inaugurated  President  of  the  United 
States,  a  judge  was  needed  in  the  territory  of  Mississippi,  and  the  new 
President  offered  the  place  to  Mr.  Martin.  He  accepted  the  position  and 
filled  it  about  one  year,  when  he  was  transferred,  on  the  21st  of  March, 
1810,  to  the  bench  of  the  Superior  Court  of  the  territory  of  Orleans,  and 
this  brought  him  to  the  city  of  New  Orleans.  He  found  himself  once 
more  in  a  strange  city,  a  place  most  singular  in  its  peculiarities  of  situation 
and  of  history,  but  one  for  whose  advantage  he  was  peculiarly  fitted  to 
work. 

The  territory  of  Orleans  then  embraced  the  present  limits  of  the  State 
of  Louisiana.  *  Its  previous  history  had  been  such  as  to  produce  a  remark- 
able complexity  in  its  population,  its  society  and  its  laws.  States,  like 
individuals,  are  largely  a  result  of  race  tendencies  and  of  the  modifying 
power  of  events  and  circumstances.  In  these  respects  few  modern  States 
have  been  subjected  to  such  peculiar  and  varied  influences  as  Louisiana ; 
and  this  fact  should  be  borne  in  mind,  even  in  any  estimate  of  its  present 
condition,  and  any  comparison  with  the  other  parts  of  our  Union.  Its 
principal  river  was  opened  to  the  world  in  a  peculiar  way.  For  more  than 
a  century  the  Spanish  navigated  the  waters  of  the  Gulf  without  seeming 
aware  that  the  largest  river  in  the  world  was  pouring  into  it.  For  nearly 
two  centuries  after  the  discovery  of  America,  the  great  stream  was  not 
entered  from  its  mouth  for  commercial  purposes,  and  it  was  not  until  that 
heroic  pioneer,  Lasalle,  in  the  year  1682,  picked  out  his  perilous  path  from 
Canada,  by  the  way  of  Lake  Michigan  and  the  Illinois  river,  and 
descended  the  Mississippi  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  that  the  world  began  to 
dimly  conjecture  the  capacity  of  this  vast  natural  highway,  and  the 
possibilities  of  the  valley  through  which  it  flows. 

Lasalle  was  exploring  under  the  patronage  of  Louis  Fourteenth  and 
the  Prince  of  Conti.  He  gave  the  name  of  Louisiana  to  the  region  he 
passed  through,  while  in  after  years  the  name  of  his  other  patron  was 
given  to  one  of  the  streets  of  New  Orleans. 

The  first  important  settlement  resulting  from  these  discoveries  was 
made  at  Biloxi,  on  the  northern  shore  of  the  Gulf,  and  now  in  the  State 
of  Mississippi.  It  was  founded  by  Iberville  in  1699,  and  was  the  chief 
town  until  1702,  when  Bienville  moved  the  headquarters  to  the  west  bank 
of  the  Mobile  River.  The  soil  of  Biloxi  is  exceptionally  sterile,  and  the 
settlers  seem  to  have  depended  mainly  on  supplies  from  France  or  St. 
Domingo.  The  French  government,  so  distant  and  necessarily  so 
ignorant  of  the  true  interests  of  the  colony  seemed  intent  on  the  search 

*  This  is  underatood  to  be  the  le^al  effect  of  the  Act  of  Congress  of  March  26,  1804 }  and  it 
is  not  deemed  necessary  to  discuss  here  the  question  of  the  "  Florida  Parishes." 


FRAN(;oiS-XAVIER  MARTIN. 


•  •  • 


the  United 
md  the  new 
position  and 
3t  of  March, 
Orleans,  and 
limself  once 
3  of  situation 
irly  fitted  to 

of  the  State 
ice  a  remark- 
States,  like 
le  modifying 
lodern  States 
}  Louisiana; 
)f  its  present 
Union.  Its 
'or  more  than 
lout  seeming 
For  nearly 
earn  was  not 
kot  until  that 

s  path  from 
river,    and 

rid  began  to 
lay,  and  the 

Irteenth  and 

|e  region  he 

patron  was 


for  gold  and  pearls.  "  The  wool  of  buffaloes,"  says  Martin,  "was  pointed 
out  to  the  colonial  officers  as  the  future  staple  commodity  of  the  country, 
and  they  were  directed  to  have  a  number  of  these  animals  penned  and 
tamed."  To  those  who  know  Biloxi,  there  is  something  delicious  in  tl.e 
idea  of  building  up  a  colony  there  on  pearls  and  "  buffalo  wool." 

On  the  26th  September,  1712,  the  entire  commerce  of  Louisiana,  with  a 
considerable  control  in  its  government,  was  granted  by  charter  to  Anthony 
Crozat,  an  eminent  French  merchant.  The  territory  is  described  in  this 
charter  as  that  "  possessed  by  the  crown,  between  Old  and  New  Mexico 
and  Carolina  and  all  the  settlements,  port,  roads  and  rivers  therein — 
principally  the  port  and  road  of  Dauphine  Island,  formerly  called 
Massacre  Island,  the  river  St.  Louis,  previously  called  the  Mississippi, 
from  the  sea  to  the  Illinois,  the  river  St.  Philip,  before  called  Missouri, 
the  river  St.  Jerome,  before  called  the  Wabash,  with  all  the  lands,  lakes 
and  rivers  mediately  or  immediately  flowing  into  any  part  of  the  river  St, 
Louis  or  Mississippi." 

The  territory  thus  described  *'  is  to  be  and  remain  included  under  the 
style  of  the  government  of  Louisiana,  and  to  be  a  dependence  of  the 
government  of  New  France,  to  which  it  is  to  be  subordinate."  • 

By  another  provision  of  this  charter  "  the  laws,  edicts  and  ordinances  of 
the  realm  and  the  custom  of  Paris  were  extended  to  Louisiana."  \ 

The  grant  to  Crozat,  so  magnificent  on  paper,  proved  of  little  use  or 
value  to  him,  and  of  little  benefit  to  the  colony,  and  in  1718  he  surrendered 
the  privilege. 

In  the  same  year,  on  the  6th  September,  the  charter  of  the  Western  or 
Mississippi  Company  was  registered  in  the  Parliament  of  Paris.  The 
history  of  this  enormous  scheme,  with  which  John  Law  was  so  closely 
connected,  is  well  known.  The  exclusive  commerce  of  Louisiana  was 
granted  to  it  for  twenty-five  years,  and  a  monopoly  of  the  beaver  trade  of 
Canada,  together  with  other  extraordinary  privileges,  and  it  entered  at 
once  on  its  new  domains.  Bienville  was  re-appointed  governor  a  second 
time.     He  had  become  satisfied  that  the  chief  city  of  the  colony  should 


kovenes  was 

In  the  State 

IS  the  chief 

je  west  bank 

nle,  and  the 

lance  or  St. 

[essarily    so 

the  search 

^.  1804 }  and  it 


*  A  young  French  engineer,  Franauelln,  hydrographer  to  the  king  at  Quebec,  made,  in 
1684,  an  interesting  map,  which  is  still  preserved  in  Paris  in  the  D£pdt  des  cartes  of  the  Marine. 

"  It  exhibits  the  political  divisions  of  the  continent,  as  the  French  then  understood  them ; 
that  is  to  say,  all  the  regions  drained  by  streams  flowing  into  the  St.  Lawrence  and  the  Mis- 
sissippi are  claimed  as  belonging  to  France,  and  this  vast  domain  is  separated  into  two  grand 
divisions,  La  Nouvelle  France  and  La  Lonisiane.  The  boundary  line  of  the  former,  New 
France,  is  drawn  from  the  Penobscot  to  the  southern  extremity  of  Lake  Cliamplain,  and 
tlience  to  tlie  Mohawk,  which  it  crosses  a  little  above  Schenectady  in  order  to  make  French 
subjects  (if  the  Mohawk  Indians.  Thence  it  passes  by  thQ  sources  of  the  Susquehanna  and  the 
Alleghany  along  the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Erie,  across  southern  Michigan,  Whence  it 
sweeps  northwestward  to  the  sources  of  the  Mississippi.  Louisiana  includes  the  entire  valley 
of  the  Mississippi  and  the  Ohio,  besides  the  whole  of  Texas.  The  Spanish  province  of  Florida 
conipriseii  the  peniusula  and  the  country  east  of  Mobile  drained  by  streams  flowing  into  the 
Gulf;  while  Carolina,  Virginia  and  the  other  English  provinces  form  a  narrow  strip  between 
the  Alleghanies  and  the  Atlantic."— Parkman:  Discovery  of  the  Great  West,  p.  411. 

t  Martin  :  Vol.  I.,  Chap.  viii. 


XIV 


MEMOIR  OF 


I 


1 


be  established  on  the  Mississippi,  and  so,  in  1718,  New  Orleans  wus 
founded.  Its  location  was  plainly  determined  by  the  fact  that  it  lies 
between  the  river  and  Lake  Pontchartrain,  with  the  Bayou  St.  John 
forming  a  natural  connection  which  extends  a  large  portion  of  the  way 
from  the  lake  to  the  Mississippi.  And  even  at  this  early  day  there  was  a 
plan  of  constructing  jetties  at  the  mouth  of  the  great  river,  and  so  making 
New  Orleans  the  deep  water  port  of  the  Gulf.  It  was  about  this  time 
that  the  engineer,  Pauger,  reported  a  plan  for  removing  the  bar  at  the 
mouth  of  one  of  the  Passes,  by  a  system  substantially  the  same  as  that  so 
successfully  executed  recently,  under  the  Act  of  Congress,  by  Captain 
James  B.  Eads.*  It  was  a  mooted  question  for  some  time,  however, 
whether  New  Orleans,  Manchac,  or  Natchez  should  be  the  colonial  capital ; 
but  in  1722  Bienville  had  his  way,  and  removed  the  seat  of  government 
to  New  Orleans. 

-  In  the  same  year,  the  place  was  visited  by  the  Jesuit  traveller, 
Charlevoix,  who  speaks  of  it  as  "  this  famous  town  which  has  been  named 
New  Orleans,"  having  been  so  called  in  compliment  to  the  Regent  Duke 
who  was  at  the  head  of  the  French  government  during  the  minority  of 
Louis  Fifteenth.  It  was  famous,  probably,  at  that  time  only,  because  the 
speculators  of  the  Western  Company  had  puffed  it  into  a  premature 
reputation.  Charlevoix  himself  was  grievously  disappointed  with  the 
town,  and  says  in  a  melancholy  way : 

"  It  consists  really  of  one  hundred  cabins  disposed  with  little  regularity, 
a  large  wooden  warehouse,  two  or  three  dwellings  that  would  be  no 
ornament  to  a  French  village,  and  the  half  of  a  sorry  warehouse  which 
they  were  pleased  to  lend  to  the  Lord," — for  a  church — "  but  of  which  ho 
had  scarcely  taken  possession,  when  it  was  proposed  to  turn  him  out  to 
lodge  under  a  tent." 

He  goes  on,  nevertheless,  to  make  the  prediction,  that  "  this  wild  and 
dreary  place,  still  almost  covered  with  woods  and  reeds,  will  one  day  be 
an  opulent  city  and  the  metropolis  of  a  great  and  rich  colony." 

The  Western  Company  possessed  and  controlled  Louisiana  some 
fourteen  years,  when,  finding  the  principality  of  little  value,  it  surrendered 
it  in  January,  1732.  The  system  which  thus  came  to  an  end  was  essen- 
tially vicious,  yet  the  supply  of  means  to  the  colony  was  advantageous, 
and  "  it  cannot  be  denied,"  says  Martin,  "  that  while  Louisiana  was  part 
of  the  dominion  of  France,  it  never  prospered  but  during  the  fourteen 
years  of  the  company's  privilege."  f 

In  1732,  Le  Page  Du  Pratz  describes  New  Orleans  in  these  words : 

"  In  the  middle  of  the  city  is  the  Place  d'  Armes," — now  Jackson 

'Martin :  Vol.  I.,  Chap.  ix. 
t  Martiu  :  Vol.  I.,  Chap.  ix. 


FRAN^OIS-XAVIER  MARTIN. 


XV 


S(iimre.  "  Midway  of  the  rear  of  the  square  is  the  parish  church  dedicated 
to  Saint  Louis,  where  the  reverend  fathers,  the  Capuchins,  officiate. 
Their  residence  is  on  the  left  of  the  church,  on  the  right  are  the  prison 
and  guard  house.  The  two  sides  of  the  square  are  occupied  by  two  sets 
of  barracks.  It  is  entirely  open  on  the  side  next  the  river.  All  the 
streets  are  regularly  laid  out  in  length  and  width,  cross  each  other  at  right 
angles,  and  divide  the  city  into  sixty-six  squares,  eleven  in  length  along 
the  river,  and  six  in  depth." 

In  17G3,  occurred  an  event  which  left  a  deep  impression  on  the  history 
of  Louisiana.  On  the  third  of  November  of  that  year,  a  secret  treaty 
was  signed  at  Paris,  by  which  France  ceded  to  Spain  all  that  portion  of 
Louisiana  which  lay  west  of  the  Mississippi,  together  with  the  city  of 
New  Orleans,  "  and  the  island  on  which  it  stands."  The  war  between 
England,  France  and  Spain  was  terminated  by  the  treaty  of  Paris,  in 
February,  1764.  By  the  terms  of  this  treaty,  the  boundary  between  the 
French  and  British  possessions  in  North  America  was  jRxed  by  a  line 
drawn  along  the  middle  of  the  river  Mississippi,  from  its  source  to  the 
river  Iberville,  and  from  thence  by  a  line  in  the  middle  of  that  stream  and 
lakes  Maurepas  and  Pontchartrain  to  the  sea.  France  ceded  to  Great 
Britain  the  river  and  port  of  Mobile  and  everything  she  had  possessed  on 
the  left  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  except  the  town  of  New  Orleans  and  the 
island  on  which  it  stood.  As  all  that  part  of  Louisiana  not  thus  ceded  to 
Great  Britain  had  been  already  transferred  to  Spain,  it  followed  that 
France  had  now  parted  with  the  last  inch  of  soil  she  held  on  the 
continent  of  North  America. 

The  French  inhabitants  of  the  colonv  were  astonished  and  shocked 
when  they  found  themselves  transferred  to  Spanish  domination.  Some  of 
them  were  even  so  rash  as  to  organize  in  resistance  to  the  cession ;  and 
finally,  in  1766,  even  went  so  far  as  to  order  away  the  Spanish  Governor, 
Antonio  de  Ulloa.  But  the  power  of  Spain,  though  moving  with  proverbial 
slowness,  was  roused  at  last,  and  in  1769,  Alexander  O'Reilly,  the 
commandant  of  a  large  Spanish  force,  arrived  and  reduced  the  province  to 
actual  possession.  The  leaders  in  the  movement  against  Ulloa,  to  the 
number  of  five,  were  tried,  convicted  and  shot.  Another  was  killed  in  a 
struggle  with  his  guards.  Six  others  were  sentenced  to  imprisonment, 
and  from  that  time  "order  reigned." 

The  colony  grew  slowly  from  this  time  until  the  administration  of 
Baron  de  Carondelet,  but  under  his  wise  management,  from  1792  to  1797, 
marked  improvements  were  made.  The  streets  began  to  be  lighted ;  fire 
companies  were  organized ;  the  Canal  Carondelet,  connecting  the  rear  of 
the  city  with  the  Bayou  St.  John  and  so  with  the  Lake,  was  constructed ; 
the  defenses  of  the  city  were  strengthened  and  a  militia  organized.  In 
1794,  the  first  newspaper,  the  Moniteur,  was  established. 


2* 


XVI 


MEMOIR  OF 


On  the  1st  October,  1800,  a  treaty  was  concluded  between  France  and 
Spain  by  which  the  latter  promised  to  restore  to  France  the  province  of 
Louisiana.  France,  however,  did  not  receive  formal  possession  until  the 
30th  of  November,  1803,  when  in  the  presence  of  the  French  and  Spanish 
officers,  the  Spanish  flag  was  lowered,  the  tri-color  hoisted,  and  a  formal 
delivery  made  to  the  French  Commissioners. 

But  France  did  not  remain  long  in  possession.  The  cession  to  her  had 
been  procured  by  Napoleon,  and  he  did  not  deem  it  politic  to  retain  such 
a  province.  While,  therefore,  it  was  being  thus  formally  transferred,  it 
had  already,  in  April,  1803,  been  ceded  to  the  United  States,  and  on  the 
20th  December,  1803,  the  United  States  took  possession. 

In  1804,  the  territory  of  Orleans  was  established  by  act  of  Congress. 
The  rest  of  the  immense  purchase  was  at  first  erected  into  the  district  of 
Louisiana;  then,  in  1805,  into  the  territory  of  Louisiana,  and  then  in 
1812,  into  the  territory  of  Missouri.  So  Missouri  and  Louisiana  parted 
company  in  the  juridical  way,  the  former  to  receive  eventually  the 
common  law  as  fundamental,  the  latter  to  continue  its  adherence  to  the 
civil  law  in  many  important  matters. 

At  the  time  of  the  transfer  to  the  United  States,  the  population  of  New 
Orleans  was  about  eight  thousand.  At  the  time  of  Judge  Martin's 
arrival  it  was  over  seventeen  thousand. 


IV. 

It  requires  but  a  glance  at  the  foregoing  facts  to  reveal  the  singular 
situation  of  this  new  American  territory.  It  was  not  American  in  history 
or  even  in  name.  It  had  been  governed,  both  by  French  and  Spanish, 
with  ideas  and  by  methods  which  were  in  many  respects  medieval.  In 
1754,  a  soldier  who  had  been  guilty  of  mutiny  at  Cat  Island  was  "  sawed 
in  two  parts.  He  was  placed  alive  in  a  kind  of  coffin ,  to  the  middle  of 
which  two  sergeants  applied  a  whip  saw."  *  In  1778,  a  royal  schedule 
was  published  in  New  Orleans,  forbidding  the  reading  of  Robertson's 
History  of  America,  and  ordering  all  copies  which  might  be  found  to  be 
destroyed,  f  In  1785,  an  attempt  was  made  to  introduce  the  Inquisition 
into  the  province,  and  "a  clergyman  of  New  Orleans  received  a  commission 
of  commissary  of  the  Holy  Office  in  Louisiana."  Governor  Miro  did  not 
approve  of  the  Inquisition,  and  so  one  night  while  the  commissary  "  was 
peacefully  slumbering,  he  was  disturbed  by  an  officer  heading  eighteen 
grenadiers,  who  lodged  him  on  board  of  a  vessel,  which  at  break  of  day 


*  Martin :    Vol.  I,,  Chap.  xiii. 
t  lb.  Vol.  I.,  Cbap.  iii. 


\ 


Ik 


FRANgOIS-XAVIER  MARTIN. 


XVll 


ation  of  New 


sailed  with  him  for  Spain."  *  In  1786,  Miro  isBued  a  set  of  police  regulations 
in  the  form  of  a  proclamation,  giving  minute  directions  as  to  demeanor 
in  church,  dress,  passports,  late  hours  and  similar  subjects,  f 

Naturally,  with  such  a  state  of  affairs,  came  corruption  of  all  kinds.  In 
a  dispatch  of  May  24,  1803,  Laussat,  the  French  Colonial  Prefect,  declares 
that  justice  was  then  administered  "  worse  than  in  Turkey."  In  the  same 
year,  Daniel  Clark,  then  the  Consul  of  the  United  States  at  New  Orleans, 
and  whose  name  has  since  become  so  famous  in  the  Gaines  cases,  wrote 
to  the  Department  of  State  at  Washington,  with  bitter  complaints  of  the 
delays  of  justice  and  the  venality  of  all  officials.  * 

With  the  American  domination  came  new  ideas,  new  complications, 
new  elements,  good  and  bad.  The  matter  of  law  and  the  administration 
of  justice  demanded  immediate  attention  in  what  was  to  be  one  of  the 
United  States.  The  early  colonists  had  brought  with  them  the  Jurispru- 
dence of  France.  The  charter  of  Crozat,  had,  as  we  have  seen,  specially 
extended  to  Louisiana  the  laws,  edicts  and  ordinances  of  the  realm  and 
the  Custom  of  Paris.  When  the  Spanish  took  possession,  O'Reilly  caused  a 
code  of  instructions  to  be  published,  in  reference  to  practice,  according  to 
the  laws  of  Castile  and  the  Indies,  to  which  was  annexed  an  abridgment 
of  the  criminal  laws,  and  some  directions  in  regard  to  wills.  *'  From  that 
period,"  says  Judge  Martin,  "  it  is  believed  that  the  laws  of  Spain  became 
the  sole  guide  of  the  tribunals  in  their  decisions.  As  these  laws  and 
those  of  France  proceed  from  the  same  origin  as  the  Roman  code,  and  there 
is  great  similarity  in  their  dispositions  in  regard  to  matrimonial  rights, 
testaments  and  successions,  the  transition  was  not  perceived  before  it 
became  complete,  and  very  little  inconvenience  resulted  from  it."  § 

The  acts  of  Congress  in  regard  to  the  territory  of  Orleans  provided  for 
trial  by  jury,  for  habeas  corpus,  and  for  the  prohibition  of  cruel  and 
unusual  punishments,  thus  pointing  to  the  Common  Law  as  the  proper 
basis  of  jurisprudence  in  criminal  matters  in  every  American  State : 
and  the  territorial  legislature  laid  down  this  basis  in  a  statute  which  is 
still  in  force.  | 

In  1808,  a  civil  code  of  law  was  for  the  first  time  adopted  by  a  legislature 
in  Louisiana.  It  was  based  to  a  large  extent  on  a  draft  of  the  Code 
Napoleon ;  was  prepared  by  Messrs.  Brown  and  Moreau  Lislet ;  and  was 
entitled,  "  A  digest  of  the  civil  laws  now  in  force  in  the  territory  of 
Orleans,  with  alterations  and  amendments  adapted  to  the  present  form 
of  government."    It  did  not  repeal  anterior  laws,  except  so  far  as  they 


•  Martin  :  Vol.  II.,  Chap.  y. 

t  Ibid. 

t  Oa.yarre's  Hist,  of  La.:  Vol.  I.,  p.  584. 

$  Martin :  Vol.  II.,  Chap.  i. 

U  Revised  Statutes  of  Louisiana,  1870,  $976. 


•II 


xvni 


MKMOIR  OF 


were  in  conflict  with  its  provirtions.  In  practice,  tlicn,  it  wnn  UMcd  "an 
an  incomplete  digest  of  existing  Htiitutos  which  still  retained  their  empire, 
and  their  exceptions  and  modifications  were  held  to  aflect  several  clauses 
by  which  former  ]>rinciples  were  absolutely  stated.  Thus  the  people 
found  a  decoy,  in  what  was  held  out  as  a  beacon.  The  Fuero  Viejo, 
Fuero  Juezgo,  Partidas,  Kecopilationes,  Lcyes  de  his  Indias,  Autos 
Accordados  and  Royal  Schedules  rcnuiined  parts  of  the  written  law  of 
the  territory,  when  not  repealed  expressly  or  by  necessary  implication. 
Of  these  nuisty  laws  copies  were  extremely  rare ;  a  complete  collection 
was  in  the  hands  of  no  one ;  and  of  very  many  of  them  not  a  single  copy 
existed  in  tlie  province.  To  explain  them,  Spanish  commentators  wore 
consulted,  and  the  corpus  juris  civilis  and  its  own  commentators  were 
resorted  to ;  and  to  eke  out  any  dcliciency,  the  lawyers  who  came  from 
France  or  Hispaniola,  read  Pothier,  d'Aguesseau,  Dumoulin,  etc. 

"Courts  of  justice  were  furnished  with  interpreters  of  the  French, 
Spanish  and  English  languages.  These  translated  the  evidence  and  the 
charge  of  the  court  when  necessary,  but  not  the  arguments  of  the  counsel. 
The  case  was  often  opened  in  the  English  language,  and  then  the  jurymen 
who  did  not  understand  the  counsel,  were  indulged  with  leave  to  withdraw 
from  the  box  into  the  gallery.  The  defense,  being  in  French,  they  were 
recalled,  and  the  indulgence  shown  to  them  was  enjoyed  by  their 
companions  who  were  strangers  to  that  language.  All  went  together  into 
the  jury  room,  each  contending  the  argument  he  had  listened  to  was 
conclusive ;  and  they  finally  agreed  on  a  verdict  in  the  best  manner  they 
could."* 

It  is  easy  to  perceive  that  Judge  Martin  coming  in  1810  to  be  a  member 
of  the  Superior  Court  of  the  territory,  had  before  him  a  formidable  task. 
There  were  conflicts  of  decision  to  be  reconciled,  anomalies  to  be  reduced 
to  order,  a  jurisprudence,  in  fact,  to  be  created.  How  well  he  performed 
his  part  of  the  task,  with  what  patience,  clear  sightedness  and  vigor,  is 
matter  of  history.  He  has  been  called  the  Mansfield  of  the  southwest. 
Such  comparisons  are  little  worth.  They  are  always  defective,  and 
sometimes  very  deceptive.  In  many  respects,  Mansfield  and  Martin  were 
entirely  unlike.  Yet,  in  some  respects,  their  work  was  similar.  In  the 
department  of  what  may  be  called  constructive  jurisprudence,  in  the 
skilful  blending  of  the  best  principles  of  the  English  and  the  Roman 
law,  in  the  apt  illustration  of  one  by  the  other,  a  resemblance  may  be 
traced. 

Martin's  companions  on  the  territorial  bench,  at  the  time  he  was 
appointed,  were  George  Matthews,  the  presiding  judge,  and  John  Lewis. 

*  Martin :  Vol.  II.,  Chap.  xiv. 


FHAN(;0I8-XAVIEH   MAllTIN. 
V. 


XIX 


By  act  of  (Congress  of  IHll,  the  iiilmbitnnts  of  the  territory  were 
auithorizod  t(»  form  a  constitution,  with  a  view  to  the  CHtahlishnicnt  of  a 
State  government.  The  (h;hates  in  the  national  House  of  Representatives 
«)n  this  hill  were  King  and  entertaining.  Josiah  Quiney,  of  Massachusetts, 
opposed  the  measure  with  sometiiing  like  ferocity ;  denied  the  right  to 
suhnit  the  pro|K)sed  new  State,  and  deehm^d  that  "if  this  bill  passes,  the 
bonds  of  the  Union  are  virtually  dissolved  ;  that  the  States  which  compose 
it  are  free  from  their  moral  obligations,  and  that,  as  it  will  be  the  right  of 
all,  s(»  it  will  be  the  duty  of  some,  definitely  to  prepare  for  a  separation, 
amicably  if  they  can,  violently  if  they  must."  Mr.  Quiney  was  here 
interrupted  and  called  to  order  Ijy  Mr,  Poindexter,  the  delegate  from 
Mississippi ;  but  repeated  his  remarks,  eommitt^^-d  them  to  writing,  and 
handed  the  paper  to  the  clerk  of  the  House.  ♦ 

That  a  Quiney,  of  Massachusetts,  should  mamtain  the  right  of  secession 
on  the  floor  of  Congress,  and  should  be  called  to  order  by  a  Poindexter 
of  Mississippi,  is  certainly  a  fact  which  may  be  classed  among  the 
curiosities  of  history  and  politics. 

The  bill  having  been  passed,  however,  the  Constitution  of  1812  was 

framed  and  adopted,  and  in  April  of  that  year,  the  Congress  passed  an  act 

for  admission  of  the  State  to  the  Union,  by  the  name  of  Louisiana.      The 

territorial  courts  ceased  to  exist,  and  Martin  was  no  longer  a  judge.      He 

Avas,  however,  appointed  Attorney-Cieneral  of  the  new  State,  and  so  acted 

during  the  exciting  events  of  the  war  with  England,  and  until  February, 

1815,  when  he  was  appointed  a  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State. 

At  this  time  he  was  fifty-three  years  of  age.      He  seemed  to  take  a  new 

[lease  of  life,  for  he  sat  upon  that  bench  until  1840,  a  period  of  thirty-one 

years.    During  this  lengthy  term,  he  Avas   not  content  with  a  formal 

[discharge  of  his  otiicial  duties.     He  did  not  permit  himself  to  shrink  and 

[wither  away  into  a  clever  clerk,  attending  to  what  was  barely  necessary 

[and  nothing  more.     On  the  contrary,  while  his   duties  as  judge  were 

performed  with  entire  strictness,  his  labors  in  adjacent  fields  of  intellectual 

l^vork  were  immense. 

He  prepared  and  published  reports  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 

territory  of  Orleans  from  1809  to  1812,  in  two  volumes.      He  began  this 

|»vork  while  he  was  still  on  the  bench  of  that  Court.    The  title  page 

bontains  a  characteristic  quotation,  which  indicated  his  own  views  as  to 

the  necessity  of  reports  in  a  community  where  none  had  ever  existed.     It 

Hs  an  extract  from  instructions  given  by  the  Empress  of  Russia  to  a 

[(Commission  created  for  the  purpose  of  framing  a  code  of  law,  and  is  as 

[follows  : 


"  Gayarr<5:  Vol.  III.,  p.  250. 


XX 


! 


l! 


MRMOIR  OP 


"Cos  trihunnux  donnont  dcs  <U'ciHion8 ;  oHcb  doivcnt  «Hro  conscrvecH, 
elles  doivont  «tro  nppriHcH.  pour  quo  Ton  ju^o  aujourd'hui  coiiiino  on  y  a 
jugc^  hier,  ct  quo  la  propriuU^  et  lii  vio  do8  citoyens  y  Boiont  aH8urdc8  ct 
fixL'H  comino  la  constitution  niOnioH  du  I'lHat." 

Tho  preface  to  the  firnt  volume  in  dated  at  Now  Orleans,  October  30th, 
1811,  and  expresses  the  views  of  tho  reporter  with  regard  to  tho  (^ourt  of 
which  he  was  a  nienibor,  tho  duties  of  a  judge,  and  the  unusual  condition 
of  jurisprudence  in  tho  territory.    Ho  says  : 

*'  No  one  could  more  earnestly  deplore,  for  no  one  more  distressingly  felt, 
the  inconveniences  of  our  present  judicial  system.  From  tho  smallnoss 
of  tho  number  of  the  judges  of  the  Superior  Court,  the  romoteness  of  the 
places  where  it  sits  and  the  multiplicity  of  business,  it  has  become  indis- 
pensable to  allow  a  quorum  to  consist  of  a  single  judge  who  often  finds 
himself  compelled,  alone  and  unoided,to  determine  the  most  intricate  and 
important  questions,  both  of  law  and  fact,  in  coses  of  greater  magnitude 
as  to  the  object  in  dispute  than  are  generally  known  in  the  State  courts 
— while  from  the  jurisprudence  of  this  newly  acquired  territory,  possessed 
at  different  periods  by  different  nations,  a  number  of  foreign  laws  are  to 
be  examined  and  compared,  and  their  compatibility  with  the  general 
constitution  and  laws  ascertained — an  arduous  task  anywhere,  but  rendered 
extremely  so  here,  from  the  scarcity  of  works  of  foreign  jurists.  Add  to 
this,  that  the  distress  naturally  attending  his  delicate  condition  is  not  a 
little  increased  by  the  dreadful  reflection  that  if  it  should  Ik)  his  misfortune 
to  form  an  incorrect  conclusion,  there  is  no  earthly  tribunal  in  which  the 
consequences  of  his  error  may  be  redressed  or  lessened." 

The  case  of  Detournion  vs.  Dormenon,  reported  in  this  volume,  is  rather 
a  curious  one.  The  Parish  Judge  of  Louisiana  has  always  been  a  subject 
of  more  or  less  derision.  Thus,  a  well  known  advocate  in  New  Orleans 
once  said  to  the  Supreme  Court,  "  May  it  please  your  honors,  it  is  a 
settled  rule  that  every  man  is  presumed  to  know  the  law,  except,  perhaps, 
a  Parish  Judge."  The  defendant  Dormenon  was  Judge  of  the  Parish  of 
Point  Coupee.  He  seems  to  have  been  a  peppery  person,  for  in  1809, 
Governor  Claiborne  was  obliged  to  make  a  journey  to  that  Parish  to  allay 
a  feud  between  Dormenon  and  the  Abbe  Lespinasse,  the  Parish  priest, 
which  had  set  the  whole  community  by  the  ears.  *  However  this  may 
be,  it  appears  that,  according  to  the  practice  which  then  prevailed, 
Dormenon  was  acting  as  an  cx-officlo  Sheriff,  and  while  he  was  engaged  in 
selling,  at  auction,  property  which  he  had  seized  upon  an  execution  issued 
by  himself,  conceived  that  Detournion  had  insulted  him.  He,  thereupon, 
issued  an  attachment  and  fined  and  imprisoned  Detournion.  The  latter 
paid  the  fine  and  costs,  and  brought  this  action  to  recover  the  money  thus 

Gayarr^ :  Vol.  III.,  p.  209. 


FRAN(;0I8-XAVIEK   MARTIN. 


XXI 


lctol)cr  30th, 
tho  (/ourt  of 
uiil  coiulitiun 

rossingly  felt, 
the  HiuiillnoHS 
(tencwH  of  the 
become  indis- 
[>  often  finds 
,  intricntc  and 
er  Miiignitudo 

0  State  courts 
ary,  possessed 
;n  laws  are  to 

1  the  general 
(,  but  rendered 
rists.  Add  to 
iition  is  not  a 
lis  misfortune 

in  which  the 


paid  and  dumapes  for  the  imprisonment.  The  court  held  that  tho  alleged 
insult  oH'ored  to  the  defendant  while  acting  as  a  Sheriff  could  not  be 
tH)r-i<l«rt'd  as  a  contempt  of  his  authority  as  a  judge,  and  therefore  gave 
judmiici)'  fitr  the  plaintiff. 

As  a  ^•tutl*  »  the  genesis  of  anecdotes,  it  may  be  noted  that  in  tho  New 
OrleaMU  Monthlv  Uoview  for  February,  1875,  the  facts  of  tho  foregoing 
cU)*'' appear  in  the  following  form,  as  handed  down  doubtless  by  tradition, 
nnd  «)ii/btly  eniliolliMlMid  by  some  one  who  had  a  talent  for  epigram  : 

Under  M»"  old  system  tho  T'arish  Judge  also  acted  as  auctioneer,  in 
selling  the  property  of  successions.  It  fell  out  once,  in  a  well  known 
sugar  parish,  that  while  the  judge  was  knocking  down  some  goods  and 
chattels  of  a  deceased  person,  a  neighbor  in  the  crowd  behaved  with  8(»ine 
levity.    The  magisterial  heart  was  fired. 

"  See,  here,  Sam  Cooley,  if  you  don't  behave  yourself,  I  will  commit  you 
for  contempt  of  court." 

"  But,  Judge,  you  are  not  in  court  now.  There  is  no  such  offense  as 
contempt  of  auction  or  an  auctioneer." 

"What,  sir — what,  sir?  Why,  I'll  have  you  know,  sir,  that  I'm  an 
object  of  contempt  at  all  times  and  in  all  places !  "  * 

The  territorial  court  having  come  to  an  end.  Judge  Martin  continued 

his  work  as  reporter,  by  publishing  the  decisions  of  the  Supreme  Cour^l  nt 

!  the  State,  which  make  eighteen  volumes,  from  the  third  of  Martin,  old 

',  series,  to  the  eighth  of  Martin,  new  series,  inclusive,  tho  last  of  these 

[volumes  being  issued  in  the  year  1830. 

In  1817,  his  fame  had  so  far  reached  his  native  place,  that  he  was 
I  elected  a  member  of  the  Academy  of  Marseilles.  In  1841,  he  was  made 
{ Doctor  of  Laws,  by  Harvard  College. 

In  1827,  he  published  the  History  of  Louisiana,  which  is  now  reprinted,  f 

So,  in  addition  to  the  usual  work  of  a  lawyer  and  judge,  we  find  that  he 
[prepared  and  published  some  thirty  volumes  of  law  and  history. 

'  It  is  raid  tliat,  some  yeftrs  before  the  Inte  war,  the  Probate  Judge  in  New  Orleans 
oraniitted  a  citizen  for  contempt  under  circuinHtauocs  whiob  disiilayed  equally  curious  ideas 
if  law  and  personal  rights.  The  officer  iu  (luostion  was  walking  downChartres  Htreet  clothed 
ill  white  linen,  and  happened  to  step  ou  a  loose  brick  in  the  pavement  under  which  the  water 
liad  settled— a  thing  sometimes  called  a  "  daudy  trap."  The  water  s(iuirted  up  and  bespattered 
kis  honor  from  heatl  to  foot.  Rushing  on  to  his  court  room,  he  took  uis  seat,  sent  for  the  shop 
peeper  in  front  of  whose  house  the  accident  had  occurred,  and  punished  him  for  contempt  of 
Ibourt.  All  parties  were  of  Latin  descent,  and  this  extraordinary  exercise  of  arbitrary  power 
loes  not  seem  to  have  had  any  sequel. 

t  It  should  be  noted  that  the  references  in  this  sketch  to  Martin's  History  are  necessarily 
to  the  old  edition,  which  appeared  in  two  Toluuies.  In  tho  present  republication  tho  two 
Tulumes  are  published  in  one. 


xxu 


MEMOIR  OF 


!i 


Hi 


VT. 

Thk  Code  of  1808  was  reviHod  in  1825.  In  the  same  year  a  Code  of 
Practice  was  promulgated,  which  is  a  model  of  brevity  and  simplicity. 
There  is  a  theory  afloat  that  the  American  system  of  code  practice  was 
invented  in  New  York,  about  the  year  1848,  but  an  examination  of  tlie 
Louisiana  Code  of  Practice,  will  satisfy  tha  reader  that  the  greater  share 
of  credit,  in  this  matter,  belongs  to  its  compilers,  who  were  Edward 
Livingston,  Pierre  Derbigny  and  Moreau  Lislet. 

By  an  act  of  1828,  all  the  civil  laws  in  force  before  the  promulgation  of 
the  Codes  with  a  single  exception,  were  declared  abrogated.  It  was  decided, 
however,  that  the  Roman,  Spanish  and  French  civil  law,  which  the 
legislature  thus  repealed,  were  the  positive  written  or  statute  laws  of  those 
nations  and  of  Louisiana,  and  only  such  as  were  introductory  of  a  new 
rule,  and  not  those  which  were  merely  declaratory ;  and  that  the  legislature 
did  not  intend  to  abrogate  those  principles  of  law  which  had  been 
established  or  settled  by  the  decisions  of  courts  of  justice.  * 

The  result  is  that  the  Codes  of  Louisiana — which  have  been  again 
amended  in  1870  for  the  purpose  chiefly  of  omitting  matters  rendered 
obsolete  by  the  late  war — are  interpreted,  when  necessary,  firstly,  by 
the  decisions  of  her  courts,  and  secondly,  in  the  absence  of  such,  by  the 
principles  of  the  civil  law,  so  far  as  they  can  be  applied  to  the  subject 
matter  and  to  modern  life. 

No  code  of  commerce  or  of  evidence  has  ever  been  adopted  in 
Louisiana,  and  it  has  been  settled  that  in  commercial  matters  we  will 
follow  the  liiw  merchant  of  England,  and  of  the  other  States  of  the  Union  ;  f 
and  that  in  matters  of  evidence,  we  will  be  governed  by  English  and 
American  decisions,  so  far  as  not  modified  by  statute  or  code.  J 

When  it  is  remembered  that  in  the  federal  courts  we  have  the  admiralty 
and  chancery  in  full  operation,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  strata  are  numerous, 
which  have  been  from  time  to  time  deposited  in  the  legal  alluvion  which 
lies  about  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  and  that  a  New  Orleans  lawyer 
may  be  expected  to  profess  an  acquaintance  with  a  good  many  different 
things. 

It  will  be  noticed  also,  that  during  the  lengthy  period  in  which  Martin 
sat  on  the  bench,  the  questions  which  came  up  for  decision  were,  for 
these  reasons,  of  unusual  difficulty  and  importance.  For  not  only  were 
the  complications  of  colonial  jurisprudence  to  be  untangled,  but  in 
addition  to  these  came  the  problems  of  the  territorial  government,  of  the 
Code  of  1808,  of  the  relations  between  the  civil  law  and  the  American 


*  Reynolds  TB.  Swain:  13  Louisinna,  193. 

t  McDuno'rh  V8.  Millaiidon  :  5  LoiUHiana,  403, 

t  Drauguot  vs.  Prudhorame:  3  Ijouisiana,  86. 


:#€ 


FRAN^OIS-XAVIER  MARTIN. 


xxni 


ir  a  Code  of 
id  simplicity. 
>  practice  was 
nation  of  tlie 
greater  share 
were  Edward 

nmulgation  of 
[t  was  decided, 
iw,  Avhich  the 
,e  laws  of  thos(i 
tory  of  a  new 
the  legislature 
lieh  had  been 
* 

,ve  been  again 
itters  rendered 
iry,  firstly,  by 
)f  such,  by  the 
to  the  subject 

en  adopted   in 
jatters  we  will 
the  Union ;  t 
English  and 
ode.  I 
the    Imiralty 
are  numerous, 
lUuvion  which 
Orleans  lawyer 
many  different 

which  Martin 

sion  were,  for 

not  only  ^vere 

ingled,  but  in 

—rnment,  of  the 

the  American 


system,  of  the  relations  between  the  federal  and  State   power,  of  the 
Constitution  of  1812,  and  of  the  Code  of  1825. 

The  Supreme  Court  of  Louisiana,  from  1821  to  1833,  was  certainly  one 
of  the  ablest  courts  of  last  resort  in  the  United  States,  and  its  decisions 
have  been  cited  with  respect  in  other  countries.  During  the  period  here 
referred  to,  it  was  composed  of  George  Matthews,  Fran^ois-Xavier  Martin, 
and  Alexander  Porter. 

Judge  Matthews  was  born  near  Staunton,  Virginia,  in  the  year  1774, 
while  his  father  was  absent  on  an  expedition  against  the  Indians,  which 
terminated  in  the  battle  of  the  Great  Kanawaha.  His  father  afterwards 
served  Avith  credit  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  attained  the  rank  of 
Colonel.  In  1785,  Colonel  Matthews  removed  with  his  family  to  Georgia, 
and  afterwards  became  Governor  of  that  State.  George  was  sent  back  to 
Virginia  to  be  educated,  and  after  completing  his  academical  course, 
returned  to  Georgia,  and  studied  law.  In  1805,  he  was  appointed  by 
President  Jefferson  a  judge  of  the  territory  of  Mississippi.  In  1806,  he 
was  appointed  to  a  similar  position  in  the  territory  of  Orleans.  On  the 
formation  of  the  State  of  Louisiana,  he  was  appointed  by  Governor 
Claiborne,  a  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  in  July,  1813,  he  became 
presiding  judge  and  so  continued  until  his  death,  in  1836.  He  was  a 
man  of  excellent  sense,  of  sweet  temper,  and  of  that  broad  physique 
which  is  such  an  important  foundation  for  a  judicial  temperament. 
Judge  Watts,  in  a  note  to  his  memorial  discourse  on  Matthews,  printed 
in  the  tenth  of  the  Louisiana  Reports,  says : 

"In  his  personal  appearance,  Judge  Matthews  was  of  the  middle 
i  stature  and  constitutionally  disposed  to  corpulence,  which  even  much 
'  exercise  could  not  repress.  His  countenance  was  always  placid,  with  a 
;  lurking  expression  of  humor,  indicating  playfulness  of  mind  and  a 
S  disposition  to  repartee,  and  many  excellent  ones  are  told  of  him." 
I  It  is  a  matter  of  regret  that  Watts  should  not  have  reported  some  of 
^these  excellent  jokes,  for  this  allusion,  standing  alone,  is  rather  tantalizing. 
Jut  one  story  of  the  kind,  so  far  as  can  now  be  ascertained,  still  survives, 
ifhich  Mr.  Christian  Roselius  used  to  tell  with  his  well  known  hearty 
|augh.  It  seems  that  Matthews  was  not  only  like  Wolsey,  a  man  of  an 
vinbounded  stomach,"  but  he  was,  what  some  stout  men  are  not,  a  great 
Sater.  A  friend  said  to  him  one  day : 
^  "  I  am  told,  Judge,  that  you  are  the  man  who  first  complained  that  a 
ii^urkey  was  an  inconvenient  bird  for  human  food,  being  too  much  for 
ylone  and  not  enough  for  two." 
■  "  Impossible,"  replied  Matthews,  "  I  could  not  have  said  that,  for  I 
^tiever  thought  a  turkey  too  much  for  one." 

Alexander  Porter  was  born  near  Omagh,  County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  in  the 
rear  1786,    In  1801,  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States  and  settled  in 


3* 


XXIV 


MEMOIR  OP 


Nashville,  Tennessee,  where  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  in  1807.  In 
1810,  he  removed  to  Louisiana,  and  settled  on  the  Teche,  where  it  appears 
that  he  was  not  received  with  entire  hospitality.  The  story  goes,  at  least, 
that  at  one  plantation,  where  he  stopped  as  a  wayfarer,  asking  for  a  glass 
of  water,  the  proprietor  set  dogs  on  him  and  drove  him  off  the  place. 
Porter  had  a  fine,  poetic  revenge,  however.  In  a  short  time,  it  was 
discovered  that  he  was  the  best  lawyer  in  that  region.  In  1812,  the 
reports  show  that  he  was  engaged  as  counsel  in  every  important  case  in 
the  district.  And,  not  long  after,  the  same  planter  who  had  behaved 
towards  him  in  such  a  ruffianly  style,  was  obliged  to  come  to  him  with 
questions  that  involved  an  estate.  Porter  caused  him  to  make  an  abject 
apology,  and  then,  it  is  said,  by  way  of  further  expiation,  to  pay  a 
royal  fee. 

It  is  related  that  on  another  occasion,  when  Porter  represented  a 
plaintiff  on  the  trial  of  a  hotly  contested  suit,  he  felt  it  his  duty,  in 
summing  up  the  cause,  to  make  a  terrible  onslaught  on  the  defendant. 
After  the  trial  was  over,  the  defendant,  who  was  a  rustic  giant,  met  him 
in  the  courthouse  square  and  threatened  to  break  his  head.  Porter 
looked  up  at  the  angry  person  with  the  utmost  serenity,  and  said : 

"  Did  you  ever  see  a  man  throw  a  stone  at  a  dog?  " 

"Yes." 

"  And  did  you  ever  see  the  dog  bite  at  the  stone?  " 

"Yes." 

"  And  don't  you  think  it  would  be  better,  in  such  a  case,  for  the  dog  to 
bite  at  the  man  that  threw  the  stone?" 

"Yes." 

"  Well,  sir,  you  are  the  dog,  and  I  am  the  stone.  If  you  wish  to  bite 
any  one,  go  find  the  man  that  threw  the  stone." 

And,  thereupon,  the  puzzled  party  defendant  turned  away  and  was 
seen  no  more. 

Judge  Porter,  was  not  only  scholar  and  lawyer,  but  also  an  enthusiastic 
planter  and  lover  of  fine  stock.  He  imported  several  thoroughbred  horses, 
one  of  whom.  Hark  Forward,  was  a  brother  of  Harkaway,  a  famous 
winner  of  cups  and  plates. 

Porter  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  Supreme  Court  in  1821,  and 
resigned  in  1833,  having  been  elected  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States. 
He  died  in  1844.  During  the  time  he  sat  upon  the  bench,  the  court  was 
thus  composed  of  elements  most  curiously,  and,  it  would  seem,  most 
fortunately  combined.  The  presiding  judge  was  a  Virginia  gentleman, 
well-bred,  amiable,  full  of  that  common  sense,  which  is,  unhappily,  not  so 
common  on  the  bench  as  its  name  might  indicate.  Next  came  Martin, 
the  Frenchman,  with  his  immense  industry,  his  unusual  experience,  his 
varied  knowledge  of  history  and  law.    And  to  these,  Porter  added  still 


■s 


in  1807.  In 
ere  it  appears 
goes,  at  least, 
ig  for  a  glass 
aff  the  place. 

time,  it  was 

In  1812,  the 

[)rtant  case  in 

had  behaved 
e  to  him  with 
lake  an  abject 
ion,  to  pay  a 

represented  a 
it  his  duty,  in 
the  defendant. 
;iant,  met  him 
head.  Porter 
d  said : 


FRANgOIS-XAVIER  MARTIN. 


XXV 


for  the  dog  to 


ou  wish  to  bite 

away  and  was 

an  enthusiastic 
ghbred  horses, 
vray,  a  famous 

t  in  1821,  and 
United  States. 

the  court  was 
Id  seem,  most 
nia  gentleman, 
happily,  not  so 
came  Martin, 

ixperience,  his 
iter  added  still 


another  element,  the  presence  of  an  Irish  scholar,  learned,  eloquent,  full 
of  insight,  gifts  and  graces. 

From  the  death  of  Matthews,  Martin  was  presiding  judge.  Judge 
Bullard,  who  was  one  of  his  associates,  says,  that  in  this  position,  "  in  his 
deportment  towards  the  bar,  he  rarely,  if  ever,  evinced  anything  like 
petulance  or  censoriousness,  while  at  the  same  time,  on  every  proper 
occasion,  he  uttered  rather  the  censure  of  the  law  than  of  the  Court  upon 
such  persons,  whether  parties  or  advocates,  as  merited  reproof."  * 

This  is  a  high  compliment.  It  too  often  happens  that  a  judge,  in  a 
spirit  of  impatience  or  vanity,  treats  with  arrogance  or  even  insolence  the 
counsel  or  the  parties  who  appear  before  him.  It  is  said  that  Thurlow 
ruined  the  business  and  broke  the  heart  of  a  deserving  solicitor  by  an 
unjust  attack  upon  him  from  the  bench.  Such  conduct  is  most  reprehen- 
sible, not  only  because  it  may  inflict  a  wanton  injury,  but  because  the 
lawyer  when  thus  attacked,  is  attacked  with  his  hands  tied,  and  cannot 
well  respond  in  kind.  A  judge  might,  at  least,  if  he  happen  to  feel 
dyspeptic  or  truculent,  remember  the  school  boy  rule  to  "  take  one  of 
your  size,"  and  not  assail  those  whom  the  law,  for  reasons  of  public 
policy  merely,  has  placed,  for  the  time  being,  in  a  defenseless  position. 
We  may  be  sure  that  Martin  never  violated  the  rules  oi  an  intelligent 
generosity  in  this  regard. 

Yet  there  are  limits  to  human  endurance,  and  on  one  occasion,  as 
tradition  relates,  the  massive  patience  of  Martin  gave  way.  He  was 
[growing  old,  and  was  in  the  habit  sometimes  of  thinking  aloud.  A  young 
[lawyer,  fresh  from  the  Emerald  Isle,  was  making  his  maiden  speech 
I  before  the  court.  It  was  a  vile  mass  of  rubbish  and  bombast.  One  of 
[the  associates  whispered  to  his  chief : 

"  I  don't  know  what  this  young  man  means  by  all  this  ranting?" 

"  He  don't  know  himself,"  shouted  Martin,  "  let  him  sit  down — let  the 
)ther  lawyer  speak." 

And  so  the  ambitious  youth  sat  down. 


VII. 

I   When  Martin  published  his  History  of  Louisiana,  in  1827,  he  seems  to 
^jKave  considered  himself  an  old  man,  because  he  was  sixty-five.     He 

ays  of  himself,  in  the  preface,  what  he  probably  would  not  have  wished 

ny  one  else  to  say : 
"Age    has   crept    on  him,  and  the    decay  of  his  constitution  has 

iven  more  than  one  warning  that  if  the  sheets  now  committed  to  the 

*  1  Ann.  Tiii. 


XXVI 


MEMOIR  OF 


r  -'i 


i:l 


press  were  longer  withholden,  the  work  would  probably  be  a  posthumous 
one." 

Yet  he  was  destined  to  laljor  for  nineteen  years  longer.  His  imper- 
fections of  vision  increased  under  his  incessant  and  protracted  work,  and 
in  1838,  he  became  quite  blind.  For  all  practical  purposes,  this  blindness 
was  total  during  the  last  eight  years  of  his  judicial  life.  Yet  he  continued 
to  sit  on  the  bench  and  to  discharge  the  duties  of  his  office  with  a 
regularity  that  was  surprising.  His  last  reported  opinion  was  delivered 
in  February,  1846,  in  which  it  was  held  that  an  inspector  of  elections, 
who  has  illegally  and  maliciously  prevented  one  from  voting,  will  be 
responsible  to  such  person  in  damages.* 

In  the  year  1844,  Judge  Martin  made  a  brief  visit  to  France,  in  the 
hope  of  obtaining  some  relief  for  his  eyes — a  hope  which  was  entirely 
fruitless.  Before  his  departure,  he  was  entertained  with  a  dinner,  given 
to  him  by  the  New  Orleans  bar,  at  the  City  Hotel,  at  which  a  brief  speech 
composed  by  him,  was  read  by  Judge  Morphy. 

In  March,  1846,  in  consequence  of  the  adoption  of  a  new  State 
Constitution,  the  Court  of  which  he  was  a  member,  ceased  to  exist,  and  he 
was  thus  retired  from  the  bench.  By  reason  of  strength,  his  days  had 
become  four  score  and  four,  and  there  was  little  left  for  him  to  do  in  this 
world.  For  him,  the  pathetic  question  of  the  poet,  "  What  can  an  old 
man  do,  but  die  ?  "  was  but  a  natural  one.  On  the  10th  of  December, 
1846,  the  end  came.  On  the  I'ith,  the  usual  proceedings  were  had  in  the 
Supreme  Court.  The  deceased  was  buried  in  the  St.  Louis  Cemetery, 
and  a  shaft  of  granite  marks  the  grave.  Its  inscriptions  were  placed 
upon  it  by  some  of  his  friends  of  French  descent,  and  briefly  sum  up 
the  chronology  of  his  life,  as  follows : 

FRAxgois-XAViER  Martin  :  no  A,  Marseille,  17  Mars,  1762,  mort  u  la 
Nouvelle  Orleans  le  10  Decembro  1846.  Membre  de  la  chambre  de  I'etat 
do  la  Caroline  du  Nord  1806.  Juge  do  la  Cour  du  Territoire  du  Missis- 
sippi 1809.  Juge  de  la  Cour  Superieure  du  Territoire  d'Orleans  1810. 
Juge  de  la  Cour  Supremo  de  I'etat  de  la  Louisiane  pendant  31  ans,  du 
1  Fevrier  1815  au  18  Mars  1846.  Membre  associe  etranger  de  rAcademie 
de  Marseille  1817.    Docteur  de  I'Academie  de  Harvard  1841. 


VIII. 

In  personal  appearance,  Martin  was  rather  below  the  medium  height, 
with  a  large  head,  a  Roman  nose,  and  a  thick  neck.  The  portrait  which 
accompanies  this  history,  was  taken  when  he  was  about  sixty  years  ol<l 

*  Bridge  vs.  Oakey:  12  Rob.  638. 


FRAXgOIS-XAVIER  MARTIN. 


XXVU 


e  a  posthumous 

3r.  His  imper- 
■acted  work,  and 
s,  this  hlindness 
fet  he  continued 
is  office  with  a 
n  was  delivered 
tor  of  elections, 
voting,  will  be 

France,  in  the 
ch  was  entirely 

a  dinner,  given 
ch  a  brief  speech 

of  a  new  State 
d  to  exist,  and  he 
h,  his  days  had 
him  to  do  in  this 
/^hat  can  an  old 
pth  of  December, 
i  were  had  in  the 

louis  Cemetery, 
ons  were  placed 

briefly  sum  up 

1762,  mort  u  la 
hambre  de  I'etat 
itoire  du  Missis- 
d'Orleans  1810. 
dant  31  ans,  du 
;er  dc  rAcademie 
841. 


medium  height, 
he  portrait  which 
i  sixtv  vears  old. 


As  he  further  advanced  in  years  and  began  to  I^se  his  eyesight,  he  became 
a  somewhat  uncouth,  and  to  those  who  knew  him,  a  pathetic  figure.  Mr. 
Gavarre,  writing  from  personal  recollection,  says  of  his  appearance  at  this 

time : 

"  He  Avalked  along  the  streets  of  New  Orleans  with  his  eyes  closed,  and 
with  tottering  and  hesitating  steps,  feeling  his  way  like  a  blind  man, 
absorbed  in  thought,  probably  lost  in  utter  darkness,  or  at  best,  guiding 
himself  only  by  the  twilight  of  his  imperfect  vision,  running  one  of  his 
hands  abstractedly  over  the  side  walls  of  the  houses,  mechanically  and 
unconsciously  twirling  round  with  his  index  the  iron  catches  intended 
to  hold  fast  the  outside  shutters  of  windows  and  doors,  muttering  to 
himself  half-formed  sentences,  and  frequently  ejaculating  in  a  dolorous 
undertone,  '  poor  me  1  poor  me  1 '  He  was  always  shabbily,  and  sometimes 
even  dirtily  dressed,  for  he  could  not  see,  with  his  own  eyes,  what  was  the 
condition  of  his  clothes,  which,  after  all,  ho  had  a  profound  aversion  to 
renew,  being  of  an  extremely  penurious  disposition.  He  had  to  t.oust  to 
Ids  black  housekeeper  for  information  as  to  the  necessities  of  his  ward'*obe, 
and  any  one  who  knows  the  carelessness  of  that  incorrigibly  shiftless 
•race,  can  be  at  no  loss  to  form  for  himself  an  idea  of  the  peculiar  physi- 
ognomy of  the  Judge's  apparel.  His  uncouth  and  odd  figure  used  to 
attract  the  attention  of  the  juvenile  blackguards  of  the  city,  who  loved  to 
serve  him  with  tricks,  which  the  old  gentleman  bore  with  philosophic 
serenity,  for  he  never  permitted  his  displeasure  to  go  beyond  a  slight 
expression  of  disgust,  manifested  by  something  which  partook  of  the 
snort  and  the  grunt.  He  never  recognized  any  of  his  acquaintances  or 
friends,  who  passed  by  him  in  the  streets  in  perfect  incognito.  Frequently, 
on  addressing  him,  they  had  to  name  themselves,  when  he  did  not  know 
them  by  the  sound  of  their  voice.  Everywhere,  and  invariably.  Judge 
Martin  kept  his  eyes  closed,  and  very  few,  I  believe,  ever  caught  a  glimpse 
of  their  color. 

"  His  conversation  was  argumentative,  and  he  was  fond,  after  the 
Socratic  method,  of  proceeding  by  questions,  which  he  accompanied  with 
A  grunt.  Question  after  question,  logically  linked  together,  each  one  more 
shrewd  and  insidious  than  the  other,  and  leading  to  some  conclusion,  to 
which  he  vigorously  drove  the  person  interrogated,  whilst  he  emitted 
grunt  after  grunt,  was  the  sum  total  of  his  colloquial  powers.  He  was 
not  destitute  of  humor,  and  relished  a  joke.  *  *  *  On  such 
occasions,  when  pleased,  he  showed  his  satisfaction  by  laughing  after  a 
manner  peculiar  to  himself.  He  threw  his  heavy  and  massive  head 
back,  opened  his  mouth  wide,  without  uttering  a  sound,  and  drew  up  to 
his  bushy  eyebrows  the  deep  wrinkles  of  his  face.  There  was  something 
striking  in  that  silent  laugh.  When  he  met  with  a  knotty  point  of  law 
which  perplexed  him,  his  habit  was  to  drop  in,  as  it  were,  in  a  friendly 


xxvni 


MEMOIR  OF 


i'ka 


way,  at  the  offices  of  those  lawyers  for  whom  he  had  the  most  consider- 
ation, and  who  were  not  interested  in  the  case  he  had  under  advisement. 
After  a  few  minutes  of  desultory  conversation,  he  would  slyly  approach 
the  subject  which  he  had  in  mind.  '  Well,  counsellor,'  he  would  say 
*  suppose  such  a  point,  what  would  be  your  views  on  it  ? '  Whatever 
opinion  the  counsellor  might  express,  the  judge  would  take  the  other 
side,  raise  objection  after  objection,  insinuate  plausible  doubts,  puzzle  the 
counsellor,  and  after  having  pumped  his  antagonist  dry,  would  leave  his 
office  with  his  usual  grunts  and  with  ejaculations  of  '  poor  me,  poor  me,' 
as  soon  as  he  was  again  on  the  street  and  thought  himself  alone.  Thus  he 
went  round  repeating  the  same  scene,  until  he  was  satisfied  with  the  result 
of  his  investigations.  When,  after  having  duly  weighed  a  case,  he  found 
that  the  arguments  for  and  against  were  equally  balanced,  it  is  said  that 
he  wrote  two  judgments  adverse  to  each  other,  which  he  would  read  to 
his  associates,  and  between  which  he  desired  them  to  decide,  as  he  was 
ready  to  adopt  either  of  them  as  correct.  It  is  related  that,  one  day,  he 
had  thus  prepared  two  judgments,  one  for  the  plaintiff  and  the  other  for 
the  defendant.  The  decision  for  the  defendant  was  adopted  by  the  Court. 
As  chance  would  have  it,  the  two  judgments  got  mixed  up,  and  Judge 
Martin,  to  the  dismay  of  the  Court,  delivered  from  the  bench,  the  one 
which  was  in  favor  of  the  plaintiff,  and  which  had  been  rejected.  The 
defendant,  either  from  his  own  impulse,  or  from  a  hint  which  he  received, 
made  an  application  for  a  rehearing,  which  was  granted,  and  the  error 
was  rectified."  • 

Martin  never  married.  Some  said  he  could  not  afford  such  an  extrava- 
gance as  a  wife.  Absorbed  in  the  study  of  law  and  the  practice  of 
parsimony,  it  does  not  appear  that  the  thought  of  domestic  happiness 
ever  entered  his  imagination,  and  much  less  his  heart. 

Lord  Campbell  relates  the  story  of  an  English  barrister,  who,  having 
been  married  one  morning,  and  finding  the  day  to  hang  heavily  on  his 
hands,  went  to  his  office  and  began  to  study  an  intricate  case.  He  became 
so  interested  in  his  investigations  that  he  studied  all  night,  and  not  until 
the  next  morning  did  he  remember  that  he  had  a  bride  at  home.  It  is 
likely  that  Martin  would  have  made  a  husband  as  little  flattering  and 
attentive  as  the  hero  of  this  anecdote.  He  was  an  inveterate  recluse,  and 
the  presence  of  a  wife  would  only  have  been  annoying  to  him,  and  his 
habits  would  surely  have  annoyed  her. 

It  is  matter  of  regret  that  his  private  life  seems  so  cheerless,  when 
compared  with  that  of  other  men  v^hn  have  been  great  in  his  profession. 
It  might  be  pleasant  to  record  th{*i,  like  Coke,  he  marrifd  in  due  time, 
and  reared  up  ten  children  in  the  ways  of  wisdom ;  though,  perhaps,  the 


*  Fernando  de  LemM  :  p.  247, 


FRANgOIS-XAVIER  MARTIN. 


XXIX 


most  consider- 
er  advisement, 
slyly  approach 
he  would  say^ 
? '     Whatever 
ake  the  other 
ibts,  puzzle  the 
ould  leave  his 
•  me,  poor  me,' 
alone.  Thus  he 
I  with  the  result 
,  ease,  he  found 
,  it  is  said  that 
would  read  to 
iide,  as  he  was 
it,  one  day,  he 
nd  the  other  for 
(d  by  the  Court, 
up,  and  Judge 
bench,  the  one 
rejected.    The 
ich  he  received, 
and  the  error 

uch  an  extrava- 
le  practice  of 
stic  happiness 

who,  having 
heavily  on  his 
se.  He  became 
and  not  until 
t  home.  It  is 
flattering  and 
ite  recluse,  and 
him,  and  his 

heerless,  when 
his  profession. 
I  in  due  time, 
,  perhaps,  the 


reader  might  also  recall  the  additional  fact  that  Coke  tried  matrimony 
a  second  time  and  had  a  termagant  for  his  second  spouse,  who  led 
him  a  dreadful  life.  But  yet,  it  would  be  agreeable  if  one  could  detail 
some  romance  of  his  early  life,  like  that  of  John  Scott,  afterwards  Lord 
Eldon,  who,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  before  he  had  begun  to  study  law,  and 
while  romance  was  possible,  fell  in  love  with  the  beautiful  Bessy  Surtees, 
eloped  with  her  by  the  help  of  a  real  rope  ladder,  married  her  in  Scotland, 
and  strange  to  say  never  repented  of  the  rash  act,  but  loved  her  as  well 
when  she  was  sixty-three,  and  Countess  of  Eldon,  as  when  she  was  Bessy, 
the  belle  of  Newcastle, 

We  do  not  find  in  his  life  any  such  incident  as  that  which  occurred  to 
Mansfield,  when  he  cast  the  longing  eye  of  youth  upon  a  young  lady, 
whose  father  was  not  fond  of  young  lawyers,  but  proceeded  to  marry  her 
off  to  a  booby  squire  with  broad  acres  and  broad  face. 
Nothing  of  the  sort  glistens  in  Martin's  life.    He  seems  to  have  needed 
M  no  companion  or  consort.    The  truth  is  that  he  had  the  temperament 
'  and  the  habits  of  a  miser.    His  frugality  was  innate,  and  this  instinctive 
trait,  developed  by  the  struggles  of  his  early  poverty  assumed  pro- 
I  portions  which  might  have  furnished  a  subject  for  the  pen  of  Moliere, 
I  or  a  supplemental  scene  for  Les  Cloches  de  Corneville.     His  painful 
ieconomy  in  North  Carolina  enabled    him  to  bring  to  New  Orleans 
|a  considerable  sum.    From  that  time,  he  received  an  average  salary  of 
labout  five  thousand  dollars  a  year,  besides  the  proceeds  of  his  reports 
land  other  books.    He  lived,  so  to  speak,  on  nothing,  and  heaped  up  his 
^savings  with  compound  interest.    For  a  long  time  his  household  in  New 
■^Orleans  consisted  of  an  old  slave  and  his  wife,  and  a  body  servant  and 
pactotum,  named  Tom.      "The  judge  had  said  to  the  cook  and  her 
fhusband :    '  I  intend  to  be  a  generous  master ;  I  will  permit  you  a  room, 
||but  you  must  feed  yourselves  and  supply  my  table  with  decent  fare, 
**)esides  cleaning  the  house  in  which  we  all  reside,  and  which  is  yours  as 
^ell  as  mine.    This  is  all  I  require  of  you.    The  rest  of  the  time  is  yours 
md  whatever  money  you  may  make  and  save  after  having  nourished  me 
ind  kept  my  clothes  in  a  good  state  of  repair,  is  your  absolute  property.* 
Juch  was  the  peculiar  idiosyncrasy  of  the  judge,  that  I  am  convinced  he 
lought   himself   very  generous  on  that  occasion.     It  may  be  easily 
lagined  what  fare  he  had  and  what  an  infinite  variety  of  stains  and 
^tches  adorned  his  garments,  which  really  were  a  nondescript  curiosity, 
fortunately  he  had  the  digestive  powers  of  an  ostrich.     *    *    When  he 
llined  out,  he  swallowed  with  indiscriminate  voracity  all  that  was  piled 
iJUpon  his  plate.    His  apartment  was  never  swept,  his  scanty  furniture 
li^iiever  dusted,  and  the  spider  festooned  his  ceilings  with  its  airy  drapery, 
jperenely  conscious,    I  presume,    of  reaching  old   age   in    undisturbed 
■repose.    From  this  den  the  miser  would  come  out,  year  after  year,  to 


XXX 


MEMOIR  OP 


nscend  the  l)ench  in  the  luill  of  justice,  where  he  was  tmnHformed  into  an 
impartial,  high-minded  and  inflexible  judge,  shedding  on  the  subject 
before  him  the  rays  of  his  luminous,  but  cold  intellect,  and  ])ouring  the 
treasures  of  his  vast  erudition  with  a  profusion  and  ajjpropriateness  which 
won  the  confidence  and  excited  the  admiration  of  an  appreciative  bar. 
It  was  no  longer  Shylock  but  Daniel  come  to  judgment. 

**  Tom,  the  body  servant  of  Martin,  was  as  much  of  a  character  in  his 
way,  as  the  personage  he  waited  upon,  and  was  well  known  throughout 
the  State,  for  he  never  failed  to  accompany  the  judge  on  his  annual 
circuit.  The  slave  looked  upon  his  master  as  a  sort  of  helpless  grown-up 
baby  of  whom  he  had  to  take  care,  and  for  whose  safety  and  welfare 
he  was  accountable  to  the  State,  of  which  that  master,  as  he  proudly 
knew,  was  one  of  the  highest  dignitaries.  Tom  very  naturally  came  to 
the  conclusion  that,  notwithstanding  the  color  of  his  skin,  he  was  a  man 
of  much  importance,  and  even  assumed  authority  over  the  great  personage 
whom  he  considered  as  his  ward.  For  instance,  when  at  home,  where 
Tom  had  full  sway,  the  judge  rose  from  his  seat,  Tom  would  sometimes 
say :    *  Where  are  you  going,  sir  ? ' 

"  '  I  am  going  to  take  a  walk.' 

" '  What !  without  consulting  me?  Don't  you  know  it's  raining? ' — or— 
'  Don't  you  know  you've  walked  enough  to  day  ?  sit  down,  sir,  sit  down.' 

*'  And  taking  his  master  by  the  shoulder,  Tom  would  gently  force 
him  back  to  his  seat. 

"  The  judge  was  overheard  once  saying  to  his  faithful  companion  in  a 
hotel  where  he  had  stopped  : 

"  *  Tom,  have  I  dined  to-day  ?  "  ' 

" '  What  ? '  replied  Tom  in  a  scolding  tone.  *  What  a  question,  sir. 
Are  you  getting  clear  out  of  your  mind  ?  Don't  you  recollect  you  ate  a 
whole  duck  ' ' 

"  *  Oh,  very  well  then,  all  right.' 

"  One  day,  Tom  said  to  him,  '  I  want  a  whip  for  our  buggy?  ' 

"  *  Well,  Tom,  if  you  want  a  whip,  buy  a  whip,  of  course.  I  do  not  see 
any  objection  to  it.' 

"  After  awhile,  Tom  came  to  him,  whip  in  hand. 

"  *  Master,'  he  said,  *  I  want  a  dollar? ' 

"  *  A  dollar  from  me.  Monstrous.  What  for?  On  what  tenable  ground 
do  you  establish  your  petition?' 

"  *  To  pay  for  the  whip.' 

"'Why,  Tom,  I  thought  you  were  a  man  of  s?ense.  Did  you  not  buy 
the  whip  for  your  own  accommodation? ' 

"  *  I  bought  it  for  your  buggy,  sir.' 

"•My  buggy!    Our  buggy,  you  mean.     You  called  it  our  buggy. 


% 


PRAN^OIS-XAVIER  »IARTIN. 


XXXI 


brined  into  an 
n  the  Bubject 
d  pouring  the 
lateness  which 
ipreciative  bur. 

naractcr  in  his 
wn  throughout 
on  his  annual 
Ipless  grown-up 
iiy  and  welfare 

as  he  proudly 
urally  came  to 
n,  he  was  a  man 
;  great  personage 

at  home,  where 
rould  sometimes 


3  raining? '— -or— 
irn,  sir,  sit  down.' 
,uld  gently  force 

companion  in  a 


a  question,  sir. 
[collect  you  ate  a 


uggy? ' 
Use.    I  do  not  see 


at  tenable  ground 
(Did  you  not  buy 
led  it  our  buggy. 


yourself.     Don't  you  ride  in  it?    Tush !    Don't  trouble  mc  any  more 

about  it.' 

"  Tom  might  have  replied  :  Master,  if  wc  are  in  partnership,  you  ought 
at  least  to  pay  for  one-half  of  the  whip.  He  might  have  had  other  points 
to  urge,  but  did  not  think  of  them,  and  failed  to  argue  his  master  into 
recognizing  the  justice  of  his  claim.  Besides,  opinionated  and  conceited 
as  he  was,  there  was  one  subject  on  which  he  never  hazarded  a  conflict, 
which  was — anything  bordering  on  the  law — anything  concerning  legal 
rights  or  claims.  '  I  can  rule  the  old  man  as  my  master,'  Tom  would 
say, '  but  as  judge,  it  is  no  go.  He's  too  mighty  awful  on  the  law.  He 
can't  be  beaten  there  by  anybody.' 

"  This  eccentric  black  man  possessed  a  good  deal  of  sense  and  a  good 

deal  of  humor.    Judge  Martin,  being  once  on  a  judicial  tour  through  the 

State,  was  occupying  the  same  room  with  one  of  his  associates  on  the 

bench,  who  was  an  Irishman  by  birth,  and  a  gentleman  of  fine  abilities, 

ia  scholar  and  a  wit.*    Tom,  who  was  in  attendance  on  them,  now  and 

[then  had  a  word  to  put  in  with  all  the  freedom  of  speech  of  a  privileged 

Iservant. 

'  Tom,  Tom,'  said  the  judge,  *  where  did  you  get  the  expression  you 
jhave  just  used?    Have  you  not  been  with  me  long  enough  to  learn  pure 
iUglish?    Do  you  intend  to  disgrace  me?  ' 

'  I  beg  pardon,  master,'  replied  Tom.  *  Have  the  goodness  to  excuse 
If  I  talk  broken  English,  it  is  due  to  my  having  lately  kept  bad 
fcompany,'  and  he  glanced  with  a  mis«;hievous  smile  on  his  thick  lips  at 
^he  Irish  gentleman,  who  relished  the  joke  and  gave  it  circulation  by 
Repeating  it. 
"  Tom  thought  himself  very  learned  in  the  law,  although,  as  I  have  said, 
was  the  only  subject  on  which  he  never  ventured  to  enter  into  a  conflict 
nth  his  master ;  and  was  frequently  heard  expounding  it  with  the  most 
Jomical  gravity  to  his  ebony  friends,  for  whom  his  word  had  indisputable 
ithority.  Poor  Tom !  He  died  in  a  distant  part  of  the  State  where  he 
id  followed  his  master,  who  left  him  there  when  taken  sick,  as  he  could 
)t  spare  time  to  wait  for  his  recovery.  The  tavern-keeper,  at  whose  house 
had  departed  from  this  world,  knowing  the  peculiar  relations  which 
fisted  between  Tom  and  the  judge,  had  him  decently  buried,  and  sent 
the  latter  a  bill  for  twenty  dollars  for  the  cost  of  the  funeral.  The 
idge  broke  out  into  the  fiercest  grunts  he  had  ever  been  heard  to  emit, 
and  refused  to  pay  the  bill,  because  the  expenses  had  been  unauthorized 
Wid  excessive;  and  one  dollar,  which  he  tendered,  was,  he  said,  all 
that  could  be  required  for  the  burying  of  a  negro.  The  landlord  sued  the 
judge  in  the  parish  were  Tom  had  died ;  but  the  judge  excepted  to  the 

4* 

•Porter. 


XX  xu 


MRMOIIl  OF 


juriHtliction  of  tho  court  on  the  ground  of  his  being  domiciliated  in  the 
parish  of  Orleans.  The  pica  was  sustained,  and  tho  plaintiff  was  thrown 
out  of  court  with  costs.  Pitiful  human  nature !  What  shades  and  lights 
there  are  in  the  character  of  a  man  !  And  must  they  not  bo  faithfully 
though  regretfully  reproduced,  to  give  a  correct  knowledge  of  the  indi- 
vidual to  be  i)<)rtrayed,  and  to  adorn  a  tale,  or  point  a  moral?  "  * 

It  appears  that  in  a  solitary  moment  of  weakness,  Martin  onco  loaned 
n  brother  jurist  the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars.  It  was  not  repaid 
when  promised,  and  the  lender  was  in  a  dreadful  state  of  anxiety  about 
the  matter.  Finally,  a  bright  idea  struck  him.  Ho  would  marry  his 
debtor  to  a  lady  of  fortune.  In  due  time,  he  found  a  person  answering  to 
that  description,  in  a  way.  She  was  a  widow  up  on  Red  river.  He 
reported  his  '*  find  "  to  his  impecunious  friend,  as  follows  : 

"  My  dear  C ,  I  have  found  you  a  wife.    She  is  healthy  and  sober, 

and  she  owns  three  thousand  turkeys  !" 

Strange  to  relate,  the  borrower  was  not  fascinated  by  the  widow  and 
her  numerous  fowls,  and  the  match  never  came  off.  Whether  Martin 
ever  recovered  his  money  docs  not  appear.     Pro])ably  not. 

Some  years  before  his  death,  the  j  idge  sent  for  a  brother,  who  camo 
over  from  France  and  took  up  his  abode  in  New  Orleans.  This  brother, 
Paul  Barthclemy  Martin,  was  somewl  at  younger,  though  between  sixty 
and  seventy  years  of  age.  But  he  was  a  younger  brother  still  to  the 
imagination  of  the  judge,  who  always  called  him  by  the  affectionate 
diminutive  of  Mimi.  Mimi  was  not  so  excessively  frugal,  and  tried  to 
introduce  a  little  comfort  into  the  home  of  the  chief  justice,  and  even 
went  so  far  as  to  insist  upon  having  some  decent  table  claret  to  enliven 
the  dinner.  It  goes  without  saying  that  the  judge  groaned  in  spirit  at 
such  wild  extravagance  as  wine  at  twenty-five  dollars  the  cask,  but  Mimi 
carried  his  point. 


IX. 

Judge  Martin's  will  was  written  in  1844,  in  the  olographic  form,  on  a 
sheet  of  coarse  foolscap,  in  English,  and  with  a  certain  common  law 
flavor,  as  if  in  his  extreme  old  age,  he  way  mentally  recurring  to  the 
studies  of  his  earlier  life.  A  fac-simile  is  to  be  annexed  to  this  sketch, 
but  it  may  be  a  convenience  to  the  reader  to  have  it  presented  in  ordinary 
type.    It  is  as  follows  : 

"  I  institute  my  brother,  Paul  Barthelemy  Martin,  heir  to  my  whole 
estate,  real  and  personal,  and  my  testamentary  executor  and  detainor  of  my 
estate.     In  case  of  his  death,  absence  or  disability,  I  name  my  friend  and 

*  Feruando  de  Lemos :  p.  249. 


fi 


FRAXgOi     -XAV'iCR  M'    >TIX. 


XXXI   1 


■iliateJ  in  tho 

fT  was  thrown 

l1c9  and  liphts 

bo  faithfully 

0  of  the  indi- 

1  once  loaned 
a8  not  repaid 
anxiety  about 
lid  marry  his 
1  answering  to 
led  river.    He 

thy  and  sober, 

ho  widow  and 
hether  Martin 

her,  who  came 
This  brother, 

between  sixty 
er  still  to  the 
le  affectionate 
1,  and  tried  to 
tice,  and  even 

aret  to  enliven 
|ned  in  spirit  at 

ask,  but  Mimi 


[hie  form,  on  a 
common  law 
Icurring  to  the 
Ito  this  sketch, 
Ibed  in  ordinary 

Ir  to  my  whole 

1  detainor  of  my 

my  friend  and 


colleague,  Edward  Simon,  my  tc  tamentar}  executor  and  detainor  i  u.f 
estate.  New  Orleans,  this  twenty-first  day  of  May, '  rhteen  hundred  and 
forty-four.  F.-X.      aktin." 

It  would  seem  that  a  man  who  had  been  profoun  '\y  vcrsf  ,  in  law  for 
Bome  sixty  years,  might  make  a  will  which  no  one  would  dispute;  and 
that  after  having  himself  been  advocate  or  judge  in  so  many  lawsuits,  hia 
bones  might  rest  undisturbed  by  any  din  of  forensic  warfare  over  his 

grave. 

If  he  had  died  in  poverty,  as  many  good  lawyers  and  judges  have  done, 
the  result  might  have  been  different  from  what  it  proved  to  be ;  but  he 
died  rich.  His  estate  was  inventoried  at  $396,841.17,  and  it  is  likely  that 
its  full  value  was  about  a  half  million. 

The  will  above  copied  was  proved  and  ordered  to  be  executed,  and  Paul 
B.  Martin  entered  into  possession  of  tho  estate.  A  few  weeks  after,  tho 
State  of  Louisiana  commenced  its  suit  against  him,  alleging  that  he  had 
caused  himself  to  be  recognized  as  executor  under  a  pretended  olographic 
will  of  Fran(;ois-Xavior  Martin,  dated  21st  May,  1844,  and  had  taken 
possession  of  his  estate.  That  the  said  pretended  olographic  will  was  void 
and  of  no  effect,  for  this,  that  when  it  was  made,  Franyois-Xavier  Martin 
was  physically  incapable,  on  account  of  blindness,  of  making  an  olographic 
will.  That  the  estate  of  the  deceased  (who  on  this  theory  died  intestate) 
fell  to  heirs  domiciliated  out  of  the  United  States,  viz :  in  France,  and 
was,  therefore,  subject  to  a  tax  of  ten  per  cent,  by  the  Statute  of  1842 ; 
and  the  State,  therefore,  demanded  that  the  executor,  P.  B.  Martin,  be 
I  adjudged  to  pay  up  this  tax  amounting  to  the  sum  of  $39,684.11.  The 
I  State  by  a  supplemental  petition  further  alleged,  that  for  the  illegal 
y  purpose  of  depriving  the  State  of  this  ten  per  cent.,  the  deceased  had 
iibequcathed  all  his  property  to  his  brother,  P.  B.  Martin,  a  resident  of 
(New  Orleans,  with  a  secret  understanding  and  agreement  that  he,  Paul, 
|was  to  hold  it  as  a  resident,  and  so  evade  the  State  tax  on  estates  going 
to  non-residents,  and  yet,  that  eventually  the  property  should  go  to  these 
ion-resident  ix-l.-^tives  in  France ;  that  this  agreement,  and  the  will  made 
[n  view  of  it,  were  illegal  and  contrary  to  public  policy  and  order,  and 
therefore  void. 
In  short,  the  State  claimed  two  things : 

1.    That  the  will  was  void  as  a  legal  and  physical  impossibility. 
:'^f(    2.    If  it  was  not  void  for  these  reasons,  it  was  void  as  an  attempted 
;  •  ifraud  on  the  fiscal  rights  of  the  State. 

The  suit  was  defended  and  the  court  below  gave  judgment  in  favor  of 
the  State,  but  the  defendant  appealed,  and  tho  questions,  both  of  fact 
I  and  law,  came  up  before  the  Supreme  Court  at  the  June  term,  1847,  in  the 
•'^tribunal  where  Judge  Martin  had  presided  so  long. 


XXXIV 


MKMOIlt   OF 


A  groat  (leal  of  t»'Htiin<my  hud  heoii  tuk«»n  ;  and  anioiig  dthor  witiicHBcs, 
Judge  lUdliird,  who  hud  hrcu  hmg  uHsot'iiito  on  tlio  heiioh  with  the 
(U'CcuHod,  had  hcen  caUcd.  l\v  utatcd  tluit  .Judge  Martin  wrote  an  opinion 
in  IH.'U,  at  Jtaton  Rouge,  nt  which  time  hiH  siglit  waH  ({uitedini,  and  hi 
wrote  further  than  the  paper  and  on  the  tahU',  so  that  when  the  elerk 
eaine  to  exi.nine  tlu;  opinion,  a  part  was  on  paper  and  a  part  written  on 
the  tahU\  That  since  IH'M't,  he  had  never  seen  him  write  more  than  to 
sign  his  name.  That  it  was  necessary  in  all  cases  wliere  he  hail  to  si^  i 
his  name,  to  place  n  ))en  in  Ins  hand  and  <lirect  liim  where  to  sign.  It 
was  not  necessary  to  liold  his  hand.  lie  sonjetimos  signed  Ins  name 
well.  He  could  not  tell  if  he  had  ink  in  his  pen  or  not.  He  could  not 
read  wluit  he  had  written,  nor  had  he  read  anything  since  1830,  or  at 
latest,  since  1838,  Being  shown  the  will  of  Judge  ^Fartin,  witness  said 
the  testator  could  not  have  read  it ;  he  was  totally  blind  in  1844,  when  lie 
went  to  France  on  a  visit ;  but  it  in  ivn'ttrn.  in  hin  hdudirritint]:  l)elieves  the 
testator  could  have  written  the  will  hy  means  of  bars  to  confine  the  edges 
of  the  paper,  or  other  mechanical  means,  or  hy  feeling  the  edges,  but 
thinks  he  recjuired  assistance  to  take  his  pen,  and  get  the  ink.  Witness 
was  present  when  the  will  was  opened.  It  was  folde<l  in  the  form  of  a 
letter.  Thinks  that  the  testator  could  have  folded  the  will  by  feeling,  but 
does  not  know  about  the  sealing.  The  testator  told  Avitness  on  one  or 
two  occasions,  when  they  had  cases  before  them  growing  out  of  this  ten 
per  cent,  tax,  that  it  might  bo  easily  evaded.  Has  no  recollection  of 
Judge  Martin's  ever  liaving  revealed  to  him  the  manner  in  which  it  might 
be  evaded,  nor  does  he  believe  Judge  Martin  had  the  intention  of  evading 
it  liimsclf. 

The  defendant,  Paul  Martin,  was  interrogated  in  regard  to  the  alleged 
fraudulent  agreement,  as  to  the  eventual  disposition  of  the  ])roperty,  and 
in  rather  acidulated  French,  denied  it  flatly.  Being  asked  if  his  intention 
Avas  not  to  give  the  property  to  the  other  heirs  of  Judge  Martin,  he  replied  : 

"  Je  n'ai  la  dessus  d'autre  intention  que  celle  de  disposer  de  ma  fortune 
selon  ma  volonte.  La  dessus  je  dis  que  je  ne  mo  crois  pas  oblige  de  faire 
dans  ce  moment  un  testament  public.  Je  ferai  mon  testament  comme  jo 
I'entendrai." 

The  case  was  elaborately  argued  by  Mr.  Attorney  General  Elmore, 
assisted  by  Mr.  Musson  and  Mr.  Pepin,  for  the  State,  and  by  Mr.  Grima, 
Mr.  Mazuroau,  and  Mr.  Legardeur,  for  the  defendant. 

The  use  of  French  in  court  was  common,  even  at  that  late  day,  and 
Mr.  Mazureau's  brief,  published  in  the  report  of  the  case,  is  written  entirely 
in  this  language.  Its  introduction  is  worth  translating,  though,  of  course, 
a  translation  cannot  present  the  vivacity  of  the  original.     He  says : 

"  He  who  amasses  a  great  fortune  sov/s  the  seeds  of  a  great  lawsuit, 
which  germinate  after  his  death.     This  apothegm  of  an  Indian  Philos- 


^-<y. 


FHANCOIS-XAVIKU   MAUTIN. 


XXXV 


hor  witncHHcs, 
!i('h  with  the 
)t('  ail  opinion 
;u  dim,  and  In 
hen  tlu!  clerk 
nrt  written  on 
more  than  to 
10  had  to  a'nin 
V  to  nign.  It 
;no(l  his  nanu; 

He  could  not 
ce  183(5,  or  at 
n,  witness  said 

1844,  wluMi  lie 
ff:  l)eliovcs  the 
nfinc  the  edgoH 

the  cd}»es,  but 
ink.  WitncHH 
I  the  form  of  a 

by  feeling,  but 
less  on  one  or 
out  of  this  ten 
recollection  of 

which  it  might 

ion  of  evading 

to  the  alleged 
I)roperty,  and 
lif  his  intention 
|tin,  he  replied : 
de  ma  fortune 
oblige  de  faire 
ent  comme  je 

^neral  Elmore, 
by  Mr.  Grima, 

late  day,  and 
written  entirely 

igh,  of  course. 
|He  says : 

great  lawsuit, 
llndian  Philos- 


nphor,  if  I  am  not  deceived,  haH  never  prevented  some  men,  in  every 
countrv  of  the  civilized  world,  from  piling  up  during  all  the  days  of  their 
life,  riches,  which  they  know  how  to  enjoy  but  in  one  way,  in  looking  at 
them.  Hut  experieueo  has  often  proved  that  the  Haying  in  correct,  und 
the  present  action  is  an  example  of  its  truth." 

Fraiivoif'-^^'i^'i''*'  Martin,  the  architect  of  his  own  fortune,  arriving  in 
litis  voutli  in  the  United  States,  was  one  of  those  men  not  often  met  with 
liiow-a-<lays,  to  whom  study,  obstinate  toil,  and  the  constant  exercise  of 
Ithe  thinking  faculty  were  prime  necessities  of  life.    Two  passions  appeared 
[to  rule  hinj :  that  of  fame  as  a  savant  and  jurist,  and  that  of  riches.    His 
5Xternal  life  was  in  some  sort  that  of  a  philosopher  dwelling  aj>art  from 
ill  mundane  vanities.    And,  in  his  interior  life,  almost  always  alone  with 
himself,  he  develo{)ed  with  i»eculiar  wis<lom  the  re8our(;es  which  his  own 
talent  created  for  him,  whether  to  enlarge  his  reputation  as  a  lawyer  and 
magistrate,  or  to  augment  the  cash  which  he  ha<l  laid  up  by  his  toil 
md  his  economy.      *       *      For  thirty  years  his  ear  was  carressed  by 
he  most  flattering  testimonials  of  a  high  consideration,  both  as  a  savant, 
md  as  a  judge  of  integrity  and  i)urity.      He  has  descended  to  the  tomb, 
jscorted  by  a  numerous  procession  composed  of  all  that  our  city  contains 
)f  respectability.     But  in  giving  up  his  mortal  part  to  the  earth,  our 
^onnnon  mother,  he  has  left  a  will,  by  which  ho  disposes,  in  favor  of  his 
)rother,  of  a  fortune  of  nearly  $400,000.     And  this  judge,  this  president 
>f  our  Supreme  Court,  celebrated  for  his  intellectual  capacities,  and  his 
listinguished  judicial  mind,  who  has  been  able  for  thirty  years,  during 
»ine  or  ten  of  which  he  had  lost  his  sight,  to  write  out  and  to  pronounce 
lecisions  which  many  considered  as  oracles,  has  not  been  able  to  escape 
the  severity  of  the  sentence  of  the  Hindoo  philosopher.     His  death  has 
Jiven  life  to  a  lawsuit ;  and  in  this  suit,  brought  in  the  name  of  the  State, 
\o  is  represented  as  incapable  of  making  an  olographic  testament,  and 
ts  annulment  is  demanded !     A  supplemental  petition  is  presented,  in 
jrhich  we  recognize  manifestly  that  this  alleged  incapacity  springs  only 
;f|fom  an  imagination  burning  to  obtain  at  least  some  scrap  of  this  opulent 
iccession ;  and,  in  which,  wishing  to  arrive  more  surely  at  this  goal, 
ley  accuse  him  of  having  made  by  his  will  a  trust  prohibited  by  our 
Jode." 

:^  Mr.  Mazuroau  proceeds  at  great  length  to  argue  the  questions  presented, 
id  the  counsel  on  both  sides  ransacked  the  history  of  the  legal  world, 
jrom  the  time  of  tho  Ten  Tables  down.  There  was  some  plausibility,  at 
Irst  sight,  in  the  theory  that  a  blind  man  could  not  make  an  olographic 
|rill.  To  be  such  a  will,  it  must  be  dated,  written,  and  signed,  entirely  by 
|he  testator ;  it  was  not  necessary  that  it  should  be  witnessed,  and  it  was 
i»ot ;  and  could  it  be  said  that  a  blind  man,  who  could  not  read  what  he 
«ad  written,  who  could  not  tell  whether  he  had  ink  in  his  pen  or  not,  who 


li      11 


XXXVl 


MEMOIR  OP 


!; 


'       if'''r' 

1  1 

i 

could  not  be  supposed  to  know,  of  himself,  whether  his  intentions  had 
been  correctly  expressed,  be  able  to  write  a  will  of  this  sort,  which  would, 
by  itself,  satisfy  the  requirements  of  a  will ;  that  is,  make  proof  that  the 
dispositions  it  contained,  emanated  from  the  testator,  and  embodied  all 
his  intentions? 

But  the  Supreme  Court  decided,  firstly,  that  the  will  was  valid,  it  being 
clearly  proved  that  it  was  dated,  written  and  signed  by  the  testator,  that 
if  he  made  use  of  mechanical  contrivances,  to  assist  him,  they  could  only 
be  considered  as  "  helps  to  write,"  in  the  nature,  for  example,  of  spectacles ; 
that  such  helps  would  not  deceive  him  as  an  amanuensis  might  deceive  a 
blind  man,  and  that  the  document  must  be  presumed,  in  the  absence  of 
clear  proof  to  the  contrary,  to  express  the  intentions  of  the  testator. 

Upon  the  second  point,  the  Court  found,  as  matter  of  fact,  that  the 
venerable  man  had  not  been  guilty  of  violating  the  laws  he  had  so  long 
labored  to  expound  and  to  perfect.  They  found  that  the  relatives,  in 
whose  favor  he  was  accused  of  having  made  secret  dispositions,  were 
persons  with  whom  he  was  really  unacquainted,  and  they  enquired, 
through  jheir  organ,  Judge  Rost,  who  delivered  the  opinion  : 

"  Upoii  what  principle  of  human  action  can  it  be  explained  that  a  man 
of  great  intellect,  occupying  the  highest  judicial  position  of  the  State, 
known  to  us  all  from  our  youth  as  having  been  a  law  unto  himself  and 
who,  whatever  may  have  been  his  oddities  and  faults,  justly  prided 
himself  on  the  purity  of  his  life,  should  have  died  perpetrating  a  vile 
fraud  for  the  benefit  of  relatives  unknown  to  him?" 

" There  is  another  view,"  continues  Judge  Rost,  "far  more  consistent 
with  his  character.  The  love  of  independence  was  a  passion  with  him, 
and  the  things  of  this  earth,  by  which  independence  is  secured,  had  a 
large  share  in  his  affections.  His  desire  that  his  worldly  goods  should 
be  kept  together  after  his  death,  exhibited  by  the  pain  he  felt  at  the  mere 
suspicion  that  his  brother  would  sell  them  and  leave  the  country,  far  out- 
weighed in  his  mind  his  attachment  for  those  persons.  We  believe  in 
the  sincerity  of  his  anguish.  The  last  looks  of  the  man  of  wealth,  dying 
without  posterity,  are  cast  upon  the  property  he  has  amassed ;  his  last 
hope  on  earth  is,  that  his  estate  may  live  and  continue  to  represent  him. 
The  defendant  in  this  case,  (the  brother),  was  the  instrument  selected 
to  give  life  to  that  cherished  fiction.  We  have  no  doubt  of  his  being 
really  universal  legatee,  nor  that  the  intentions  of  the  testator  were,  as  he 
expressed  them,  that  his  brother  should  continue  to  be,  in  all  respects,  un 
autre  lui-meme. 

"The  representative  of  the  State  has  faithfully  discharged,  what,  under 
the  information  he  had  received,  he  conceived  to  be  an  official  duty.  On 
us  devolves  *.he  more  grateful  task,  to  determine  that  he  was  misled  by 


FRANgOIS-XAVIER  MARTIN. 


XXXVll 


intentions  had 

t,  which  would, 

proof  that  the 

d  embodied  all 

s  valid,  it  being 
le  testator,  that 
they  could  only 
e,  of  spectacles ; 
night  deceive  a 
1  the  absence  of 
e  testator, 
f  fact,  that  the 
he  had  so  long 
the  relatives,  in 
jpositions,  were 
they  enquired, 
n: 

ined  that  a  man 

)n  of  the  State, 

iito  himself  and 

justly  prided 

jetrating  a  vile 

more  consistent 
ssion  with  him, 
secured,  had  a 
V  goods  should 
'elt  at  the  mere 
ountry,  farout- 
We  believe  in 
wealth,  dying 
assed ;  his  last 
represent  him. 
ument  selected 
)t  of  his  being 
ator  were,  as  he 
all  respects,  un 

3d,  what,  under 

icial  duty.    On 

was  misled  by 


that  information,  and  that  the  name  of  rran9ois-Xavier  Martin  stands 
unsullied  by  fraud. 

"  It  is  ordered,  that  the  judgment  rendered  in  this  case,  in  favor  of  the 
State,  be  reversed,  and  that  there  be  judgment  for  the  defendant." 

And  so  terminated  this  singular  suit. 

It  may  be  added,  as  a  pleasant  fact,  that  after  the  death  of  Paul 
Barthelemy  Martin,  the  bulk  of  the  estate  went  to  a  niece,  who  is  still,  it 
is  believed,  living  in  southern  France,  and  by  reason  of  her  character,  is 
known  as  the  Providence  of  the  community  where  she  resides.  Such  a 
result  may,  perhaps,  justify  the  painful  economies  of  the  venerable  judge. 


X, 

Looking  back  at  the  life  of  Martin,  it  appears,  that  aside  from  the 

eccentricities,  which,  in  a  certain  sense  made  him  all  the  more  picturesque, 

I  he  was  a  man  of  exceptional  robustness,  who,  in  a  profession  which  may 

|lbe  easily  perverted,  found  opportunity  to  do  something  of  permanent 

f  value  to  his  adopted  country  and  his  race. 

A  distinguished  orator  of  New  England  said  of  one  of  her  most 
eminent  advocates,  as  the  net  result  of  his  career,  that  "  he  was  one  who 
%nade  it  safe  to  murder,  and  of  whose  health  thieves  enquired  before  they 
^Ibegan  to  steal."  This  epigram,  like  most  epigrams  of  the  kind,  was 
^njust  in  its  special  application,  yet  it  contained  a  kernel  of  abstract 
i!|truth. 

No  matter  how  successful  a  mere  advocate  may  be,  his  reputation  aftei* 
ill  is  little  better  than  that  of  the  actor  who  struts  and  frets  his  little 
lour  upon  the  stage,  and  then  is  heard  no  more ;  or  of  the  sweet  singer, 
[ike  Malibran,  whose  voice  could  not  be  described  even  by  those  who  had 
leard  it,  and  whose  fame  for  those  who  never  heard  it  rests  in  a  tradition 
rague  as  moonlight.    And  after  the  death  of  the  great  lawyer,  when  he 
pmes  to  be  tried  in  the  Egyptian  fashion,  to  find  what  manner  of  man 
ie  was,  the  question  will  be,  not  how  many  verdicts  did  he  gain  by 
Appeals  to  the  passions  of  a  jury ;  not,  how  many  times  did  he  success- 
illy  wrench  and  twist  the  rules  of  law  in  such  a  way  as  suited  his 
|lient's  case;   but,  what  was  his  influence  in  developing  in  fair  and 
ruitful  forms  the  jurisprudence  of  his  country ;  what  old  abuse  did  he 
lestroy,  what  new  and  needed  reform  did  he  construct;  did  he,  like 
l^ribonian,  convert  the  laws  of  an  empire  which  had  been  a  wilderness 
into  a  garden  ;  did  he,  like  Domat,  trace  the  civil  law  in  its  natural  order 
ms  it  flows  from  those  two  great  commands  of  love  to  God  and  love  to 
•man  ;  did  he,  like  Lord  Hardwicke,  become  the  father  of  equity ;  did  he, 
T^like  Stowell,  well  nigh  create  for  modern  commercial  nations  the  rules 


XXXVlll 


MEMOIR  OF  FRANgOIS-XAVIER  MARTIN. 


!      i 


of  belligerent  rights ;  did  he,  like  John  Marshall,  expound  the  consti- 
tution of  a  great  and  new  country;  did  he  put  the  results  of  his 
experience  in  a  good  book,  for  the  benefit  of  his  successors  in  the 
profession? 

If  any  of  these  questions  can  be  answered  in  favor  of  the  lawyer,  fame 
and  honest  fame,  shall  be  decreed  him. 

But  if  he  has  lived  merely  for  himself,  a  sharp  attorney,  an  agile 
advocate,  he  might  almost  as  well  have  been  an  opera  dancer,  and  over 
his  grave  we  could  only  think  with  Hamlet : 

"  Where  be  his  quiddets  now,  his  quillets,  his  cases,  his  tenures  and  his 
tricks  ?  Why  does  he  suffer  this  rude  knave  to  knock  him  about  the 
sconce  with  a  dirty  shovel  and  will  not  tell  him  of  his  action  of  battery  ? 
Humph !  This  fellow  might  be  in's  time  a  great  buyer  of  land  with  his 
statutes,  his  recognisances,  his  fines,  his  double  vouchers,  his  recoveries. 
Is  this  the  fine  of  his  fines  and  the  recovery  of  his  recoveries,  to  have  his 
fine  pate  full  of  fine  dirt  ?  Will  his  vouchers  vouch  him  no  more  of  his  pur- 
chases *  *  than  the  length  and  breadth  of  a  pair  of  indentures  ?  The  very 
conveyances  of  his  lands  will  hardly  lie  in  this  box,  and  must  the  inheritor 
himself  have  no  more  ?  " 

We  may  be  sure  that  over  the  tomb  of  Martin  the  grim  jests  of  the 
melancholy  Dane  could  find  no  proper  place. 

A  marble  bust,  which  adorns  the  rooms  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Louisiana,  represents  the  features  of  the  venerable  man,  but  it  recalls  no 
such  sarcasm.  They  are  the  features  of  one  who  was  truly  honest,  who 
was  soundly  learned,  and  who,  above  all,  made  his  laborious  life  of  lasting 
value  to  the  world. 

William  Wirt  Howe, 

New  Orleans,  December,  1881. 


ii 


nd  the  consti- 
rcsults  of  hin 
cessors   in  tlie 

le  lawyer,  fame 

>rney,  an  agile 
,ncer,  and  over 

tenures  and  his 
him  about  the 
ion  of  battery  ? 
)f  land  with  his 
,  his  recoveries, 
■ies,  to  have  his 
more  of  his  pur- 
purea ?  The  very 
ust  the  inheritor 

rim  jests  of  the 

)reme  Court  of 
but  it  recalls  no 
y  honest,  who 
)us  life  of  lasting    J 

■".•SI 

Wirt  Howe. 


-^jsjSza^s:^ 


^r^  J^ 


>337> 


^ 


^ 


^-z>r 


^^ 


(^y^<^ 


:^- 


^^s«a« 


-fe 


^^. 


^    ^^^ 


^a^ 


fil 

«l 

i?i 

^11 

1 

A 

■  i 

HISTORY 


OF 


LOUISIANA. 


PRELIMINARY   CHAPTER. 


Topographical  View  of  the  State  of  Loimiana. 


Louisiana,  admitted  into  the  Confederacy  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  on  the  thirtieth  of  April,  1812,  is  the  southwesternmost  state. 

It  Ues  from  about  the  twenty-ninth  to  the  thirty-fourth  degree  of  north 
latitude  and  between  the  eighty-ninth  and  ninety-fifth  degree  aad  thirty 
minutes  west  longitude  from  Greenwich. 

Its  limits  are  fixed  in  the  preamble  of  its  constitution,  and  an  act  of  its 
legislature  of  the  twelfth  of  August,  1812. 

The  southern  limit  is  the  gulf  of  Mexico,  from  Pearl  to  Sabine  river. 

The  western  separates  the  state,  and  the  United  States,  from  the 
Spanish  province  of  Texas.  It  begins  on  the  gulf,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Sabine,  and  follows  a  line  drawn  along  the  middle  of  that  stream,  so  as  to 
include  all  islands  to  the  thirty-second  degree  of  north  latitude  and  thence 
due  north  to  the  thirty-third  degree. 

The  northern  separates  the  state,  on  the  western  bank  of  the  Mississippi 
from  the  territory  of  Arkansas,  and  on  the  eastern  from  the  state  of 
Mississippi.  The  line  begins  on  the  point  at  which  the  western  limit 
terminates,  and  runs  along  the  northern  part  of  the  thirty-third  degree,  to 
a  point  in  that  parallel,  in  the  middle  of  the  Mississippi  river ;  on  the 
western  side,  it  begins  at  a  point  in  the  middle  part  of  the  river  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  thirty-first  degree,  and  runs  on  that  parallel  to  the 
eastern  branch  of  Pearl  river. 

The  eastern  separates,  in  its  whole  length,  the  states  of  Louisiana  and 
Mississippi.  It  is  a  line  drawn  in  the  middle  of  the  Mississippi  river 
between  the  two  points,  already  mentioned,  and  another  drawn  from  the 
eastern  termination  of  the  north  boundary  on  Pearl  river,  running  along 
the  middle  of  that  stream  to  its  mouth  in  the  estuary,  which  connects 
lake  Pontchartrain  Avith  the  gulf. 

The  area,  within  these  limits,  is  a  superfice  of  about  forty-eight  thousand 
•square  miles :  Louisiana  being,  in  extent,  equal  to  North  Carolina,  and 
superior  to  every  other  state  in  the  union,  except  Virginia,  Missouri, 
Georgia  and  Illinois. 


m 


wh 


111"'"' 


2  iriSTOUV    OK    LOUItllANA. 

The  population  to  the  square  mile;  is  tliree  persons ;  equal  to  tluit  of 
Alabama  and  Indiana,  and  inferior  to  that  of  every  other  state,  exeei)t 
Illinois  and  Missouri. 

The  aggregate  i)opulati(tn  is  of  one  hundred  and  forty-six  thousand 

S arsons ;  inferior  to  those  of  every  state,  except  Alahainn,  Rhode  Island, 
elaware,  Mississip])i,  Missouri  and  Illinois;  considerably  below  the  one- 
half  of  the  averaged  pojudation  of  the  states,  which  is  about  four  hundred 
thousand. 

The  free  population  is  of  eighty  thousand  one  hundred  and  eighty-three 
persons;  of  which  seventy  thousand  four  hundred  and  seventy-three  are 
white,  and  nine  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ten  colored. 

Agriculture  employs  fifty  thousand  one  hundred  and  sixty-eight,  and 
manufactures  five  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-seven.  The 
number  of  foreigners  not  naturalized  is  three  thousand  and  sixty-two. 

Although  Louisiana  lies  between  the  twenty-eighth  and  thirty-fourth 
degrees  of  north  latitude,  its  temperature  widely  differs  from  that  of  the 
coimtries  lying  between  the  same  parallels  in  the  t)ld  world  :  the  Cape  de 
Verd  islands  and  the  southern  parts  of  vVlgiers,  Tripoli,  Tunis,  Morocco, 
Egypt,  Arabia  Felix,  Persia,  Chiiui  and  Japan. 

We  must  ascend  the  Mediterranean,  to  reach  a  country  in  which  the 
degree  of  cold,  which  is  felt  in  Louisiana,  is  experienced,  and  descend 
about  ten  degrees  towards  the  equator  to  find  a  country  in  which  the 
heat  felt  in  Louisiana  prevails. 

Cold  is  seldom  so  intense  in  the  city  of  Nice,  or  Savoy,  nor  heat  greater 
in  Havana,  than  in  New  Orleans,  which  lies  within  the  thirtieth  degree 
of  northern  latitude,  and  is  consequently  never  approached  by  the  sun. 
in  his  zenith,  nearer  than  six  degrees  and  a  half;  for  the  variety  of 
temperature,  observable  as  the  result  of  other  circumstances  than  the 
relative  propinquity  to  the  equinoctial  line,  is  nowhere  more  obvious  than 
in  Louisiana.  In  New  Orleans,  during  the  months  of  June,  July  and 
August,  the  thermometer  rises  to  the  ninety-eighlh  and  even  the  hundredth 
degree  of  Farenheit's  scale;  which  is  the  greatest  degree  heat  of  the 
human  body  when  in  health.  In  winter  it  sonietinics  falls  to  seventeen  : 
and  Ulloa  relates  that  he  has  seen  the  Mississii)[)i  frozen,  bef(  re  New 
Orleans,  for  several  yards  from  the  shore.  The  variations  in  the  ther- 
mometer are  frequent  and  sudden :  it  falls  and  rises,  Avithin  a  few  hour^. 
from  ten  to  twenty-four  degrees. 

Summer  is  the  longest  season;  it  continues  for  five  months,  besidi'^ 
many  hot  days  in  March  and  A])ril,  October  and  Xovend)er.  In  Jum 
and  July  heat  is  diminished  by  eastern  breezes  and  al)undant  rains;  tin 
hottest  days  are  in  August.  In  this  nionlh,  :ind  llic  first  ])iirt  <ii 
September,  heat  is  less  supportable  than  in  the  West  Indies,  from  tin 
absence  of  the  eastern  breeze. 

The  principal  causes  of  heat,  in  New  Orleans  and  its  vicinity,  nre  tin 
equality  of  the  soil,  the  great  timber  with  which  the  neighboring  c()nntr\ 
is  covered,  and  the  feebleness  of  the  wind,  which  does  not  allow  it  to 
penetrate  the  inhabited  jiarts  of  the  country  :  add  to  this,  tlie  <listance  <ron. 
the  sea,  which  prevents  the  wind,  that  reigns  tliere,  from  reaching  the  cit\ 
in  which  the  air  is  commonly  still  during  the  hot  months.  If  the  wiml 
comes  from  the  north,  it  reaches  New  Orleans,  after  passing  over  a  vnst 
extent  of  plains  and  woods,  loading  itself  with  their  hot  vapor. 

Heat,  intense  as  it  is,  does  not  seem  as  in  other  countries,  to  concentrate 


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HISTORY   OF    LOUISIANA. 


8 


(I  eighty-throe 
unty-three  uiv 

xty-eight,  Jin<l 
y'-seven.  The 
sixty-two. 
1  thirty-fourth 
)ni  that  of  the 
I :  the  Cape  (U- 
unis,  Morocco, 

in  which  the 

,  and  desceiKl 

in  which  the 

lor  heat  greater 
hirtieth  degree 
id  by  the  sun. 
the  variety  t)f 
xnces  than  the 
re  obvious  than 
rune,  July  and 
I  the  hundredth 
ee  heat  of  the 

s  to  seventeen  ; 
|en,  befi  re  New 

lis  in  the  thev- 
liin  a  few  hours. 

luonths,  besi<le> 
iil,er.  In  Junt 
dant  rains ;  the 
first  pnrt  mC 
Indies,  from  tlif 

:ieinity,  nre  tli' 
|l)oring  eountry 

not  allow  it  to 
lie  distance  <roni 
}aching  the  city. 
If  the  winil 
Ising  over  a  viist 

kpor. 

,  to  concentrate 


itself  in  the  earth  and  warm  it  to  a  certain  do|)th ;  on  the  contrary,  the 
water  of  the  Mississii)pi,  taken  from  th((  surface  is  warm,  and  from  below, 
cold.  This  deinonstrates  that  the  heat,  which  prevails  in  the  country, 
does  not  penetrate  below,  and  is  accidentiU,  generated  by  the  absence  of 
wind,  or  the  action  of  the  sun  on  woods,  marshes  and  swami)s. 

The  eilect  of  great  heats  is  fidt  in  a  manner  not  common  elsewhere.  In 
walking,  after  the  setting  of  the  sun,  one  passes  suddenly  into  a  much 
hotter  atmosphere  than  that  which  precteded,  and  after  twenty  or  thirty 
steps,  the  cooler  air  is  felt :  as  if  the  country  was  divided  into  bands  or 
zones  of  different  temperatures.  In  the  space  of  an  liour,  three  or  four  of 
these  sudden  transitions  are  perceptible. 

This  is  not  easily  accounted  for.  It  results  probal)ly  from  the  burning 
of  the  woods,  Avhic'h  takes  place  after  gathering  the  crop,  and  is  one  of  the 
ordinary  causes  of  heat  in  the  air,  in  the  direction  of  the  fire.  The  land 
being  equal  in  quality  and  form,  it  cannot  be  imagined  that  the  rays  of  the 
sun  are  more  tixed  in  one  spot  than  another.  It  is  likely  that  some  of  the 
cokunns  of  air,  considered  horizontally,  remain  unmoved  since  the  setting 
of  the  sun,  and  thus  })rcserve  the  heat  it  communicated  ;  while  others,  set 
in  motion  by  a  light  or  variable  wintl,  lose  theirs.'  These  mutations  are 
p('rceived  when  there  is  no  wind. 

In  the  fall,  which  is  the  most  pleasant  season  in  Louisiana,  and  often 
prolongs  itself  during  the  first  winter  months,  the  sky  is  remarkably 
serene;  especially,  when  the  wind  is  northerly.  In  October,  the  ther- 
mometer fre(iuently  rises  to  the  seventy-eighth  degree,  which  is  the 
greatest  heat  in  Spain. 

In  a  country,  in  which  tlie  heat  of  summer  is  so  great  and  so  long,  it 

might  not  be  presumed  that  the  cold  of  winter  should  be,  at  times,  so 

[severe  as  experience  shows.     Sharp   frosts   have  occurred  as  early  as 

November,  but  their  duration,  at  this  period,  is  extremely  short.    In  the 

latter  part  of  December,  in  January  and  the  first  part  of  February,  the 

mercury  has  been  known  to  fall  many  degrees  below  the  freezing  point. 

[But  cokl  days  are  rare  in  Louisiana,  even  in  winter.     In  this  season,  heat 

[succeeds  to  cold  with  such  rapidity,  that  after  three  days  of  hard  frost,  as 

[many  generally  follow,  in  which  the  average  heat  of  summer  prevails. 

S])ring  is  an  extremely  short  season.  A  Louisianian  is  hardly  sensible 
of  its  presence,  when  the  suffocating  air  of  summer  is  felt,  for  a  while,  and 
tlien  winter  days  return. 

The  winds  are  generally  erratic  nnd  changeable,  blowing  within  a  short 
3i)a('e  of  time,  from  every  i)oint  of  the  compass  without  regularity,  and 
Seldom  two  successive  d.ays  from  any  one. 

In  July.  August  and  September,  tliero  are  frequent  squalls,  with  much 
hiiii,  tliunder  iin>l  liglitning,  iind  sometimes  gales  of  wind  from  the  south 
md  St )Ut Invest. 

From  tlie  middle  of  October  to  Ai)ril,  the  northern  wind  prevails  and 

fonietinies  Itlows  very  hard  :  when  it  changes  to  the  eastward  or  southward, 
\  is  commonly  attended  with  close  hazy  or  foggy  weather. 
h    In  Ajjril,  May  and  the  first  jiart  of  June,  sea  and  land  breezes  prevail 
-iind  refresh  the  air. 

-^   The  south  and  southwest  winds  bring  rain  in  winter ;  when  they  cease, 

,Jthe  northwest  wind  [)revails,  and  cold  weather  begins.     When  it  continues, 

^pnd  its  strength  increases,  it  infallibly  freezes.     When  the  wind  passes 

"''T"rom  east  to  west,  without  stopping^  cold  is  neither  great  nor  lasting ;  for 


!    f 


IIISTOKY   OF   LOnSIANA. 


the  wind  passes  promptly  to  the  east  and  from  thence  to  south  and  south- 
west, and  the  rain  hegins. 

The  north  and  northwest  winds  are  those  which  brinj?  cold  and  hard 
frost  in  winter,  and  a  suft'ocating  heat  in  sunnner. 

The  cause  of  the  cold  they  brinj?  is  the  same  in  Louisiana,  as  in  all  the 
eastern  parts  of  North  America,  The  immense  extent  of  country,  covered 
with  snov/  over  which  they  pass,  prohably  from  the  i)ole ;  wliile,  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  Atlantic,  the  continents  of  Europe  an<l  Asia  end  in 
the  seventy-fifth  degree  of  latitude,  and  are  sei)arated  from  the  pole,  by  a 
vast  expanse  of  sea.  But  there  cannot  be  any  other  cause  of  the  heat 
the^  bring  than  the  large  plains,  thick  woods  and  wide  pieces  of  water, 
which  they  cross ;  the  humidity  of  which,  acted  upon  by  the  intense  heat 
of  the  sun,  gives  rise  to  ardent  vapors,  the  heat  of  whicfi  being  communi- 
cated to  the  air,  instead  of  cooling,  renders  it  more  suffocating  than  in 
calm  weather. 

Ulloa  noticed  in  Louisiana  a  particularity,  which  he  says  is  not  observed 
elsewhere.  At  certain  times,  when  rains  are  abundant,  a  yellow,  thick 
coat,  resembling  brimstone  appears  floating  on  puddles  and  the  big  vats  or 
butts,  in  which  rain  water  is  collected  and  preserved :  it  is  gathered  in 
abundance  along  the  brims  of  these  receptacles.  The  atmosphere,  he 
observes,  is  loaded  with  sulphureous  particles,  as  is  evinced  by  frequent 
tempests ;  it  being  rare  that  rain  should  not  be  accompanied  by  violent 
thunder.  This,  he  concludes,  experience  demonstrates  to  proceed  from 
thick  woods,  filled  with  resinous  trees,  the  subtle  parts  of  which  are 
exhaled,  and  mixi-ig  with  the  sulphureous  parts  of  the  atmosphere,  unite 
with  them,  and  are  together  precipitated  with  the  clouds  that  bring  down 
the  tempest.  This  sulphureous  substance  is  so  abundant  and  ordinary, 
and  at  times  so  much  more  perceptible  than  at  others,  that  this  circum- 
stance has  given  rise  to  the  popular  error  that  a  rain  of  sulphur  falls. 

Before  we  proceed  to  take  a  view  of  the  face  of  the  country,  the  gulf  on 
which  the  state  is  situated,  and  the  mighty  stream  which  traverses  it. 
attract  our  attention. 

The  gulf  of  Mexico  may  be  considered  as  a  great  whirlpool.  The  general 
course  of  the  waters,  in  the  Atlantic  ocean,  as  well  as  the  current  of  the 
air,  within  and  near  the  middle  zone,  being  from  east  to  west,  the  force  of 
the  sea  comes  upon  the  West  India  islands  and  their  lengths  are  in  that 
direction.  When  the  waters  get  into  the  great  gulf,  they  are  obstructed 
everywhere,  and  as  it  were  turned  round  by  the  land.  The  great  velocity 
of  this  body  of  water  is  towards  the  equator,  and  it  must  get  out,  where  it 
meets  with  the  least  resistance,  that  is  on  the  side  towards  the  pole,  where 
it  forms  the  strong  current,  or  passage,  called  the  gulf  stream. 

The  natural  course  of  the  waters  therefore,  on  the  northern  part  of  the 
gulf  should  be  from  west  to  east :  but  it  is  partially  changed,  by  frequent 
currents  which  are  very  unequal,  depending  certainly  on  the  winds,  but 
seldom  on  that  which  blows  on  the  spot. 

By  the  general  law  of  the  tides,  there  should  be  flood  for  six  hours  and 
ebb  during  the  six  following.  But  here,  an  ebb  will  continue  for  eighteen 
or  twenty  hours,  and  a  flood  during  six  or  four  only,  and  vice  versa. 

A  southern  wind  always  raises  and  keeps  the  waters  up  in  the  bays,  and  ■ 
a  northern  almost  entirely  empties  them.    Yet,  it  must  be  allowed  that 
these  ebbs  and  flows  are  not  eq^uable  in  their  continuance.    Upon  an 
accurate  observation  of  them,  we  discover  a  tendency  to  two  ebbs  and  flows 


?s.- 


IflSTOUY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


in  twenty-tour  li(»urs,   though  they  he   overpowered   hy   the  winds  and 
currents. 

The  entniiu'c  of  the  havs  and  rivers  on  the  gulf  is  defended  generally 
by  a  shallow  sand  hank,  forming  a  har  farther  out  towards  the  sea  than  is 
usual  elsewhere.  The  depth  on  the -har  is  not  at  all  proportioned  to  that 
within.  The  mouths  of  the  rivers  are  fre(iuently  divided  into  difl'erent 
channels,  hy  swanijis  covered  with  reeds,  owing  prohahly  to  the  conflict 
between  the  currents  and  the  rise  of  the  river,  in  certain  seasons  of  the 
year. 

The  water  of  the  gulf  is  not  much  heavier  than  the  common.  An 
aerometer,  immersihle  in  common  water  with  a  weight  of  two  ounces  and 
twentv-two  grains  was  found  so  in  that  of  the  gulf,  with  one  or  two  ounces 
and  iifty-three  grains,  according  tc^  an  experience  of  Father  Laval,  at  the 
distan(!e  of  ninety  leagues  from  the  coast.  Fift^  leagues  inside  of  the 
Mediterranean,  on  the  coast  of  Spain,  near  Almeria,  the  same  instrument 
floated  on  sea  water  with  a  weight,  less  than  two  ounces  and  sixty-six 
grains.  The  reason  of  this  difference,  he  concluded  was,  that  larger  rivers 
flow  into  the  gulf,  esi)e(!ially  the  Mississippi,  hringing  into  it  a  greater 
quantity  of  fresh  water  than  those  which  flow  into  tlie  Mediterranean. 

The  ]\Iississii)pi  is  remarkable  by  its  great  length,  uncommon  depth, 
and  the  muddiness  and  salubrity  of  its  waters,  after  its  junction  with  the 
Missouri. 

The  source  of  this  mighty  river  is  supposed  to  be  about  three  thousand 
miles  from  the  gulf. 

From  the  falls  of  St.  Anthony,  it  glides  with  a  pleasant  and  clear  stream, 
and  becomes  comparatively  narrow  before  it  reaches  the  Missouri,  the 
muddy  waters  of  which  discolor  those  of  the  Mississippi  to  the  sea. 

Its  rapidity,  l)readth  and  other  peculiarities,  now  give  it  the  majestic 
appearance  of  the  Missouri,  which  affords  a  more  extensive  navigation, 
and  is  a  longer,  broader  and  deeper  river,  which  has  been  ascended  near 
three  thousand  miles,  and  preserves  its  width  and  depth  to  that  distance. 

From  their  junction  to  nearly  opposite  the  Ohio,  the  western  bank  of  the 
Mis -lissippi  (with  the  exception  of  a  few  places)  is  the  highest,  thence  to 
bayou  Manshac,  it  is  the  lowest,  and  has  not  the  least  discernible  rise  or 
eminence  for  seven  hundred  and  fifty  miles.  Thence  to  the  sea,  there  is 
not  any  eminence  on  either  bank,  but  the  eastern  appears  a  little  the 
highest,  as  far  as  the  English  turn,  from  whence  both  gradually  decline  to 
the  gulf,  where  they  are  not  more  than  two  or  three  feet  higher  than  the 
common  surface  of  the  water. 

The  direction  of  the  channel  is  so  crooked,  from  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio 
to  New  Orleans,  that  the  distance  is  eight  hundred  and  fifty-six  miles  by 
water,  and  four  hundred  and  fifty  only  by  land. 

The  water  of  the  Mississippi  appears  foul,  turbid  and  unwholesome,  but 
in  reality  it  is  not  so.  It  is  so  loaded  with  mud,  that  being  put  in  a  vase, 
it  yields  a  sediment ;  and  the  sight  of  a  quantity  of  earthy  particles  is 
offensive.  In  the  highest  floods,  it  unroots  and  carries  with  it  large  trunks 
of  trees  to  a  great  distance :  some  covered  with  verdure,  others  drv  and 
rotten.  This  abundance  of  sound  and  decayed  timber  cannot  fail  to 
impart  some  of  their  substance  to  the  element  on  which  it  floats.  Yet  the 
mixture  is  not  perceptible,  and  experience  has  shown  that  the  water  is 
wholesome. 

The  river,  receives  a  number  of  other  streams,  the  waters  of  some  of 


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HIHTOKY   OK    r-OllSIANA. 


which  arc  saltiwli  and  iiiiijrcjznati'd  with  tiutiillic  piirticlcs :  Imt  the  water 
of  the  main  river  prcdoiiiiiuitcs  so  much  over  those  of  tiic  trihiitary 
hranehcH,  that  it  preservt-s  its  sahihritv. 

Duriujj;  the  Hummer,  wliile  the  Mississippi  is  low,  the  water  is  ( Icjir,  l)Ut 
not  HO  good  as  at  its  Hood.  That  <^'  the  si'u  tlieii  ascends  to  a  ^.Tcat 
diHtanee  and  atfects  that  of  the  river,  without  nniderin^'  it  unwholesome. 
The  latter  is  then  warm  on  the  surface,  hut  ]>reserves  its  coolness  helow. 

Although  it  in  so  loaded  with  dirt,  yet  it  does  not  generate  the  stone.  It 
heing  supi)08ed  that,  however  claritied  it  may  he,  it  still  c(»ntinues  to 
contains  Bome  ourthy  particles.  In  many  fandlies,  a  numher  of  jars  are 
used,  in  order  to  give  time  to  the  water  to  yield  its  deposit,  and  tlu;  oldest 
is  used.  After  having  thus  remained  for  a  long  time,  even  f(tr  a  year,  if  a 
portion  of  the  water  he  take.i  in  a  glass,  not  the  least  extraneous  particle 
can  he  discovered,  but  it  ai)i)ears  as  diaphanous  as  crystal ;  yet  if  it 
remain  one  or  two  days,  there  will  he  seen  at  the  hottom  a  suhtle  earth 
resembling  soap.  A  coat  of  this  is  seen  floating  in  the  large  jars,  in  which 
the  water  is  put  to  settle.  Common  people,  especially  those  who  navigate 
the  Mississippi,  use  its  water  in  the  most  turbid  state  :  and  although  they 
do  so,  while  they  are  weary  and  sweating,  there  is  no  example  of  its 
having  proved  hurtful. 

The  coolness  of  the  water  may  be  attributed  to  the  northern  clime,  in 
which  the  river  has  its  source,  and  the  great  (quantity  of  snow  which  it 
receives,  or  in  which  it  is  said  to  originate,  and  the  ice  it  brings  down  from 
the  vast  plains  west  to  north,  as  far  as  the  forty-fifth  degree.  In  this  long 
course,  it  carries  away  a  prodigious  quantity  of  earthy  particles,  which, 
being  kept  constantly  in  motion,  are  so  subtilized,  that  viewed  in  a  glass, 
they  appear  like  a  smoke,  filling  its  capacity.  This  great  subtility  is 
doubtless  what  communicates  to  the  water,  that  wholesome  quality,  which 
facilitates  digestion,  excites  appetite  and  maintains  health,  without 
producing  any  of  the  inconveniences,  which  other  waters  occasion. 

The  Mississippi  rises  at  its  flood  higher  than  the  neighboring  land,  and 
inundates  it,  where  it  is  not  protected  by  an  artificial  bank  or  levee. 
Although  the  river  be  deep  and  wide,  its  ravag(^s,  before  it  was  conlined 
by  such  banks,  on  the  contiguous  fields  was  not  very  great,  owing  to  the 

Erofundity  of  its  bed,  which  occasions  the  great  strength  of  its  current  to 
e  below,  where  the  rapidity  and  weight  of  the  water  unite. 

The  water  that  escapes  over  the  levees,  or  oozes  through  them,  joined  to 
that  which  flows  in  places  that  are  unprotected,  as  well  as  the  rain  water, 
never  returns  into  the  river,  but  fills  the  vast  cypress  swamj)s  beyond  th(^ 
tillable  land,  and  finally  find  their  way  into  these  lakes,  on  both"  sides  of 
the  stream,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  sea.  The  declivity  of  the  land  on  the 
eastern  side  towards  lakes  Maurepas  and  Pontchartrain,  shows  that  the 
earth  which  the  water  of  the  Mississip])i  deposited,  formed,  in  course  of 
time,  the  island  on  which  the  city  of  New  Orleans  stands. 

It  is  clear  that  the  bed  of  the  river  rises  in  the  same  proportion  as  its 
banks.  This  is  manifested  by  the  constant  necessity  there  is  of  raising 
the  levees. 

At  the  mouth  of  the  river,  there  is  also  some  evidence  that  its  bed  rises. 
About  the  year  1722,  there  were  twenty-five  feet  of  water  (m  the  bar : 
UUoa  found  twenty  in  1767,  at  the  highest  flood,  and  now  in  182G  there 
are  sixeeen ;  while  the  depth  within  has  ever  remained  the  same.  It  is 
possible  that  the  bar,  at  the  different  mouths  of  the  river,  may  have  risen, 


iriSTOIlY    OK    I.Ol'ISIANA. 


wliilf  the  liottoiu  of  the  1»('<I  within  iiuiv  hiivo  rcnminiMl  uniiltcriMl.  But 
the  mass  of  water,  which  passes  throU}fh  these  mouths,  hein^  tho  saine  aH 
foriiiiTly,  it  follows  that  its  force  at?ainst  tlie  wuvos  of  the  sea  is  not 
altered,  an<l  no  '^iunl  reason  can  appear  whv  the  sea  should  retain  the 
fiaml  to  a  hi^ilier  level  than  before  on  the  hank.  It  is  much  more  natural 
(o  conclude  that  the  hed  of  the  river  has  risen,  wherehy  its  m<»uths  are 
widened  and  it  meets  the  waves  (tf  the  sea  with  less  fon^e,  than  when  it 
canic  iI\von;!;h  deeper  and  narrower  channels. 

The  strcn!j,th  and  rapidity  of  tlu;  (current  Jire  such  in  high  water,  that 
licfnre  steam  was  use(l  in  pro[H'lling  houts,  it  could  not  he  stemmed 
without  much  labor  and  waste  of  time;  although  the  sturdy  navigators 
were  greatly  ixUlvA  by  eddies  or  countercurrents,  which  everywhere  run  in 
the  'tends,  close  to  tin;  shore.  The  current  in  high  water  deseends  at  the 
rate  of  live  and  even  si.\  mil(!s  an  liour,  and  in  low  water  at  the  rate  of 
two  only.  It  is  much  more  rajiid  in  those  places,  where  shoals,  hattures 
or  chisters  of  islands  narrow  the  hed  of  the  river:  the  eircumference  of 
these  shoals  or  battures  is  in  some  ])laces  of  several  miles:  and  they 
render  the  voyage  longer  and  more  dangerous,  at  low  water. 

The  many  heaches  and  breakers  which  have  risen  out  of  the  channel, 
aroc<»nvincing  j)roofsthat  the  land  on  both  sides  forming  the  high  ground 
near  Baton  Ilouge  is  alluvial.  The  bars  that  cross  most  of  the  channels, 
opened  by  the  current,  have  been  multiplied  by  the  means  of  trees  brought 
down  by  the  stream.  One  of  them,  stopped  by  its  roots  or  branches,  in  a 
shallow  place,  is  suttieient  to  oostruet  the  i)as8age  of  a  thousand,  and  to 
fix  them  near  it.  Such  collections  of  trees  are  daily  seen  between  the 
Balize  and  Mississij)i)i,  which  simply  would  supply  a  city  with  fuel  for 
several  years.  No  human  force  being  adequate  to  their  removal,  the  mud 
brought  down  by  the  water  cements  and  binds  them  together,  they  are 
gradually  covered,  and  every  inundation  not  only  extends  their  lengths 
and  widths,  but  adds  another  layer  to  their  heights.  In  less  than  ten 
years,  canes  and  shrubs  grow  on  them  and  form  points  and  islands,  which 
forcibly  shift  the  bed  of  the  river. 

The  Mississippi  discharges  itself  into  the  gulf  by  several  mouths  or 
passes  of  ditlerent  lengths.  The  east  pass,  which  is  that  principally  used, 
IS  the  sliortest,  being  twenty  miles  in  length;  the  south  pass  is  twenty- 
two,  and  the  soutlnvest  twenty-five. 

Tilt!  bars  that  obstruct  these  passes  are  subject  to  change;  but,  imme- 
diately on  entering  the  river  there  are  from  three  to  seven,  eight  and  ten 
fathoms,  as  far  as  the  southwest  pass,  and  thence  twelve,  fifteen,  twenty 
and  thirty  fathoms,  which  is  the  general  depth  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Missouri.  The  ileptli  of  water  over  the  liar  of  the  first  pass  is  sixteen  feet ; 
(»ver  those  of  the  other  two  there  are  from  eight  to  nine  or  ten  feet. 

The  shoals  about  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  like  those  in  its  bed, 
have  been  formed  l»y  the  trees,  mud  leaves  and  other  matters  continually 
broutiht  down,  which  being  forced  onwards  by  the  current,  till  repelled  by 
the  tide,  they  subside  and  form  what  is  called  a  bar.  Their  distance  from 
the  entrance  of  the  river,  which  is  generally  about  two  miles,  depends 
much  on  the  winds  being  occasionally  with  or  against  the  tides.  When 
these  bars  accumulate  sutticiently  to  resist  the  tide  and  the  current  of  the 
river,  they  form  numerous  small  islands,  which  constantly  increasing,  join 
each  other,  and  at  last  reach  the  continent. 

All  the  maritime  coast  of  Louisiana  is  low  and  marshy :  that  from  the 


*  III 


!:■ 


11 

I* 


cili 


il 


8 


IIIHTOUY    (»K    I-OI'IHIANA. 


mouth  of  I'nirl  river,  where  the  noutheni  houiithiry  of  the  state  he^jiiin,  in 
like  that  from  th«*  I'enliih)  to  I'earl  river,  faced  hy  low  and  sandv  ishuids  ; 
the  principal  of  which  are  those  of  (Ihandeleiir  and  a  considi-rahle  nunihcr 
of  islets.  Near  tlu^  nio\ith  of  the  Mississippi  is  Uound  l)ay,  in  which 
vessels  often  fall,  and  where  they  wait,  not  without  (lander,  and  often  for 
a  lon^  tinje  for  u  fair  wind,  to  reach  one  of  the  passes  of  the  Mississippi, 
which  it  would  he  difHcult  to  find,  were  it  not  for  the  houses  at  the  old 
and  new  Halizes,  and  the  flag  staff  at  the  former,  which  arc  visihh'  from 
some  distance  at  sea.  The  white  clayey  color  of  th(^  water,  remaininj:: 
unmixed  on  the  surface  of  the  salt,  is  also  an  indication  that  the  mij:!;hty 
stream  is  not  far.  It  has  the  appearance  of  a  shoal  and  alarnis  strangers  : 
but  the  soundings  arc  nuich  deeper  off  the  Mississi)>pi,  than  anywhere  else 
on  the  coast. 

It  is  an  observation  founded  on  experience,  that  when  the  water  of  the 
river  incorporates  itself  with  that  of  the  sea,  and  is  apparently  lost  in  the 
gulf,  the  current  divides  itself,  and  generally  sets  northeasterly  and  south- 
westerly; but,  off  soundings,  the  currents  are,  in  a  great  measure, 
governed  by  the  winds,  and,  if  not  attended  to,  will  drive  vessels  south- 
westward,  beyond  the  Balize,  into  the  bay  of  St.  Bernard,  which  is  full  of 
shoals,  nnd  consequently  of  a  difficult,  nay  dangerous  navigation. 

The  old  Balize,  a  post  ere(!ted  by  the;  French  towards  the  year  1724,  at 
the  mouth  of  the  River,  is  now  two  miles  /'hove  it.  There  was  not  then 
the  smallest  appearance  of  the  island,  on  which,  forty-two  years  after, 
Don  Antonio  de  Ulloa  caused  barracks  to  be  erected  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  the  jnlots,  which  is  now  known  as  the  new  Balize. 

The  French  had  a  considerable  fort  and  garrison  at  the  old  Balize :  but 
the  magazine  and  several  other  buildings,  and  a  part  of  the  fortifications, 
gradually  sunk  into  the  soft  ground.  The  Spaniards  had  a  battery  with 
three  or  four  guns,  and  a  subaltern's  command  on  each  island.  Such  is 
the  situation  of  these  islands,  that  they  neithpr  defend  the  entrance  of  the 
Mississippi,  nor  the  deepest  channels.  The  small  estaldishments  on  them 
appear  to  have  been  made  for  the  purpose  of  affording  assistance  to 
vessels  coming  into  the  river,  and  fonvarding  intelligence  and  disprftches 
to  New  Orleans. 

In  ascending  the  stream,  there  are  natural  prairies  and  a  prospect  of 
the  sea  on  both  sides,  for  most  of  the  distance  to  the  bend  of  Plaquemines, 
where  a  fort  on  each  bank  defends  the  passage,  and  is  sufficient  to  8toj> 
the  progress  of  any  vessel.  The  British  in  1815  warmly  bombardeu, 
during  several  days,  the  fort  on  the  eastern  bank.  The  distance  from  the 
Balize  to  it  is  thirty-two  miles.  From  thence  to  the  beginning  of  the 
settlements  there  are  about  twenty  miles.  The  intermediate  space  is  a 
continued  tract  of  low  and  marshy  ground,  generally  overflowed.  It  is 
covered  with  thick  wood  and  palmetto  bushes,  which  seem  to  render  it 
impervious  to  man  or  beast.  Tne  banks  of  the  river  above  this  are  thickly 
settled  on  each  side  for  the  space  of  thirty-five  miles  to  the  English  turn, 
where  the  circular  direction  of  the  river  is  so  considerable,  that  vessels 
cannot  proceed  with  the  wind  that  brought  them  up,  and  must  either 
wait  for  a  more  favorable  one,  or  make  fast  to  the  bank  and  haul  close, 
there  being  a  sufficient  depth  of  Avater  for  any  vessel  entering  the  river. 

At  the  bottom  of  the  bend  of  the  English  turn,  on  the  east  side,  is  a 
creek  running  in  that  direction  into  Lake  Borgne,  on  the  elevated  banks 
of  which  a  number  of  Spanish  families,  brought  by  government  from  the 


lIlHTOltY   Ol"    I,<H181ANA. 


0 


iUH,    IS 

IuihIh  ; 
wlu<h 

he  old 
»•  from 
laininp: 
mighty 
lUiKcrs : 
loro  elnr 

r  of  tlu' 
it  in  the 
I  soiith- 
lU'iisuro, 
,8  south- 
8  full  of 

'l724,  at 
not  then 
irs  after, 
L'comnn)- 

lize;  but 
ificrttions, 
cry  witb 
Such  is 
00  of  tlu' 
on  them 
Itance   to 
sprfteheK 


Inver. 
lide,  is  a 
Id  banks 
From  the 


Canary  islands  in  17S;{,  found  an  asvluin.  Tliey  wore  aided  bv  llie  puldlc, 
treasury,  and  pnnured  u  scanty  sulisistencc  in  raising'  vegetables  for  the 
ni.irk<'t  of  New  Orleans.  They  were  in  time  joim-d  by  several  Acadian 
families.  \  church  was  built  for  them  at  the  kind's  «'X|H'nso:  it  was 
(Icdicated  to  St.  IJirnard,  in  comnliment  to  Don  Hcrnardo  de  (lalvez,  the 
jiovernor  of  the  prnvinee,  under  wliom  the  mijrration  was  made.  Fn  course 
of  time,  several  colonists  n-nioved  thither,  and  it  was  th«'jj  that  the  su^ar 
cane  bo^^an  to  be  cultivated,  after  the  abortive  otlbrts  t(»  naturalize  it  to 
tiic  clinuite  of  Louisiana,  umler  the  French  ^iovermnent.  This  part  of  the 
countrv  wa.s  culled  Terre-aux-H(eufs,  from  its  having  been  the  last  refuge 
of  tlie  i)u(laloeH  or  wild  oxen. 

Hy  a  singularity,  of  which  Louisiana  oflers  perluips'the  only  instance, 
the  more  elevated  ground  in  it  is  found  on  the  banks  of  its  rivers,  bayous 
and  lakes.  This  elevation  of  a  soil  generally  good,  rarely  too  strong, 
often  too  weak,  owing  to  a  mixture  (»f  sand,  varies  considerably  in  its 
(h'pth,  and  reaches,  in  very  few  plac«>s  indeed,  the  elevated  land  of  another 
stream  or  lake.  Hence,  the  original  grants  of  laiul  were  nuule  of  a  certain 
number  of  arpents  (French  acres)  fronting  the  stream, /Vkv  na  Jl<'ni!e,  with 
the  eventual  depth,  whieh  was  afterwards  fixed  at  forty  arpents,  and 
ordinarily  carries  the, grant  to  a  considerable  distance  into  the  eyj)res8 
swamp. 

These  back  swamps  draining  the  arable  ground,  receive,  during  the  high 
water,  that  which  comes  from  the  clouds,  and  that  which  lilters  through, 
or  ovortlows  the  levee — that  which  finds  its  Avay  through  the  breaches  or 
these  levees  or  crevasses,  occasioned  at  times  by  the  negligence  of  some 
planter,  and  that  which  others  draw  from  the  river  to  irrigate  their  fields 
or  turn  their  mills.  It  may  therefore  bo  correctly  said,  in  Louisiana,  that 
water  does  not  run  to  the  river.  But,  unfortunately  the  mass  of  stagnant 
water,  during  several  months  of  the  year,  to  the  north  of  the  Missi8sii)pi, 
l)t'tween  its  left  bank  and  the  right  of  the  Iberville,  the  lakes  Mauropas, 
Pontchartrain  and  Borgne  and  tliose  of  Round  bay,  and  to  the  south  from 
the  Atchafalaya,  between  its  left  bank  and  the  right  one  of  the  bayous 
and  lakes,  which  discharge  themselves  in  the  wide  estuary  near  the  sea, 
finds  but  a  partial  and  insuflficiont  issue  at  high  water,  and  produces, 
especially  in  uncovered  spots,  the  deadly  evaporation  of  the  foetid 
miasmata  of  the  marshes  and  swamps  it  covers.  Fortunately,  on  either 
side  of  the  Mississijjpi,  is  found  the  greatest  depth  of  arable  and  open 
jiruund,  varying  from  the  fracti(m  of  an  arpont  to  thirty  generally,  rarely 
to  sixty,  and  in  very  few  i)laces  indeed  to  one  hundred.  The  banks  of  the 
lakes,  generally  narrower,  are  nnich  nearer  to  the  swamps,  which  emptv 
their  contents  through  a  number  of  bayous ;  they  are  interspersed  with 
prairies  and  spots  of  high  land,  covered  with  oak  and  cypress. 

This  gives  to  this  part  of  the  state  a  disagreeable  aspect,  obstructs 
conununications  and  insulates  planters.  It  gives  it  a  dismal  and 
dangerous  appearance,  which  must  be  well  known  before  it  may  be 
trodden  with  safety.  Nature  seems  not  to  have  intended  it  for  the 
habitsition  of  man ;  but  rather  to  have  prepared  it  for  the  retreat  of 
alligators,  snakes,  toads  and  frogs,  who  at  dusk,  by  their  united,  though 
discordant  vociferations,  upbraid  man  as  an  intruder,  assert  their  exclusive 
right,  and  lay  their  continual  claim  to  the  domain  they  inhabit. 

It  might  be  coiicluded  from  this  picture,  that  Louisiana  is  an  unhealthy 
country ;  but  this  would  be  to  judge  of  the  whole  by  the  part.     The  city 


'V 

1: 

1 

i 

1:,:, 

10 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


of  New  Orleans  has  been  visited  (principally  since  the  beginning  of  the 
current  century)  with  disastrous  and  almost  annual  epidemics,  wnich,  at 
a  first  view,  justify  the  conclusion,  if  they  are  not  the  effect  of  local 
circumstances.  But,  it  is  universally  admitted,  that  planters  on  the  Mis- 
sissippi, whom  an  imperious  necessity  compels  to  range  themselves  on 
the  banks  of  the  stream,  especially  above  the  city,  suffer  nothing  from  the 
influence  of  the  climate  or  their  position. 

Agriculture,  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  from  the  sea  to  the  vicinity  of 
Baton  Rouge,  demands  the  protection  against  its  inundations,  of  artificial 
banks  or  levees.  Public  and  private  interest  have  made  them  the  object 
of  the  solicitude  and  attention  of  the  legislature.  Yet,  as  interest  excites 
not  the  vigilance  of  those  to  whom  the  execution  of  laws,  in  this  respect, 
is  committed,  the  negligence  of  a  planter  occasions,  at  times,  a  breach  or 
crevasse  on  his  levee,  in  some  part  of  the  river.  If  it  be  not  immediately 
discovered  or  prompt  attention  given,  the  impetuous  waves  force  their 
passage  and  widen  the  breach ;  the  crop  of  the  heedless  planter  is  soon 
destroyed ;  the  rails  of  his  fences  float  and  his  house  is  borne  away.  But 
the  alarming  flood  increases  in  extent,  strength  and  rapidity ;  the  angry 
stream  seems  to  have  found  a  new  channel ;  the  back  swamps  are  fille(l 
to  a  considerable  extent;  the  water  rises  in  them  and  overflowing  for 
numbers  of  miles,  above  and  below  the  breach,  inundates  the  cultivated 
fields,  reaches  the  levee  and  despoils  a  whole  neighborhood  of  the  fruit  of 
the  sweat  and  labor  of  its  inhabitants.  The  mischief  does  not  end  here. 
The  Mississippi  does  not,  like  the  Nile,  deposit  a  fattening  slime  on  the 
land  it  overflows.  On  the  contrary,  it  leaves  on  it  a  large  quantity  of 
sand,  destructive  of  its  fertility,  or  scatters  the  seeds  of  noxious  weeds. 
Immediately  around  New  Orleans,  the  culture  of  sugar  and  even  gardens 
hath  been  abandoned,  on  account  of  the  prodigious  growth  of  nut  grass, 
the  seeds  of  which  have  been  spread  by  the  water  of  the  Mississippi, 

From  the  English  turn  lo  the  city,  the  Mississippi  is  bordered  on  each 
side  by  plantations,  and  the  houses  are  as  close  to  each  other  as  in  many 
parts  of  the  United  States  that  are  dignified  by  the  appellation  of  town. 
The  planters  are  all  wealthy,  and  almost  exclusively  engaged  in  the  cul- 
ture of  the  cane.  There  are  a  few  who  cultivate  cotton.  The  distance  is 
eighteen  miles. 

The  city  of  New  Orleans  rises  on  the  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  in  the 
middle  of  a  large  bend.  The  circular  direction  of  the  stream  here  is  so 
great,  that  although  the  city  stands  on  the  eastern  side  the  sun  rises  on 
the  opposite  bank.  The  city  proper  is  an  oblong  square  of  about  twenty- 
eight  arpents  in  front,  on  the  Mississippi,  and  fourteen  in  depth,  which 
under  the  French  and  Spanish  governments,  was  surrounded  and 
defended  by  a  line  of  fortifications  and  a  ditch.  It  has  in  its  middle,  on 
the  river,  a  large  square,  or  place  d'armes,  surrounded  by  an  iron  pallisado, 
and  is  adorned  by  three  elegant  public  edifices,  the  cathedral,  city  hall, 
and  a  building  in  which  the  courts  of  the  state  are  accommodated  with 
halls  and  offices.  These  occupy  one  side  of  the  square ;  that  towards  the 
river  is  open ;  each  of  the  two  others  is  covered  by  a  block  of  uniform 
houses,  with  upper  galleries.  The  city  is  intersected  hy  seven  streets 
parallel,  and  twelve  perpendicular,  to  the  river.  The  direction  of  the 
latter  is  northwest  ana  southeast.  With  its  suburbs.  New  Orleans 
extends  along  the  river  about  three  miles,  and  in  its  utmost  depth  on  the 
outer  line  of  the  uppermost  suburb,  about  one.     We  speak  of  the  parts 


HISTORY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


11 


covered  by  contiguous  buildings :   that  within  the  chartered  limits  is 
much  greater. 

The  middle  steeple  of  the  cathedral  is  in  29"  57^  north  latitude,  and  92° 
29'  of  west  longitude  from  Greenwich. 

The  three  first  streets  parallel  to  the  river  and  most  of  the  perpendicular 
ones,  as  far  as  they  are  intersected  by  the  former,  have  a  considerable 
number  of  elegant  brick  buildings,  three  stories  high ;  but  the  rest  of  the 
city  has  nothing  but  small  wooden  houses,  one  story  high ;  some  very 
mean.  The  proportion  of  the  latter  is  much  greater  than  in  any  other 
city  of  the  United  States. 
^.  Besides  the  public  buildings  on  the  square,  there  are  the  old  and  new 

^  nunneries,  a  presbyterijin  and  an  episcopal  church,  the  jail,  customhouse, 
courthouse  of  the  United  States,  three  theatres,  an  university,  hospital 
and  market  house. 

The  city  has  three  banks,  besides  the  office  of  discount  and  deposit  of 
that  of  the  United  States. 

Two  public  institutions  offer  an  asylum  to  the  orphan  youth  of  both 
sexes. 

In  the  rear,  towards  the  middle  of  the  city,  is  a  basin  for  small  vessels, 
which  approach  New.  Orleans  through  lake  Borgne ;  a  canal  about  two 
miles  in  length,  leads  from  it  to  bayou  St.  John,  a  small  stream  which 
empties  in  lake  Pontchartrain ;  another  canal,  in  suburb  Marigny,  affords 
also  a  communication  Avith  the  lakes ;  it  begins  within  a  few  yards  of  the 
Mississippi  and  falls  into  bayou  St.  John,  at  a  short  distance  from  the 
place,  where  it  receives  the  waters  of  the  other  canal. 

In  population.  New  Orleans  is  superior  to  every  city  in  the  union,  except 
New  York,  Philadelphia,  Baltimore  and  Boston.  It  appears  from  official 
documents,  that  it  contained  in  1769  three  thousand  one  hundred  and 
ninety  persons  of  all  colors,  sexes  and  ages :  in  1788,  five  thousand  three 
hundred  and  thirty-one :  in  1797,  eight  thousand  and  fifty-six :  in  1810, 
seventeen  thousand,  two  hundred  and  forty-two,  and  according  to  the  last 
census,  in  1820,  twenty-seven  thousand,  one  hundred  and  fifty-six. 

The  city  is  protected,  from  the  inundation  of  the  river,  by  a  levee  or  bank, 
twenty  feet  in  width,  which  affords  a  convenient  walk. 

Both  sides  of  the  Mississippi,  from  the  city  of  New  Orleans  to  the  town 
of  Donaldsonville,  a  space  of  seventy-five  miles,  are  occupied  by  the 
wealthiest  planters  in  the  state,  principally  engaged  in  the  culture  of  the 
sugar  cane.  This  part  of  the  country  has  been  denominated  the  German 
and  Acadian  coasts,  from  its  original  settlers ;  and  the  wealth  of  the  present 
has  procured  to  it  the  appellation  of  the  golden  coast.  There  are  five 
parochial  churches  and  a  convent  of  nuns,  between  New  Orleans  and 
Donaldsonville.  No  water  course  runs  into,  or  flows  from,  the  Mississippi 
in  this  distance,  if  we  except  a  small  canal,  on  the  western  side,  near  tne 
citv,  which  affords  a  communication  with  lake  Barataria  and  others. 

donaldsonville  stands  on  the  western  side  of  the  river,  at  the  angle  it 
forms  with  bayou  Lafourche,  or  the  fork  of  the  Chetimachas. 

This  town,  though  destined  to  be  the  seat  of  government,  by  an  act  of 
the  legislature,  is  but  a  small  place.  It  has  an  elegant  brick  church,  and 
contains  the  court  house  and  jail  of  the  parish.  The  bank  of  Louisiana 
has  here  an  office  of  discount  and  deposit,  and  there  is  a  printing  office, 
from  which  an  hebdomadary  sheet  is  issued.  A  large  edifice  is  now 
rearing  for  the  accommodation  of  the  legislature. 


'^1 


71 


i 


12 


HIP"OUY   OF    LOUISIANA. 


:ll' ur 


The  bayon  Lafourche  ia  an  outlet  of  the  Mississippi  river,  which  has 
probably  been  the  first  channel  through  which  it  (liscnarge<l  its  water  into 
the  gulf  of  Mexico,  by  tlie  way  of  Big  and  Ijittle  caillou,  the  Terrebonne, 
Bayou  du  large.  Bayou  du  cadre  and  Bayou  black,  besides  Several  others. 

For  the  soil,  on  the  banks  of  all  those  streams,  although  of  alluvial 
origin,  like  the  Mississippi  bottoms,  which  they  resemble  in  every  respect, 
api)car  of  older  formation  ;  at  least  it  is  more  impregnated  with  oxide  of 
iron,  its  vegetable  fossils  more  decayed,  and  the  canes  and  timber  which 
it  produces,  are  generally  larger  than  those  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi. 
Every  one  of  these  water  courses  is  trom  one  to  four  hundred  feet  in  width, 
and  has  an  extensive  body  of  sugar  land,  capable  of  making  fine  settle- 
ments and  i)roducing  the  best  sugar,  as  well  as  the  olive  tree,  like  in 
Berwick's  bay  to  the  N.  W.  of  this.  The  land  would  i)roduce  from  two  to 
two  thousand  five  hundred  pounds  of  sugar  to  the  acre. 

The  climate  is  mild  and  frost  is  seldom  seen  in  this  region,  before  the 
last  of  December :  the  land  is  easily  cleared  for  cultivation,  which  consists 
simply  in  cutting  the  sticks,  canes,  and  a  few  large  magnolia,  or  sweet  gum, 

SL'rhaps  three  or  four  per  acre,  to  let  the  canes  dry  and  set  them  on  fire, 
othing  then  remains  except  the  bodies  of  the  trees  and  stumps :  the 
fertility  of  the  soil  is  inferior  to  none ;  it  produces  everything  susceptible 
of  growing  in  the  climate. 

The  banks  of  most  of  these  rivers,  several  feet  above  the  high  water 
mark,  require  no  levee,  like  those  of  the  Mississippi :  the  land  wants  little 
or  no  ditching,  as  it  drains  naturally  :  the  water  has  traced  with  the  hand 
of  time  its  own  gullies.  The  Avhole  country  affords  great  facility  to  new 
settlers,  for  providing  fish,  oysters,  and  game,  all  at  hand ;  even  large 
droves  of  buffaloes  are  often  met  with  in  the  great  cane  brakes  of  that  fine 
country,  which  has  remained  so  long  unsettled,  only  on  account  of  the 
difficulty  of  penetrating  through  them. 

However,  it  is  probable  a  communication  will  soon  be  established :  a 
great  portion  of  that  country  has  been  viewed  within  the  last  five  years, 
by  the  board  of  internal  improvements ;  roads  have  been  laid  out,  and  a 
canal  route  traced  all  the  way  to  New  Orleans,  fit  for  steamboat  navigation, 
and  having  not  more  than  ten  miles  to  cut ;  six  miles  of  which  pass 
through  firm  and  floating  prairies.  The  fact  is  that  thirty-seven  arpcnts 
of  canal  in  the  firm  prairie  would  join  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi  with 
those  of  the  Lafourche,  which  already  communicates  to  bayou  Terrebonne 
by  fields,  lake  and  a  canal  of  twelve  feet  in  width,  cut  with  saws  through 
about  two  miles  of  floating  prairies,  l)y  a  few  inhabitants  of  that  bayou  ; 
but  this  passage  is  only  fit  for  small  paddling  boats,  as  there  are  twelve 
arpents  of  cypress  swamp  joining  the  Terrebonne,  where  the  boats  have  to 
paddle  through  the  cypress  knees,  logs  and  brush. 

The  water  of  the  lakes,  which  are  very  numerous  between  the  Lafourche 
and  the  Terrebonne,  are  five  feet  and  a  half  above  the  level  of  the  waters 
of  Terrebonne,  which  already  communicates  with  Black  river,  on  bayou 
Cleannoir  by  the  way  of  bayou  Cane ;  but  a  canal  of  twenty  arpents  would 
join  those  two  bayous  six  miles  above  that,  and  at  the  same  time  join  the 
Grand  caillou  by  means  of  five  locks ;  the  level  of  Black  river  is  six  feet 
below  the  latter  water,  and  Grand  caillou  six  feet  and  a  half,  so  that  this 
canal  can  be  dug  at  little  expense,  above  the  actual  level  of  the  water, 
before  letting  in  that  of  the  lakes. 

The  benefits  resulting  from  these  improvements  are  incalculable :  the 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


13 


•h  has 
er  into 
bonne, 
others. 
lUuvial 
'fspeet, 
xide  of 
r  whioh 
lissippi. 
1  width, 
c  Hcttle- 
Uke  in 
;i  two  to 

(fore  the 
consists 
cet  gum, 
I  on  fire, 
ips:  the 
3oeptible 

gh  water 
nts  little 
the  hand 
y  to  new 
}en  large 
that  fine 
nt  of  the 

lished:  a 
ive  years, 
[it,  jmd  a 
^vigation, 
ich  pass 
arpents 
ppi  with 
Irrebonnc 
through 
l)ayou ; 
re  twelve 
have  to 

lafourche 

le  waters 

In  bayou 

Its  would 

join  the 

six  feet 

that  this 

\e  water, 

Lble:  the 


immense  forest  of  oak  wood  on  the  bayou  Lafourche  could  be  brought  to 
New  Orleans  in  a  very  few  hours.  The  quantity  of  clam  shells  on  the  big 
(!atahoula  and  neighborhood,  might  be  transported  to  New  Orleans,  at  a 
moderate  expense  and  make  a  fine  pavement  for  the  streets  of  that  city. 
At  no  great  cost,  the  fish  market  would  offer  a  new  branch  of  trade. 

Oysters  could  be  brought  to  market  for  half  the  actual  price. 

The  magnificent  live  oak  of  Grande  isle  and  Cheniere  Caminada,  would 
not  only  afford  fine  timber  for  building  durable  ships  and  steamboats,  but 
vet  offbr  an  hospitable  shade,  under  their  ever  green  foliage  to  the  inhabi- 
tants of  New  Orleans,  who  would  resort  to  those  places,  in  preference  to 
any  other,  if  they  could  get  to  them  without  difficulty. 

Yet,  those  are  com])aratively  matters  of  little  consideration,  when  we 
reflect  that  this  canal  passes  tHrough  the  greatest  body  of  land,  fit  for  the 
culture  of  the  sugar  cane,  and  in  fact  the  only  one  in  the  U.  S.  fully  adapted 
to  that  culture,  which  affords  the  prosperous  staple  of  this  state ;  and  that 
this  canal  will  cause  the  whole  of  that  country  to  settle,  which,  in  a  few 
years,  will  double  the  quantity  of  sugar  now  made  in  the  whole  state, 
notwithstanding  the  increase  o^  trade,  which  must  naturally  take  place  by 
the  facility  afforded  by  such  canal,  for  the  intercourse  between  New  Orleans 
and  the  western  coast  of  the  gulf  of  Mexico. 

About  thirty  miles  higher  up,  the  Mississippi  has  another  outlet,  through 
bayou  Plaquemines,  the  waters  of  which,  united  to  those  of  Grand  river, 
flow  into  several  lakes  and  lagoons  on  the  sea  coast.  Bayou  Plaquemines 
is  a  rapid  stream  ;  but  is  dry  at  the  upper  end,  during  ^Yinte^.  Its  northern 
hank  is  not  inhabited,  being  a  great  part  of  the  year  under  Water ;  and  the 
agricultural  establishments,  on  the  southern  bank,  protected  by  a  small 
levee,  are  scarce  and  insignificant. 

Between  these  two  outlets,  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi  are  thickly 
settled ;  but  the  sugar  plantations  are  few,  and  the  planters  not  so  wealthy 
as  below  Donaldsonville.  Under  the  Spanish  government,  it  was 
believed  the  sugar  cane  could  not  well  succeed  so  high  up,  and  there  were 
l»ut  two  plantations  on  which  it  was  cultivated;  they  were  close  to 
I)onaldsonville.  But,  since  the  cession,  the  industry  of  the  purchasers  of 
Louisiana  has  proved  that  the  cane  succeeds  well  a.s  high  up  as  Pointe 
Coupee. 

The  orange  tree  does  not  thrive  well  above  bayou  Plaquemines :  the 
sweet  is  no  longer  seen,  though  the  sour  is  found  as  far  as  the  northern 
Hmit  of  the  state,  on  the  west  of  the  Mississippi. 

The  only  outlet,  which  the  Mississippi  has  through  its  eastern  bank,  is 
a  few  miles  above  bayou  Plaquemines — it  is  called  bayou  Manshac.  At 
about  ten  miles  fr6m  the  Mississippi,  it  receives  the  river  Amite  from  its 
right  side,  and  takes  the  name  of  Iberville  river. 

From  the  Mississippi  to  the  mouth  of  Iberville  on  lake  Maurepas,  the 
(listance  along  the  Stream  is  sixty  miles ;  the  first  ten  of  which  do  not 
admit  of  navigation  during  more  than  four  months  of  the  year.  There 
are,  at  all  times,  from  two  to  six  feet  of  water  for  three  miles  farther,  and 
the  depth,  in  the  remaining  part  of  the  way  to  the  lake,  is  from  two  to 
four  fathoms. 

The  river  Amite  falls  into  bayou  Manshac  on  the  north  side,  twenty 
miles  from  the  Mississippi :  the  water  of  the  Amite  is  clear,  running  on  a 
gravelly  bottom.  It  may  he  ascended  by  vessels,  drawing  from  five  to  six 
feet  of  water,  about  twelve,  and  with  batteaux  one  hundred,  miles  farther.' 


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14 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


It  f(»rks  about  sevcntoen  miles  above  its  mouth  :  the  eastern  fork  is  the 
Comite ;  the  western,  which  preserves  its  name,  is  the  most  considerable 
and  rises  near  Pearl  river.  Both  run  through  a  fertile,  rolling  country, 
which  as  well  as  the  low  land,  is  covered  with  cane,  oak,  ash,  mulberry, 
hickory,  poplar,  cedar  and  cypress. 

The  united  waters  of  bavou  Manshac  and  the  Amite  forih  the  Iberville, 
the  length  of  which  is  thirty-nine  miles.  The  land  and  timber  on  itn 
banks  are  similar  to  those  on  the  Amite,  with  the  difference  that  the  banks 
of  the  Iberville  are  in  general  lower,  and  the  country  less  hilly,  with  a 
greater  proportion  of  rice  land,  and  cypress  and  live  oak  of  an  excellent 
quality  for  ship  building. 

Lake  Maurepas  is  about  ten  miles  long  and  seven  wide,  and  from  ten  to 
twelve  feet  deep.  The  country  around  it  is  low  and  covered  with  cypress, 
live  oak  and  myrtle. 

The  Tickfoa  is  the  only  river  that  falls  into  lake  Maurepas.  It  rises  in 
the  state  of  Mississippi  and  runs  a  middle  course  between  Amite  and 
Pearl  rivers,  it  has  a  sufficient  depth  for  steam  boat  navigation  to  the 
mouth  of  bayou  Chapeaupilier,  a  distance  of  about  fifty  miles. 

The  pass  of  Manshac  connects  lake  Maurepas  and  lake  Pontchartrain. 
It  is  seven  miles  in  length,  and  about  three  hundred  yards  wide ;  divided 
by  an  island,  which  runs  from  the  former  to  within  a  mile  from  the  latter ; 
tne  south  channel  is  the  deepest  and  shortest. 

The  greatest  length  of  lake  Pontchartrain  is  about  forty  miles,  and  its 
width  about  twenty-four,  and  the  average  depth  ten  fathoms. 

It  receives  on  the  north  side  the  rivers  Tangipao,  Tchefuncta  and 
Bonfouca,  with  the  bayous  Castin  and  Lacemel,  and  on  the  side  of  the 
city,  baj'ou  St.  John,  and  higher  up  bayou  Tigouyou. 

Tangipao  has  at  its  mouth  a  depth  of  water  of  four  feet,  Tchefuncta 
seven,  and  Bonfouca,  six. 

Two  passes  connect  lake  Pontchartrain  with  an  estuary  called  lake 
Borgne,  the  Rigolets  and  the  pass  of  Chef  Menteur,  both  of  which  are 
defended  by  a  fort,  surrounded  by  deep  morasses. 

The  passes  are  about  ten  miles  long,  and  from  three  to  four  hundred 
yards  wide. 

B^  bayous  that  fall  into  lake  Borgne,  a  number  of  fishermen,  who  dwell 
on  its  banks,  find  their  way  to  the  market  of  New  Orleans,  which  they 
supply.  Through  one  of  these,  bayou  Bienvenu,  the  British  army  under 
general  Packenham,  proceeded,  with  all  its  artillery  to  within  a  very  few 
miles  of  the  city. 

There  are  from  sixteen  to  eighteen  feet  of  water  on  the  sides  of  lake 
Borgne ;  in  the  middle  from  ten  to  twelve  fathoms ;  but  in  its  upj>er  part, 
from  eleven  to  twelve  feet. 

Opposite  to  the  entrance  into  lake  Borgne,  and  at  the  end  of  the  Rigoiets, 
on  the  north  side  near  the  gulf,  is  the  mouth  of  Pearl  river. 

This  stream  rises  in  the  northern  part  of  the  state  of  Mississippi,  and 
after  traversing  it  centrally,  sends  its  waters  into  the  gulf  by  two  main 
branches.  The  eastern  which,  we  have  seen,  divides  the  states  of  Louisiana 
and  Mississippi,  falls  into  lake  Borgne.  The  western,  which  leaves  the 
main  branch  m  the  latitude  of  thirty  degrees,  runs  entirely  through  the 
former  state  and  falls  into  the  Rigolets. 

Above  the  fork,  the  navigation  is  good  for  steam  boats,  during  six  months 
of  the  year ;  some  have  already  ascended  to  Monticello. 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


15 


It  is  evident  from  lui  inspection  of  this  river,  that  at  no  very  distant 
period,  its  eastern  branch  was  its  only  channel,  meandering  through  an 
extent  of  above  one  hundred  miles  to  lake  Borgne.  During  some  inunda- 
tion, the  western  branch  broke  from  the  main  channel,  through  the  swamps, 
and  found  a  nearer  course,  of  sixty  miles  only,  to  the  Rigolets. 

Above  Manshac,  the  land  gradually  rises  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  river, 
to  Baton  Rouge,  a  small  town  distant  about  one  hundred  and  twenty 
miles  from  New  Orleans.  The  plantations  are  not  all,  as  below,  ranged 
side  by  side  on  the  immediate  banks  of  the  river ;  but,  many  are  scattered 
ill  the  intermediate  space,  between  the  Mississippi,  the  rivers  Amite,  Comite 
and  others  flowing  into  the  lakes  Maurepas  and  Pontchartrain.  On  one  of 
these  the  Spaniards  made  an  abortive  effort  to  establish  a  town,  called 
Galveztown. 

Sugar  plantations  are  now  much  fewer ;  but  those  on  which  cotton  is 
cultivated  are  more  numerous  and  extensive.  The  part  of  the  state  to  the 
east  of  the  Mississippi  and  the  lakes,  having  been  occupied  by  the  British 
for  nearly  twenty  years,  the  descendants  of  its  original  French  inhabitants 
are  in  very  small  number,  indeed ;  and  a  great  many  of  the  people  who 
liave  come  to  Louisiana  from  other  states,  since  the  cession,  have  settled 
there :  during  the  possession  of  the  British,  several  colonists  from  the 
Atlantic  provinces,  principally  Virginia,  the  Carolinas  and  Georgia,  flocked 
thither.  There  was  a  considerable  migration  in  1764  and  1765  from  the 
banks  of  the  Roanoke,  in  North  Carolina ;  so  that  the  population  difiers 
very  little  from  that  of  the  Atlantic  states.  The  mixture  of  French  and 
Spaniards  being  small  indeed,  except  in  the  town  of  Baton  Rouge. 

This  town  is  built  on  a  high  bluff,  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  river.  The 
United  States  have  extensive  barracks  near  it.  It  contains  the  public 
i)uilding8  of  the  parish,  and  has  two  weekly  gazettes  and  a  branch  of  the 
bank  of  Louisiana. 

On  the  opj^osite  side  of  the  river  from  bayou  Plaquemines,  the  arable 
land  is  only  a  narrow  slip  between  the  bank  and  the  cypress  swamps,  that 
empty  themselves  in  the  Atchafalya. 

At  a  distance  of  about  thirty  miles  from  Baton  Rouge  and  on  the  same 
side,  on  an  elevated  ridge  parallel  to  and  near  the  river,  is  the  town  of  St. 
Francisville.  The  land  around,  as  far  north  as  the  boundary  line,  which 
is  only  fifteen  miles  distant,  and  far  to  the  east,  is  rolling,  and  tolerably 
well  adapted  to  the  culture  of  the  cotton,  which  engages  the  attention  of 
the  settlers.  St.  Francisville  has  a  house  of  worship,  a  weekly  paper  and 
ji  branch  of  the  bank  of  Louisiana,  and  the  public  buildings  of  its  parish. 

Opposite  to  it,  is  the  settlement  of  Pointe  Coupee,  the  principal  part  of 
which  is  a  peninsula,  formed  by  the  old  bed  of  the  Mississippi,  called 
False  river,  the  upper  part  of  which  is  stopped  up  at  present.  The  French 
had  a  fort  there,  the  vestiges  of  which  are  discernible.  This  parish  is 
populous  and  wealthy  :  cotton  is  its  principal  staple,  but  it  has  rew  sugar 
plantations.  It  has  no  town ;  but  the  plantations  throughout,  principally 
on  both  banks  of  False  river,  are  mucn  closer  to  each  other  than  in  any 
other  parish  in  the  state.  It  is  at  high  water  insulated,  by  the  Atchafalaya 
and  the  Mississippi  on  the  northeast  and  west,  and  by  a  dismal  swamp 
which  separates  it  from  the  parish  of  West  Baton  Rouge,  and  which  is 
then  inundated. 

To  the  west,  and  at  the  distance  of  forty  miles  from  St.  Francisville,  is 
the  small  town  of  Jackson,  and  about  sixty  miles  to  the  south  of  the  latter, 


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16 


llIKrOKY   OF  LOUIHIANA. 


thiit  of  Sprinj^Cu'ld,  near  tho  mouth  of  the  Tuiijiipao  rivir,  which  fjilln  into 
hik«!  MuuropiiH. 

On  tht'OiiHteni  m\o  of  hike  I'ontchartniin,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Tehefinutji 
is  the  town  of  Aladisonville,  and  neve»)  milew  higher  up,  tliat  of  Covington. 
The  hind  in  this  neighborhood  nh)ng  the  water  courHcH  is  a  rich  aUuvial 
lH)ttom,  and  terminates  in  pine  barrens. 

The  country  near  Springfiehl,  Covington  and  MadiHonville,  espe<^ially 
the  two  hist,  is  sandy  and  sterile  in  general,  and  covered  with  pine  trees  ; 
although  there  are,  along  most  of  the  water  courses,  several  spots  well 
adapted  to  the  culture  of  cotton.  The  inhabitants  api)lv  their  industry  to 
making  tar  and  })itch,  gathering  turpentine,  cutting  tiinher,  burning  bricks 
and  lime;  the  innnonse  ridges  of  shell,  on  the  margin  of  the  gulf  facilitating 
greatly,  the  last  operation. 

A  little  above  the  n()rthern  extremity  of  the  settlement  of  l^)inteCoupe^^ 
Red  river  ])ours  its  >vaters  into  the  AIississi^)pi.  This  stream  has  its 
source  in  the  vicinity  of  Santa  Fe.  The  Mississippi,  a  little  below,  sends 
part  of  its  accumulated  Hood  to  the  sea  through  a  western  branch,  its  first 
outlet  from  its  source  called  the  Atchafalayu ;  a  word,  which  in  the  Indian 
language  means  a  long  river.  The  form  of  the  country  and  this  name,  not 
at  all  aj)i)licable  to  the  stream  at  present,  have  given  rise  to  the  opinion, 
that,  in  iormer  time,  the  northern  extremity  of  the  settlenumt  of  Pointc 
Coupee  prolonged  itself  to,  and  joined  the  hank  of  the  Mississippi,  above 
the  mouth  of  Red  river,  leaving  a  piece  of  ground  between  the  two  streams  ; 
80  that  the  Red  river  did  not  pay  tne  tribute  of  its  waters  to  the  Mississippi, 
but  carried  them,  and  the  name  of  Atchafalaya,  which  it  then  bore,  and 
was  particularly  a[)plicable  to  it,  to  the  sea ;  the  presen*  stream,  which  has 
retained  its  name,  being  only  a  continuation  ot  it,  and  that  in  course  ot 
time  the  waves  of  the  long  and  great  rivers  destroyed  the  ground  that 
separated  them,  and  divicled  the  former  into,  two  ;  the  upper  one  of  which 
has  received  the  name  of  Red  river  from  the  Europeans,  on  ii^count  of  the 
color  of  its  water,  which  is  occasioned  by  the  coi)per  n»ines  near  it,  the 
impregnations  of  which  prevent  them  from  being  potable. 

The  confluence  of  Red  river  and  the  Mississippi  is  remarkable  as  the 
spot,  on  which  the  army  of  Charles  I.  of  Spain,  under  Dc  Soto,  towards 
the  middle  of  the  sixteenth  century,  committed  the  body  t^f  their  chief  to 
the  deep,  in  order  to  prevent  its  falling  into  the  hands  ot'  {\w  Indians. 

On  entering  Red  river,  the  water  appears  turbid,  brackish  and  of  a  red 
color.  For  the  first  sixty  or  seventy  miles,  its  botl  is  so  crooked,  that  the 
distance  through  its  meanderings  is  two-thirds  greater  than  in  a  straight 
line.  The  general  course  is  nearly  east  to  west ;  the  land  for  upwards  of 
thirty  miles  from  its  mouth  is  overflowed  at  high  water,  from  ten  to  fifteen 
feet.  Below  Black  river,  the  northern  bank  is  the  highest.  The  growth 
in  the  lower  or  southern  part  is  willow  and  cotton  wood ;  in  the  higher. 
oak,  hickory  and  ash. 

Six  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  river,  on  the  south  side,  is  bayou 
Natchitoches,  which  communicates  with  lake  Long,  from  whence  another 
bayou  affords  a  passage  to  the  river.  At  high  water,  boats  pass  through 
these  bayous  and  lake,  and  go  to  the  river  after  a  route  of  fifteen  miles, 
while  the  distance  from  one  bayou  to  the  other  is  forty-five. 

Black  river  comes  up  from  the  north,  about  twenty-four  miles  from 
bayou  Natchitoches ;  its  water  is  clear  and  limpid,  when  contrasted  with 
that  of  Red  river,  and  appears  black. 


IIIHTOKY   or   LOI'IHIANA. 


17 


A1h)Vo  till!  junction,  Itod  river  nialios  a  rcj^uliir  turn  to  tlu;  south, 
for  ul)out  (Mj^htoen  unices,  forniinj^  ii  Hoginiiut  of  jiWout  thnjc-fourths  of 
it  circle.  Twenty  miles  above,  the  hayou  from  lake  liong  comes  in,  and 
thirty-three  miles  still  farther  is  the  first  landinj^  of  the  Avoyelles:  the 
river  all  the  while  heiuj^  so  crooked  that,  at  tliis  jilaci!,  the  j?uns  of 
Kort  Adams  an;  distinctly  heard;  althoujith  tie  distane*^  hy  tlut  rivijr  is 
upwards  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles.  The  sound  appears  a  little  south 
from  east. 

At  this  landing?  is  the  first  arable  soil  imujMliately  on  the  banks  of 
the  river,  whi(;h,  in  the  whole  space,  are  hi}^h(;r  than  tlu*  land  behind.  At 
a  short  distance  from  this  laiidinj^,  to  the  south  is  the  prairie  des 
Av(»yelles,  of  an  oval  form  and  al)out  fortv  mih.'S  in  circumf(!rence.  it  is 
very  level,  covered  with  high  grass  and  has  but  v(!rv  few  (•iumi)S  of 
trees;  its  soil  is  not  very  fertile;  that  of  the  timber  land  around  it,  when 
<'li!ared,  is  far  ])r(!ferable.  The  lowc^r  end  of  the  prairie  has  the  richest 
land.  The  timber  around  it  is  chiefly  oak,  which  produces  good  mast. 
The  inhabitants  raise  c(»tton;  but  the  settlement  is  better  for  cattle  and 
hogs;  in  high  water  it  is  insulated,  and  at  others  comnmnicates  with 
those  of  llapides,  Opelousas  and  Pointi;  ('oU])ee. 

The  upper  landing  is  fifteen  nnles  higher,  and  sixteen  miles  above,  a 
few  years  ago,  was  laid  the  foundation  of  the  town  of  Cassandra,  on  the 
north  side,  opj)osite  to  liayou  T/amoureux,  Avhich  conjiectts  lied  river  and 
bayou  liunif.  The  intermediate  land  on  the  northern  bank  is  tol(;rably 
good,  moderately  hilly,  covered  chiefly  with  oak,  hickory  and  short 
leaved  pine.  But  at  the  distance  of  a  few  miles  from  the  water,  begins  a 
|)ine  barren  tract,  that  extends  for  upwards  of  thirty  miles  to  the 
setilements  of  Catahoula.  On  the  south  side,  is  a  largo  body  of  rich  low 
ground,  extending  to  the  borders  of  the  settlements  of  Opelousas,  watered 
and  drained  by  bayou  Robert  and  bayou  Bumf,  two  handsome  stream.s  of 
clear  wat(;r  that  rise  in  thi;  high  land  between   lied  river  and  the  Sabine. 

Bayou  Buuif  falls  into  bayou  (Jrocodile,  which  empties  itself  into  the 
Atchafalaya  to  the  south  of  the  settlement  of  Avoyelles,  at  a  short 
distance  from  the  large  raft  in  the  latter  stream.  In  point  of  fertile  soil, 
growth  of  tind)er,  and  goodness  of  water,  there  is  not  perhaps  an  equal 
(juantity  of  good  land,  in  the  state,  than  on  the  banks  of  bayou  Bneuf. 

The  t<»wn  of  Alexandria  stands  on  the  south  side  of  Red  river,  fifteen 
miles  above  tli.it  of  Cassandra,  and  immediately  below  the  rai)ids  or  falls, 
which  arc  occasioned  by  a  sudden  rise  of  the  bed  of  the  river,  which  is 
here  a  soft  rock,  extending  (piite  across.  From  July  to  November,  there  is  a 
sudiciency  of  wat(!r,  over  the  falls,  for  the  passage  of  boats.  The  rock 
is  extrenily  soft  and  <loes  not  (>xtend  uj)  and  down  the  river  more  than 
a  few  yards,  and  a  passage  could  easily  be  cut  across. 

The  town  is  regularly  l)uilt.  It  has  an  elegant  court  house  and  college, 
built  of  bricks,  a  strong  jail  and  a  neat  market  house.  The  bank  of 
Louisiana  has  here  an  office  of  discount,  and  there  is  a  printing  office, 
from  which  a  weekley  paper  is  issued. 

The  settlement  of  Rapides  is  a  valley  of  rich  alluvial  soil,  surrounded  by 
pine  hills,  extending  to  the  east  towards  the  Washita,  and  in  the  opposite 
direction  to  the  Sabine.  The  pine  hills  come  to  the  river,  opposite  to  the 
town. 

Immediately   above   th<!   town,  the  river  receives  from  the  same  side 


mM 


■5    ^ 


18 


HISTORY  OF   LOL'I.SIANA. 


bayou  Rapides,  a  senii-cireular  stream,  about  tliirty  miles  in  length,  the 
upi)er  i)art  ofAvhieh  receives  a  portion  of  the  water  of  Red  river. 

Bayou  Robert,  which  is  now  almost  stagnant,  formerly  ran  out  of  bavou 
Rapides,  about  a  mile  above  its  mouth  and  winding  through  a  rich  valley 
united  with  bayou  Banif.  But,  a  dvke  has  been  thrown  up,  at  its  former 
mouth  and  the  current  confined  to  bayou  Rapides. 

Both  these  bayous  pass  through  bodies  of  extremely  fine  land,  of  great 
depth. 

Twenty  miles  above  Alexandria  are  two  deserted  villages  of  the  Biloxi 
Indians. 

Near  these,  bayou  Jean  dc  Dieu  or  Coteille,  falls  into  Red  river,  from  the 
right  side.  The  stream  of  bayou  Rapides,  of  which  the  channel  is 
continuous,  was  formerlv  a  navigable  branch  of  Red  river,  which  returned 
to  the  parent  stream,  below  and  at  the  foot  of  the  rapids  but  the  gradual 
deepening  of  the  bed  and  the  widening  of  the  stream  have  left  it  a  small 
bayou,  which  is  fed  by  springs  and  branches  from  the  pine  hills ;  one-half 
emptying  at  the  former  outlet  above ;  the  other  at  the  foot  of  the  rapids, 
below.  The  lower  half  is  called  bayou  Rapides.  The  whole  length  is 
about  thirty  miles.  The  lan<l  throughout  is  of  the  finest  quality  and 
great  depth,  and  now  in  the  highest  state  of  culture.  These  bayous  are 
not  used  for  the  purpose  of  navigation,  but  are  cai)ablc  of  forming  with  little 
expense,  a  fine  natural  canal. 

Thirteen  miles  above  bayou  Jean  de  Dieu,  is  an  island  of  seventy  miles 
in  length  and  three  in  width,  the  northern  channel  of  which  is  called  the 
Rigolet  du  bon  Dieu  and  the  other  the  river  aux  Cannes, 

There  is  not  much  good  land  on  the  west  side  of  the  river ;  the  high 
lands  generally  confine  it  on  one  side  end  the  island  thus  formed  is,  on 
the  side  of  it  bordering  on  the  rigolet,  subject  to  inundation. 

On  the  east  side  of  the  river  the  valley  is  narrow  but  of  inexhaustible 
fertility ;  the  rest  of  the  land  between  the  river  and  the  Washita,  is  oak 
and  pine  land,  of  little  value,  except  in  spots  on  the  water  courses. 

The  principal  settlements  of  Natchitoches  are  on  the  immediate  banks 
of  the  river,  on  each  side.  The  land  is  red  alluvion,  of  singular  fertility, 
but  not  cultivable  to  a  great  extent  from  the  rivers.  The  swamj)H 
commencing  within  a  very  few  acres. 

The  town  of  Natchitoches  is  at  the  distance  of  one  hundred  and  nine 
miles  from  Alexandria  and  on  the  same  side  of  Red  river.  It  is  tlic 
westernmost  town  of  the  state,  being  two  hundred  and  sixty-six  miles 
from  the  Mississippi,  about  four  hundred  from  New  Orleans  and  five 
hundred  from  the  gulf  by  water. 

The  old  town  stood  on  a  hill,  about  half  a  mile  behind  the  present, 
which  is  immediately  on  the  bank  of  the  river.  On  the  second  street,  is  a 
hill  the  area  of  which  covers  about  two  hundred  acres  of  ground  ;  on  it  a 
fort  and  barracks  have  been  built,  the  site  of  which  is  thirty  feet  above 
the  bank  of  the  river.  The  old  town  is  an  extensive  common  of  several 
hundred  acres  entirely  tufted  with  clover  and  covered  with  sheep  and 
cattle.  Nothing  of  it  is  discoverable  except  the  forms  of  the  gardens  and 
some  ornamental  trees.  It  began  to  be  abandoned  soon  after  the  cession 
of  the  province  to  Spain.  Before,  most  of  the  settlers  dwelt  in  town ;  the 
hill  is  of  stiff  clay  and  the  streets  were  miry ;  the  people  found  the  place 
inconvenient,  on  account  of  their  stock  and  farms,  and  filed  off"  one  after 
the  other,  and  settled  on  the  river.      The  merchants  found   its  banks 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


19 


convenient  for  ludinj^  and  unludinj; :  the  nieehnnicw  followed  and  the 
church  and  jail  were  removed.  The  soil  on  the  river,  though  much  richer, 
is  of  a  loose  sandy  texture  and  the  streets  are  not  miry,  nor  much  dusty. 
The  town  is  nearly  twice  as  large  as  Alexandria,  The  well  water  is  hardly 
notuhle,  that  of  the  river  brackish,  anil  the  inhabitants,  as  in  Alexandria, 
have  large  cisterns  for  collecting  rain  water.  The  ijublic  buildings  of  the 
parish  are  in  this  town  and  a  weekly  gazette  is  [lublished. 

There  are  two  lakes  near,  within  one  and  six  miles.  The  larger  has  a 
circumference  of  six  miles,  the  other  of  thirtv.  They  rise  and  fall  with 
the  river :  the  stream  that  connects  them  witli  it,  during  high  water,  runs 
into  them  with  great  velocity,  and  in  like  manner  to  the  river,  during  the 
rest  of  the  year.  The  (juantity  of  fish  and  fowls  which  are  obtained  on 
these  lakes  api)ears  intTedible.  It  is  not  uncommon,  in  winter,  for  a  man 
to  kill  from  two  to  four  hundred  fowls  in  an  evening.  They  fly  between 
sun  down  and  dusk  :  the  air  is  filled  with  them.  A  man  loads  and  fires, 
as  quickly  as  he  can,  without  taking  aim,  and  continues  on  the  same  spot, 
till  he  thinks  he  has  killed  enough.  Ducks  and  geese,  brant  and  swan 
are  thus  killed.  In  summer,  fish  abound  e<iually.  An  Indian  with  a  bow 
and  arrow,  kills  more  than  two  horses  can  carry  away,  while  he  is  thus 
engaged.  Some  of  the  fish  weigh  from  thirty  to  forty  pounds.  The  lakes 
afford  also  a  plenty  of  shell  for  lime.  At  low  water,  their  bottoms  are 
most  luxuriant  meadows,  where  the  inhabitants  fatten  their  horses. 

Stone  coal  is  found  in  abundance,  in  the  neighborhood,  with  a  quarry 
of  good  building  stone. 

Similar  lakes  are  found  all  along  Red  river  for  five  or  six  hundred  miles. 
They  are  natural  reservoirs,  for  the  surplus  quantity  of  water,  beyond 
what  the  banks  of  the  river  may  contain;  otherwise,  no  part  of  the  ground 
could  be  inhabited,  the  low  land,  from  hill  to  hill,  would  be  inundated. 

Twelve  miles  north  of  Natchitoches,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  is 
lake  Noir,  a  large  one ;  the  bayou  of  which  comes  into  the  Rigolet  du  bon 
Dieu,  opposite  to  the  town ;  near  it  are  salt  works,  from  which  the  town  is 
supplied. 

Three  miles  up  the  stream,  is  the  upper  mouth  of  the  Rigolet  du  bon 
Dieu,  where  the  settlement  of  the  grand  ecor,  or  great  bluff  begins.  This 
eminence  stands  on  the  south  side,  and  is  about  one  hundred  feet  high. 
Towards  the  river,  it  is  almost  perpendicular,  and  of  a  soft  white  rock  :  the 
top  is  a  gravel  loam  of  consideraole  extent,  on  which  grow  large  oaks, 
hickory,  black  cherry  and  grape  vines  There  is  a  small  bluff  near,  at  the 
foot  of  which  is  a  large  quantity  of  stone  coal,  and  several  springs  of  the 
best  water  in  this  part  of  the  country.  Near  them  is  a  lake  of  clear  water, 
with  a  gravelly  margin. 

The  river  makes  a  large  bend  above  the  bluffs,  to  the  north,  and  a  long 
reach,  nearly  due  east  by  it.  About  a  mile  above,  from  the  south  shore,  a 
large  bayou  comes  in  from  the  Spanish  lake,  which  is  about  fifty  miles  in 
circumference,  and  rises  and  falls  with  the  river,  from  which  the  largest 
boats  may  ascend  to  the  lake,  and  through  it  up  several  bayous,  particu- 
larly bayou  Dupin,  up  which,  boats  may  go  within  one  mile  and  a  half 
from  the  old  French  fort,  at  the  Adayes. 

Two  miles  above  this  place,  the  river  forks ;  the  southwestern  branch 
running  westerly  for  sixty  miles,  then  forming  and  meeting  the  other. 

The  country,  bounded  to  the  east  and  north  by  this  branch  of  the  river, 
is  called  the  bayou   Pierre  settlement,  from  a  stream  that  traverses  it. 


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30 


IIISTOUY   OK    r.OllSIANA. 


Part  of  the  land  was  jrrantctl  l»y  the  Frcmli  government.  The  inhahitants 
raised  hirp'  herds  of  cattle  and  ina(U'  some  eheese.  The  Hettlenient  in 
interspersed  witli  prairies,  and  the  hind  is  e(|ually  rich,  as  the  river 
bottoms.  The  hills  are  of  a  pxul  \irvy  soil.  The  creek,  called  hy  the  new 
settlers,  Slonv  creek,  aH'ords  several  jr<»od  mill  seats.  Its  hed  and  hanks 
furnish  a  gooil  kind  (»f  huildinjj;  stone.  The  upland  is  high,  gently  rolling, 
and  produces  good  corn,  cotton  and  tohaceo.  A  few  miles  to  the  west  is 
an  a)>undant  saline. 

Higher  up  on  the  river,  on  a  hill,  to  th(>  northeast  is  the  Ciinipti 
settlement.      The  river  land  is  here  much  hroken  hy  hayous  and  lagoons. 

Between  lake  Histineau  and  trihutary  streams  of  the  Washita  is  a  new 
and  extensive  settlement,  which  has  grown  up  within  a  few  years,  called 
Allen's  settlement.  The  land  is  si'cond  rate  upland,  tinely  watered  and 
well  adapted  to  raising  st(»ck. 

The  country  to  the  west  of  Red  river,  extending  to  the  Sahine,  funnshes 
but  a  small  proportion  of  even  second  rate  land.  It  is  generally  covered 
with  oak  and  i)ine.  There  are  some  elioice  spots  of  land  ;  but  of  small 
extent. 

('antonment  Jessup  is  situated  half  way  between  Red  river  and  the 
Sabine  and  on  the  highest  ridge,  which  separates  the  streams  flowing  into 
these  rivers. 

The  land  on  tlie  Sahine  is  unfit  for  eultivaticm  to  any  extent.  The  i)art 
of  it,  which  is  not  subject  to  sudden  overflow,  is  high  Innd  of  no  value  but 
for  raising  stock. 

Above  is  the  obstruction,  eimimonly  called  the  great  raft,  choking  up 
tlie  channel  for  upwards  of  one  hundred  miles,  by  the  course  of  the  river. 
It  was  examined,  during  the  winter  of  1S2(),  by  capt.  Birch  and  lieutenant 
Lee,  with  a  detachment  from  cantonment  Jessup,  by  order  of  the  secretary 
of  war  of  the  United  States,  with  the  view  of  ascertaining  the  practicability 
of  opening  a  passage  for  steam  bf)ats. 

They  found,  within  one  hundred  mili>s  of  the  bed  of  the  river,  above  one 
hundred  and  eighty  rafts  or  jams  of  timber,  from  a  few  to  four  hundred 
yards  in  length.  They  thought  that  to  break  tbrougli,  or  remove  them,  so 
as  to  admit  the  passage  of  a  steam  boat,  would  be  a  work  of  immense 
labor  and  expense,  and  that,  if  (hme,  the  loose  timber  would  probably 
form  other  ratts  below. 

The  bank  of  the  river  appeared  to  them  very  riih  ;  but  so  covered  with 
canes,  briars  and  vines,  as  to  render  it  impossible  to  advance,  without 
cutting  a  passage  all  the  way,  and  they  judged  a  man  could  cut  but  a  few 
yards  in  a  day. 

They  crossed  over  an  island  hauling  a  light  skifl"  to  bayou  Pierre,  from 
which  a  canal  of  less  than  half  a  mile,  through  an  alluvial  soil,  would 
open  a  connnunication  with  lake  Scioto.  This  lake  is  about  one  hundred 
miles  long  and  five  or  six  wide ;  a  channel  ten  feet  deej)  runs  through  it. 
The  high  water  mark  is  at  least  fifteen  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  lake 
in  winter.  The  lake  has  an  indented  shore,  parallel  to  the  river,  and  a 
communication  with  it  about  twenty-five  miles  above  the  raft,  and  another 
might  be  easily  opened  many  miles  higher  up. 

In  ascending  bayou  Pierre,  which  falls  into  the  river  six  miles  above  the 
town  of  Natchitocnes,  the  jirincipal  obstruction  consists  of  a  number  of 
cypress  stumps,  that  might  be  easilv  removed  at  low  water.  This  once 
effected  and  a  canal  cut  into  lake  Scioto,  there  would  be  nothing,  at  high 


IIISTOIIY    OK    l.onrHIAXA. 


ii 


Wiitor,  to  prcvont  stciim  ImiiiIs  iisccmlin^  K«'(l  river  ono  th(»us!in(l  inih'S 
jilidvc  tlu'  town  of  NatcliitoclicH.  cvt'ii  into  New  Mexico,  tliroiiuli  a  tertihf 
^nd  Siilnl»rious  comitry.  It  is  liclicvcd,  tlmt  the  piissiifie  tliroujrh  l»ayoii 
IMcrrc  is  ouo.  humlrcd  miles  sliorti^r  thiiii  through  the  niiiin  hraiieh  of  tho 
river. 

('otton  is  exclusively  cultiviited  for  sale  in  the  settlement  of  Ruj)ides, 
and  almost  so  in  that  of  Natchitoches,  in  which  tohaceo  is  also  raised  ;  it 
is  of  a  sn;)erior  (|uality;  tlu;  nluntcTs  do  not  put  it  up  as  elsewhere  in 
hojjsheads,  hut  Itrinji;  it  to  market  in  carrots. 

UlacU  river,  at  its  mouth,  is  altout  one  hundred  yards  in  width,  and  is 
twenty  feet  deep.  Its  haidcs  are  coveriMl  with  pea  vino,  and  seviiral  kinds 
offirasses,  hearinj^  a  seed  which  fjeese  and  ducks  eat  fj;r<M'dily.  Willows 
are  <j;enerally  seen  on  otui  side  or  the  other,  with  a  small  {growth  of  hiaok 
oak,  pecan,  hickory,  elm,  etc.  It  takes  its  name  at  the  distance  of  sixty-six 
miles  from  Ked  river,  where  it  hranches  out  into  the  Catahoula,  Washita 
and  Tensa.  Its  width  here  does  not  exceed  eif!;hty  yards.  The  soil  is  a 
lilack  mould  mixed  with  a  moderati;  proportion  of  sand,  resemhlinj^  much 
the  soil  of  the  Mississii)pi.  Yet  the  forest  trees  are  not  like  those  on  that 
stream,  but  nisendde  tliose  on  Red  river.  The  cano  grows  on  .several  parts 
of  its  right  hank,  and  a  few  small  willows  are  seen  on  either.  In 
advancing  up  the  river,  tlu;  timber  becomes  largo,  rising  in  some  i)laees  to 
the  height  of  forty  feet.  The  land  is  at  times  inundated,  not  by  the  waters 
of  the  river,  but  from  the  intrusion  of  its  powerful  noighl)or,  the  Mississippi. 
The  land  declines  rapidly  from  tho  banks,  as  in  all  alluvial  countries,  to 
the  cypress  swamps,  where  more  or  less  water  stagnates,  during  tho  whole 
year.  Towards  the  upj)er  end  of  JJlack  river,  tho  shore  abounds  with 
muscles  and  perry  wincles,  the  first  of  the  kind  called  pearl  nmscles. 

The  land,  at  the  mouth  of  tho  Catahoula  is  evidently  alluvial.  In 
[)roceS8  of  time,  the  river,  shutting  uj)  its  ancient  passage,  and  elevating 
the  banks  over  which  its  waters  pass  no  longer,  communicates  with  the 
s.ame  facility  as  formerly.  The  eonseiiuence  is,  that  many  largo  tracts, 
before  subject  to  inundation,  are  now  exempt  from  that  inconvenience. 

There  is  an  embankment  running  from  the  Catahoula  to  Black  river 
(enclosing  about  two  hundred  acres  of  rich  land)  at  present  about  ten 
toet  high,  and  ten  feet  broad.  This  surrounds  four  large  mounds  of  earth 
at  the  distance  of  a  bow  shot  from  each  other;  each  of  which  may  be 
twenty  feet  liigh,  one  hundred  feet  broad,  and  three  hundred  foot  long  at. 
the  top,  besides  a  stupendous  turret,  situated  on  the  back  part  of  the 
whole,  or  farthest  from  the  water;  the  base  covers  about  an  acre  of  ground, 
rising  by  two  steps  or  stories,  tapering  in  the  ascent ;  the  whole  surmounted 
l)y  a  great  cone  with  its  top  cut  off".  This  tow^er  of  earth,  on  admeasure- 
ment, was  found  to  be  eighty  feet  perpendicular. 

The  Tensa  is  a  creek  thirty-six  miles  long,  the  issue  of  a  lake  of  the 
same  name,  twenty-four  miles  in  length  and  six  in  breadth,  which  lies 
west  from  the  mouth  of  the  Catahoula,  and  communicates  with  Red  river,' 
during  the  great  annual  inundations. 

'To  the  west  and  northwest  angle  of  this  lake,  a  stream  called  Little 
river  enters,  and  preserves  its  channel  of  running  water  during  all  the 
year :  meandering  along  the  bed  of  the  lake,  tho  suporfices  of  which,  in  all 
other  parts,  during  the  dry  season  from  July  to  November,  and  frequently 
later,  is  completely  drained,  covered  with  tho  most  luxuriant  herbage,  and 
becomes  the  retreat  of  immense  herds  of  deer,  of  turkeys,  geese  and  crane; 


'fipv<^ 


.'"WJ 


1*;, 


li 


22 


HI8TOHY   OK   I,Ol'I8IAN.\. 


11 


II  ■; 


i 


It 


■I 


The  TciiKii  servos  only  to  drain  off  a  j»art  of  the  waters  of  tln'  iiuindatioii 
from  the  low  lan<l  of  the  MisHisHippi,  which  eoiiiniuiiicateH  with  Hlack 
river  during  the  season  of  hij^h  water. 

Three  miles  up  the  Washita  and  on  tlu'  rifjjht  sidee<)mes  a  stream  calleil 
the  Haha,  one  of  the  manv  passaj^es  through  which  the  waters  of  the  great 
inundation  pent^trato  aiul  pervade  all  the  low  land  ;  annihilating,  for  a 
time,  the  current  of  lesser  streams  in  the  neighltorhood  of  tlut  Mississippi. 

Five  miles  ahove  is  the  pntiriv  ViUcmnnt^  thus  named  from  its  having 
hcen  included  in  a  grant  from  the  French  goverinnent  to  an  oflicer  of  that 
name. 

In  the  heginning  of  the  last  century,  the  French  projected,  and  hegari 
here  extensive  settlements,  hut  the  nuissacre  in  IT.'U),  and  the  suhsetjuent 
destruction  of  the  Natchez  Indians,  hroke  up  ail  their  undertakings,  and 
thev  were  not  renewed  hy  the  French. 

iHie  timher,  on  hoth  sides  of  the  Washita  to  this  j)rairie,  is  chiefly  the 
red,  whitt;  ancl  hlack  oak,  interspersed  with  a  variety  of  other  trees. 

The  plains  of  the  Washita  lie  on  its  east  side,  and  sloping  from  tlie 
hank,  are  inundated  in  the  rear  hy  the  Mississippi.  In  certain  great 
floods,  the  water  has  advanced  so  nir,  as  to  he  ready  to  pour  into  th*' 
Washita  over  its  margin. 

On  api)roaching  towards  hayou  Lowes,  whicli  the  Washita  receives  from 
the  right,  a  little  below  its  first  rapid  there  is  a  great  deal  of  high  land  on 
hoth  sides  of  the  river,  producing  the  long  leaved  j)ine. 

At  the  foot  of  the  rapids,  the  navigation  is  ohstructed,  hy  beds  of 
gravelly  sand ;  above  the  first  rapid  is  a  high  ridge  of  primitive  earth, 
studded  with  abundance  of  fragments  of  rocks  or  stone,  which  appear  to 
have  been  thrown  up  to  the  surface  in  a  very  irn^gular  manner.  1  he  stone 
is  of  a  very  friable  nature,  some  of  it  having  the  ui)pearance  of  indurated 
clay;  the  rest  is  blackish,  from  exposure  to  the  air;  within,  it  is  of  a 
greyish  white.  It  is  said  that  the  strata  in  the  hill  are  regular  and  might 
afford  good  grindstones. 

The  other  rapid  is  formed  by  a  ledge  of  ro(;ks  crossing  the  entire  bed 
of  the  river :  aJbove  it,  the  water  appears  as  in  a  mill  pond  and  is  about 
one  hundred  yards  wide. 

Twelve  miles  higher,  a  little  above  a  rocky  hill,  comes  in  the  bayou  Aux 
Bceufs.  The  river  is  here,  at  low  water,  al)out  two  fathoms  and  a  half 
deej),  on  a  bottom  of  mud  and  sand.  The  banks  of  the  river  appear  to 
retain  very  little  alluvial  soil :  the  high  land  earth  which  is  a  sandy  loam 
of  a  grey  color,  has  streaks  of  red  sand  and  clay.  The  soil  is  not  rich  ;  it 
bears  pines,  interspersed  with  red  oak,  hickory  and  dogwood. 

A  third  rapid  created  by  a  transverse  ledge  of  rock,  narrows  the  river  to 
about  thirty  yards. 

Similar  rapids  occur  as  far  as  the  settlement.  It  is  a  plain  or  prairie, 
which  appears  alluvial  from  the  regular  slope  of  the  land  from  the  bank 
of  the  nver,  the  bed  of  which  is  now  sufficiently  deep  to  preserve  it  from 
inundation.  Yet,  in  the  rear,  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi  approach,  and 
sometimes  leave  dry  but  a  narrow  strip  of  land  along  the  bank  of  the 
Washita.  The  soil  is  here  very  good,  but  not  equal  to  the  Mississippi 
bottoms ;  it  may  be  estimated  second  rate.  At  a  small  distance  to  the 
east,  are  extensive  cypress  swamps,  over  which  the  waters  of  the  inundation 
always  stand,  to  the  depth  of  from  fifteen  to  twenty-five  feet.  On  the 
west,  after  passing  once  the  valley  of  the  river,  the  breadth  of  which  is 


IIISTOUY   OK   LOUISIANA. 


fioiii  ono-(iimrt(»r  to  two  miles,  t\w  land  uMHUiucrt  un  clfvutlon  from  ono 
lunulrcd  to  tlirri'  liumlnMl  feet,  iind  t'xttuxlH  to  Dw  Hettlemcnts  of  Red 
river.     It  is  tliere  poor  iitid  wimt  is  culled  pine  barrens. 

On  this  jmrt  of  tlu^  river,  lies  a  eonsideralde  tract  of  land,  >?ranted  in 
ITU')  hy  the  Haron  de  Carondelet  to  th(^  Manpiisof  Maison  Kou^e,  a  French 
emigrant,  who  propostul  to  l»rinn  into  Louisiana,  thirty  families  from  his 
country,  who  were  to  descend  the  Ohio  fi)r  the  purpose  of  forming  an 
cstahlishment,  on  the  l>anks  of  the  Washita,  designed  iirincipally  for  the 
culture  of  wheat,  and  the  manufacture  of  Hour.  This  tract  was  two 
K-agutiS  in  wi<lth,  ami  twelve  in  length,  traversed  hy  the  river. 

The  town  of  Monroe  stands  on  the  si«le  of  the  Washita,  and  at  high 
wat<'r  is  approaeluul  l»y  large  st«'ainl>oats ;  hut  the  navigation  is  interrupted 
during  a  great  |)art  of  the  year  l>y  numy  slioals  and  rapids.  The  general 
width  of  the  river  to  the  town  is  from  eighty  to  one  hundred  yards.  Its 
hanks  present  very  little  appearain'e  of  alluvial  soil,  hut  furnish  an  infinitu 
number  of  beautiful  landscapes. 

A  substance  is  found  along  the  river  side,  nearly  resemliling  mineral 
coal ;  its  apjiearance  is  that  of  the  carbonated  wood,  described  by  Kirwan. 
It  does  not  easily  burn,  but  being  applied  to  the  flame  of  a  candle,  it 
sensibly  increases  it,  and  yields  a  faint  smell,  resembling  that  of  gum  lac, 
or  common  sealing  wax. 

Soft  friable  stone  is  common,  and  great  (piantities  of  gravel  and  sand 
are  upon  the  beach ;  on  several  jmrts  of  the  shore  a  reddish  clay  appears 
in  the  strata  of  the  banks,  much  induratcid  and  blackened  by  exposure  to 
light  and  air. 

The  land  above  the  town  is  not  very  inviting,  the  soil  being  poor  and 
covered  with  ])ine  wood. 

About  thirty-six  miles  higher  up  is  bayou  Barthelemy,  on  the  right. 
Here  begins  IJaron  de  Bastrop's  grant  of  land,  by  the  Baron  do  Carondelet 
in  1705,  obtained  nearly  on  the  same  terms  as  that  of  the  Marquis  do 
Maiscm  Rouge.  It  is  a  s<iuare  of  four  leagues  on  each  side,  containing 
about  one  milli(m  of  acres. 

The  bank  of  the  river  continues  about  thirty  feet  in  height,  of  which 
eighteen  from  the  water  are  clayey  loam  of  a  nale  color,  on  which  the 
water  has  deposited  twelve  feet  of  light  sandy  soil,  apparently  fertile,  and 
of  a  dark  brown  color.  This  diiscriotion  of  land  is  of  a  small  breadth,  not 
exceeding  one-half  of  a  niile  on  eacii  side  of  the  river;  and  may  be  called 
the  valley  of  the  Washita,  between  whi(!h  there  is  high  land  covered  with 
pine. 

The  soil  continues  with  j^  growth  of  small  timber  to  the  bayou  des  butes, 
which  has  its  name  from  a  number  of  Indian  mounds  ahmg  its  course. 

The  margin  of  the  river  begins  now  to  be  covered  with  such  timber  as 
grows  on  inundated  land,  particularly  a  species  of  white  oak,  vulgarly 
called  the  overcup  oak,  the  wood  of  whicn  is  remarkably  hard,  solid, 
ponderous  and  durable.  It  j)roduce8  a  large  acorn,  in  great  abundance, 
on  which  bears  feed,  and  whi(!h  is  very  fattening  for  hogs. 

A  few  miles  higher  un  is  a  long  and  narrow  island.  Here  the  face  of 
the  country  begins  to  cnange.  The  banks  of  the  river  are  low  and  steep, 
its  bed  deeper  and  more  contracted,  being  from  twenty-tive  to  thirty  feet 
in  depth.  The  soil,  near  the  water,  is  a  very  sandv  loam,  covered  with 
such  vegetation,  as  is  found  on  the  inundated  land  of  the  Mississippi. 
The  tract  presents  the  appearance  of  a  new  soil,  very  diflerent.  fr  >ir'  \mat 


'Wi 


/*  •■ 


24 


HISTORY   OF    LOriSIANA. 


MN"|:' 


is  below.  This  alluvial  spot  may  be  supposed  the  old  site  of  a  great  lake, 
drained  by  a  natural  channel,  by  the  abrasion  of  the  water — since  which 
period,  the  annual  inundations  have  dei)osited  the  sui)erior  soil.  Eighteen 
or  twenty  feet  are  wanting  to  render  it  habitable  for  man.  It  ai)pears  now 
well  stocked  with  the  beasts  of  the  forest. 

Mallet's  island  is  above.  Its  ui)per  point  has  been  ascertained  to  be 
within  iV2^  seconds  to  the  northern  line  of  the  state.  The  bed  of  the  river 
along  this  alluvial  soil  is  generally  covered  with  water,  and  its  navigation, 
uninterru})ted.  Near  it  is  iiuirdi-'i  dcx  SabiiicK^ou  the  right.  A  stratum  of 
dirty  white  clay,  under  the  alluvial  tract,  shows  the  end  of  the  sunken  and 
the  approach  of  the  high  land.  The  salt  lake  marsh  does  not  derive  its 
name  from  any  braekishness  in  its  water ;  but  from  its  contiguity  to  some 
of  the  lakes,  generally  found,  on  a  clayey  soil,  compact  enough  for  potters' 
ware. 

Opposite  to  this  place  is  a  point  of  land,  forming  a  immiontory, 
advancing  within  a  mile  of  the  river,  and  to  which  the  boats  resort,  when 
the  low  lands  are  covered  with  water. 

Great  salt  lick  creek,  a  stream  of  considerable  length,  and  navigable  for 
small  boats,  comes  in  above.  The  hunters  ascend  it  three  hundred  miles, 
and  affirm  that  none  of  the  springs  that  feed  it  are  salt.  It  has  ol)tained 
its  name  from  the  many  buft'alo  salt  licks  discovered  in  its  vicinity. 

Although  many  of  these  licks,  l)y  digging,  furnish  water,  holding 
marine  salt  in  solution,  there  ejcists  no  reason  for  believing  that  any  of 
them  would  produce  nitre. 

Notwithstanding  this  low,  alluvial  tract  a]>pears  in  all  respects  well 
adapted  to  the  growth  of  the  long  moss,  or  .Si)anish  beard,  (tilansia)  none 
is  obtained  in  the  thirty-third  degree  of  latitude. 

The  long  leaf  pine,  frequently  the  growth  of  rich  and  even  inundated 
land,  is  here  in  great  abundancte.  The  short  leaf  pitch  pine,  on  the 
contrary,  is  generally  found  upon  arid  land  and  frequently  in  sand}'  and 
lofty  situations. 

Some  sand  beaches  and  rapids  are  higher  up ;  there  are  cane  brakes  on 
both  sides  of  the  river.  The  canes  are  small,  but  demonstrate  that  the 
water  does  not  surmount  the  bank  more  than  a  few  feet. 

The  river  here  begins  to  widen.  Its  banks  show  the  high  land  soil, 
with  a  stratum  of  three  or  four  feet  of  alluvion  deposited  by  the  river  upon 
it.  Their  superstratum  is  greyish  and  very  sandy,  with  a  s|nall  admixture 
of  loam,  indicative  of  the  j)overty  of  the  upland  and  mountains  in  which 
the  river  rises. 

At  the  distance  of  a  few  miles  is  the  confiueu'u  of  the  little  Atipouse,  on 
the  left  hand.  The  navigati(m  of  the  Washita  is  much  im})eded  by 
numerous  ra}>ids  and  shoals. 

Coal  mines  are  to  be  found  on  the  northwest  side  of  the  river,  at  tlie 
distance  of  one  mile  and  a  half  from  its  banks,  and  a  saline  was  discovered 
by  Dr.  Hunter,  in  1804. 

It  is  situated  at  the  bottom  of  the  bed  of  a  deep  gully.  The  surrounding 
land  is  rich  and  well  timbered,  but  sul)ject  to  inundation;  excej)t  an 
Indian  mound,  having  a  base  of  eighteen  or  one  hundred  feet  in  diameter 
and  twenty  feet  high.  Aft<'r  digging  al)out  three  feet  through  the  clay,  ho 
came  to  (piicksand,  from  which  tlu;  water  flowed  in  abundance.  Its  tasto 
was  salt  and  Intter,  resembling  tliat  of  sea  water.  In  a  second  hole,  it 
required  him  to  dig  six  feet  before  he  reached  the  quicksand  :  in  doing 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


25 


which  he  struck  several  pieces  of  Indian  pottery.  The  brine  yielded  a 
solid  mass,  by  evaporation,  of  ten  quarts  or  half  a  pound  in  weight,  when 
dry.  It  is,  therefore,  of  the  same  strength  as  the  water  of  the  octan  on 
our  coast,  and  twice  that  of  the  famous  lick  in  Kentucky,  called  Bullet's 
lick,  and  Mank's  lick,  from  which  so  much  salt  is  made. 

The  part  of  the  state  lying  north  of  Red  river  is  interspersed  with 
numerous  lakes  and  water  courses,  and  presents  every  variety  of  the  soil, 
from  the  low  inundated  land  to  the  highest  hills  in  Louisiana.  As  in  the 
lower  region  of  the  Mississippi,  the  margin  of  the  rivers  is  (with  the 
exception  of  a  few  tracts  of  high  cane  brake  land)  higher  than  that  in  the 
rear,  taking  a  southern  direction  with  that  noble  stream.  The  shores  of 
lake  Providence,  the  first  high  land  that  presents  itself,  are  about  three 
mi\es  west  from  the  river.  That  lake  is  evidently  an  ancient  bed  of  the 
Mississippi ;  about  thirty-six  miles  due  south,  lake  St.  Joseph  presents 
the,  same  appearance.  On  Bruine's  bayou,  twelve  miles  south,  part  of  the 
banks  are  sufficiently  high  for  cultivation.  Lake  St.  John  is  not  far  from 
Concordia.  The  shores  of  both  these  lakes  are  partly  cultivated ;  their 
features  indicate  also  that  they  formerly  were  beds  of  the  Mississippi. 
From  Concordia  to  the  mouth  of  Red  river,  the  land  descends  suddenly 
from  the  banks  into  what  makes  a  part  of  the  Mississippi  swamp.  The 
first  water  course  of  any  importance  running  west  of  and  in  a  nearly 
parallel  course  with  the  Mississipj)!  is  the  river  Tensa,  which  uniting  with 
the  bayou  Mason  runs  into  the  Washita.  The  Tensa  and  Mason  might 
easily  be  made  navigable  far  steamboats,  which  have  already  ascended  the 
Tensa  upwards  of  thirty  miles.  In  the  upper  part  of  those  rivers,  the  land 
is  high  in  many  places,  chiefly  on  the  Mason ;  the  land  is  rolling,  far 
above  high  water  mark,  but  not  sufficiently  elevated  to  merit  the 
appellation  of  hills.  Beautiful  specimens  of  calcareous  spath  have  been 
brought  from  that  part  of  the  country,  found  in  ploughing.  In  the  lower 
part  of  those  streams  the  land  is  low  and  unfit  for  cultivation.  Between 
the  Mississippi  and  the  Tensa,  bayous  intersect  the  swamp,  always 
running  west  or  southwestwardly ;  lakes,  joined  the  one  to  the  other  by 
those  bayous,  are  scattered  over  it.  The  greatest  part  of  those  lakes 
becomes  dry  at  low  water,  and  in  a  dry  autumn,  except  those  which  were 
formerly  beds  of  the  Mississippi.  These  retain  invariably  a  considerable 
quantity  of  water.  The  same  observation  applies  to  the  country  between 
the  Mississippi  and  Black  river,  which  empties  into  Red  river  thirty  miles 
above  its  mouth.  When  the  Mississippi  rolls  on  its  full  tide,  those  bayous, 
receiving  an  immense  addition  from  its  waters,  run  with  the  rapidity  of 
torrents ;  chiefly  at  their  issue  from  the  Mississippi  into  the  Tensa  and 
river  Aux  Boeufs,  mixing  their  waters  with  the  Washita  and  Black  river, 
and  carrying  back  into  its  bosom  by  Red  river,  what  it  had  yielded  to 
them  above. 

The  head  waters  of  the  Tensa  are  at  or  near  lake  Providence ;  the  Mason 
heads  higher  up  and  westerly. 

The  next  river  west  of  these  is  the  Aux  Boeufs,  thus  called  by  the  first 
hunters  (French)  on  account  of  the  innumerable  herds  of  buffiiloes  which 
then  roamed  in  the  large  prairies  bordering  its  banks.  That  river  has  its 
rise  no*  far  north  of  the  tnirty-third  degree  of  latitude,  in  the  territory  of 
Arkansas.  The  middle  part  of  its  course  presents  high  rich  land ;  it  gets 
lower  towards  its  mouth,  near  which  it  is  overflowed  to  the  Washita  river. 


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26 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


Between  river  Aux  Bfjeufs  and  the  Mason  the  land  is  low,  with  here  and 
there  a  tract  of  high  rich  soil. 

West  of  river  Aux  Boeufs,  Bartheleniy  river,  (often  called  bayou)  is  a 
considerable  stream ;  it  heads  in  the  territory  of  Arkansas,  and  empties 
into  the  Washita,  thirty  miles  by  water  above  the  town  of  Monroe,  the 
only  re-union  of  houses  or  hamlets  in  the  i)arish  of  Washita.  The  land 
on  that  bayou  is  high  on  both  sides ;  its  water  pure,  and  its  current  brisk, 
even  at  the  lowest  stage  of  water.  It  is  navigable  for  barges  or  batteaux, 
and  could  l)e  rendered  fit  for  steam  boat  navigation  at  a  small  expense. 
Among  the  numerous  water  courses,  which  either  are  or  could  easily  be 
made  a  tnedium  of  water  communication,  from  the  Mississippi  to  the 
northwestern  part  of  the  state,  it  will  ultimately  be  this  river,  which  will 
be  found  to  afford  the  best,  the  easiest  and  the  most  important.- 

Among  the  numerous  creeks  and  bayous  which  carry  their  tribute  to 
the  Washita  river,  bjiyou  Louis  ought  not  to  be  forgotten ;  it  is  not  on 
account  of  the  extent  of  its  course,  l)ut  on  account  of  the  land  on  its 
borders  or  adjacent  thereto.  It  comes  out  of  a  lake  of  the  same  name, 
the  western  and  northwestern  banks  of  which  are  inhabited,  being  high 
and  fertile.  That  lake  and  bayou,  the  Washita,  river  Aux  Boeufs  and 
Turkey  creek  surround  the  high  land,  called  Sicily  Island.  In  it  are 
found  high  hills,  generally  much  broken,  containing  sand  stones  and 
some  silex  in  i)cbbles ;  that  spot  is  the  most  remarkable  for  being  the  only 
one  covered  with  slight  hills  between  the  Mississippi  and  Washita,  and 
also,  because  it  appears  to  have  been  among  the  nrst  inhabited  by  the 
French,  who  settled  in  Louisiana,  who  probably  abandoned  it  at  the  epoch 
of  the  mass-acre  by  the  Natchez  Indians.  It  is  about  thirty  miles  from 
Concordia,  in  a  west  by  north  direction.  French  axes  have  been  found 
there,  canon  balls,  even  mill  stones  and  iron  tools  much  disfigured  by 
rust,  but  evidently  of  French  manufacture. 

The  next  stream,  to  which  all  those  mentioned  above  are  tributary,  is 
the  Washita ;  that  river  has  its  source  in  the  territory  of  Arkansas,  in  the 
Rocky  mountains.  In  the  vicinity  of  its  head  waters  are  found  the 
celebrated  warm  springs.  It  runs  almost  parallel  with  the  Mississippi. 
At  the  mouth  of  the  Tensa,  Little  river  or  Catahoula  river,  arrives  from 
the  west.  The  Washita,  running  between  the  two,  takes  their  additional 
supply  at  the  same  place,  in  its  course,  but  there  loses  its  name :  from 
this  place  to  its  junction  with  Red  river,  during  a  meandering  course  of 
about  sixty  miles,  it  assumes  the  name  of  Black  river,  an  a])pellati<)n 
probably  derived  from  the  color  of  the  soil  through  which  it  runs ;  the 
fertility  of  which  often  induced  emigrants  to  settle  on  its  banks ;  but  they 
are  too  low ;  very  few  years  elapse  without  seeing  them  inundated  ;  they  are 
now  deserted.  5lany  bayous  empty  their  waters  into  Black  river,  all  rising 
in  the  Mississippi  swamp,  and  at  high  water  communicating  with  that 
noble  stream.  The  largest  is  bayou  Crocodile,  which  comes  out  of  lake 
Concordia ;  when  its  current  is  considerable,  the  largest  kind  of  canoes 
have  navigated  it  to  Black  river. 

The  Washita  is  navigable  for  steam  boats  of  any  burthen  during  six  or 
eight  months  in  the  year,  as  far  as  the  town  of  Monroe,  a  distance  of 
about  two  hundred  and  forty  miles  from  its  mouth,  or  as  it  is  there  called 
the  mouth  of  Black  river.  Steam  boats  of  upwards  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  tons  have  ascended  it  more  than  two  hundred  miles  above  Monroe. 
From  its  mouth  to  the  Mississippi,  the  banks  of  Red  river  are  low,  and 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


27 


during  high  water  offer  nothing  to  the  eye  but  an  immense  sea  covered 
with  forests. 

The  features  of  the  country,  west  of  Washita  river,  are  very  different 
from  those  of  the  eastern  side :  between  Washita  and  Red  river,  extensive 
pine  hills,  some  of  which  are  several  hundred  feet  high,  cover  the  surface 
of  the  earth,  nearly  as  far  south  as  the  mouth  of  Little  river,  with  the 
exception  of  the  bottoms  of  creeks ;  some  of  which  are*  fertile  and  above 
inundations — others,  chiefly  near  their  mouth,  covered  with  water  at  every 
great  swelling  of  the  stream.  On  that  side,  the  Mississippi  has  no  effect ; 
no  power,  there  ceases  its  dominion,  except  occasionally  when  at  the 
highest  stage,  it  recedes  on  Red  river,  and  Black  river,  and  consequently 
such  of  their  tributary  streams,  the  entrance  of  which  are  situated  low 
enough  to  be  affected  by  this  retrograde  motion.  Such  is  Little  river, 
which  runs  through  a  lake  called  Catahoula,  almost  dry  at  low  water,  and 
which  could  be  navigated  by  crafts  of  heavy  burthen,  when  the  adjacent 
low  land  is  inundated.  That  river  has  its  head  waters  about  thirty  miles 
south  of  the  33d  degree  of  N.  latitude ;  its  northernmost  branch  originates 
at  32  degrees  and  35  seconds ;  it  then  takes  the  name  of  Dogdemene  and 
forms  the  boundary  between  Washita  and  Natchitoches  parishes.  It 
retains  that  name  to  its  junction  with  the  bayou  or  rather  creek  Castor, 
thence  it  is  called  Little  river.  In  the  same  manner  as  the  Tensa,  Washita 
and  Little  river,  uniting  at  one  point,  form  Black  river. 

The  country,  through  which  Little  river  (sometimes  called  Catahoula 
river)  runs,  wears  not  a  uniform  aspect,  sometimes  reaching  between  hills, 
bluffs  and  banks,  then  strongly  dragging  its  waters  through  lands  inundated 
from  one  and  a  half  to  three  miles  on  each  side ;  in  some  instances,  it  flows 
through  rich  bottoms,  not  subject  to  inundation.  Its  navigation  could  be 
easily  improved,  and  no  doubt  will  be  so,  when  its  banks  are  more  thickly 
settled. 

Several  large  creeks  flow  between  Washita  and  Little  river,  formed  by 
innumerable  branches,  a  great  proportion  of  which  are  never  failing 
springs ;  they  only  swell  by  rains ;  the  water  running  with  rapidity  from 
the  hills,  subsides  a  few  hours  after  the  rain  ceases.  But  few  countries 
can  boast  of  being  better  supplied  with  good  water  than  the  tract  bounded 
north  by  the  33d  degree  of  latitude,  west  by  the  Dogdemene,  south  by 
Catahoula  lake  and  Little  river,  and  east  by  the  Washita  river.  That 
country  is  covered  with  hills,  some  of  which  are  very  good  land,  especially 
about  the  head  waters  of  bayou  D'Arbonne  a  large  creek,  which  empties 
into  the  Washita  about  seven  miles  above  Monroe.  Between  its  mouth 
and  that  place,  the  bayou  Siard,  has  its  entrance  into  the  river.  It  may 
not  be  amiss  to  observe  here  in  order  to  find  the  true  meaning  of  the  words 
bayous  and  creeks,  in  the  state  of  Louisiana;  the  early  French 
settlers  in  Louisiana  called  bayous,  small  bays;  any  water  course, 
which  at  its  mouth  and  even  higher  up  did  appear  like  stagnating 
water,  was  called  bayou,  a  diminutive  of  bay.  The  appellation  would  be 
correctly  given  to  all  water  courses,  having  hardly  any  current,  or  the 
current  of  which  would  run  some  times  to,  and  some  times  from,  the 
river ;  as  it  is  the  case  with  a  great  many  in  this  section  of  the  state. 
When  the  river  is  lower  than  the  low  lands,  those  bayous  run  into  the 
river ;  when  those  lands  are  dry  and  the  river  rising,  they  run  from  it  with 
equal  velocity.  Those  low  lands  are  like  reservoirs ;  did  they  not  exist, 
lower  Louisiana  could  not  be  inhabited ;  it  would  yet  be  part  of  the 


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28 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


■  i; 


dominion  of  the  sea ;  they  retain  an  immense  quantity  of  water,  which 
could  be  calculated,  had  we  an  ac(!urate  map  of  the  state,  showing  minutely 
all  the  land  overflowed  and  to  what  depth.  The  name  of  creek  could  be 
given  (although  its  true  signification  is  nearly  the  same  as  the  one 
expressed  by  bayou  before)  to  all  water  courses  running  with  some 
velocity  and  always  in  the  same  direction.  Thus  with  any  further 
explanation  and  by  the  bare  inspection  of  a  map,  it  would  be  understood, 
what  sort  of  stream  is  delineated  and  even  the  elevation  of  the  land  it 
runs  through.  Thus  Ave  would  say  bayou  Siard,  Barthelemy  creek  or  river, 
creek  D'Arbonne  until  it  meets  the  overflow,  thence  bayou  D'Arbonne,  etc. 
The  bayou  Siard  has  two  entrances,  one  into  Barthelemy,  about  six 
miles  east  from  its  mouth,  the  other  into  Washita  river,  mentioned  before. 
It  runs  to  and  from  that  river,  according  to  the  stage  of  waters  in  either 
stream ;  it  is  navigable  for  barges  some  distance  from  the  river  and  could 
be  easily  made  so  for  steam  boats ;  on  the  hills  between  Washita  and 
Dogdemene,  are  occasionally  very  sandy  stones,  strongly  inpregnated  with 
oxide  of  iron,  siliceous  probably.  Plaster  of  Paris  is  found  at  a  distance 
of  about  ninety  miles  below  Monroe,  and  near  the  Washita,  a  few  lime 
stones  are  scattered  on  the  hills  adjacent  to  those  containing  plaster  of 
Paris.  In  the  same  vicinity  and  in  the  deep  curbs  formed  by  the  swift 
running  branches,  have  been  found  petrified  shells  of  several  kinds  of 
bivalves,  also  of  belemita  and  cornua  ammonis. 

The  land  between  Catahoula  lake.  Little  river,  Black  river  and  the  lower 
part  of  Red  river  is  almost  an  uninterrupted  overflow,  not  quite  as  low  as 
the  Mississippi  swamps,  which  is  in  many  instances  more  than  twenty 
feet  below  high  water  mark ;  some  lakes  or  ponds  are  scattered  over  that 
country.  Those  ponds  are  nothing  more  than  overflowed  land,  without 
any  timber.  Several  inundated  (at  high  water)  prairies  more  elevated 
than  these  ponds,  are  met  with  in  this  section  of  the  state,  always  near 
the  rivers,  and  often  on  their  banks,  particularly  in  the  lower  parts  of 
Washita  and  Boeuf  rivers.  Prairies  never  covered  with  water  and  bordering 
the  banks  of  Washita  higher  up,  existed  formerly,  such  as  prairie  de  Lait, 
(yet  considerable)  prairie  du  Manoir,  de  Brin  d'amour,  des  Chicots,  des 
Canots,  where  Monroe  is  built  (names  all  nearly  forgotten)  prairie 
Chatellerault,  prairie  Bonde,  on  Barthelemy  river.  These  are  now  cultivated, 
or  covered  with  timber ;  a  circumstance  which  never  fails  taking  place 
as  soon  as  the  borders  of  the  prairies  are  settled.  Those  named  Merrouge, 
Galleer,  Jefi*erson,  alias  4th  Prairie,  are  situated  far  from  the  river,  about 
east  north  east,  thirty  miles  from  Monroe.  Higher  up,  on  the  bayou 
Barthelemy,  are  several  prairies  of  high  but  not  first  rate  land  ;  they  are 
not  yet  inhabited.  In  the  parish  of  Catahoula,  the  prairie  of  that  name 
about  fifteen  miles  south  west  from  Catahoula  courthouse,  called  also 
Harrisonburg,  is  some  time  inundated.  It  seems  to  have  been  formerly 
)art  of  the  lake  of  the  same  name.  Prairie  des  Bois,  south  south  east 
tom  Monroe,  nine  miles  distant,  is  also  subject  to  inundation.  Another 
tind  of  prairie  not  so  necessary,  are  those  found  on  the  summit  of  the 
lills— prairie  des  Cotes  is  one  of  that  description.  It  lies  almost  due  south, 
rather  westerly,  from  Monroe,  distant  thirty-six  miles  in  a  straight  course ; 
the  land  there  is  poor,  but,  like  these  mentioned  above  afford  very  good 
pasturage  for  cattle.  The  direction  of  the  hills  between  Washita  aiiid 
Dogdemene  is  rather  from  north  to  south,  as  far  as  bayou  Castor ;  they 
afterwards  generally  run  from  east  to  west.    The  valleys,  which  separate 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


20 


them,  are  evidently  the  work  of  the  water  courses,  the  directions  of  which 
are  always  from  about  north  to  south,  the  hills  appearing  to  follow  that 
course,  are  at  the  lowest  end  but  very  short,  and  at  a  bird's  eye  view,  have 
the  appearance  of  having  been  thrown  together  in  that  manner  by  the 
waves  of  the  sea,  which  probably,  at  some  remote  period,  rolled  over  this 
whole  tract  of  country. 

The  settlements  of  Opelousas  are  separated  from  those  of  Red  river,  by 
a  ridge  of  piny  and  sterile  hills.  These  are  succeeded  by  extensive  prairies, 
which  continue  without  any  important  interruption,  as  far  as  the  sea. 
They  are  almost  entirely  destitute  of  trees,  except  along  the  water  courses: 
HO  much  so,  that  when  a  cluster  of  trees  is  accidentally  met  with,  it  is 
called  an  island.  The  facility  these  prairies  offer  in  raising  cattle,  had 
induced  the  original  settlers  of  Opelousas  and  Attakajpas  to  prefer  the 
j)astoral  to  the  agricultural  life.  Those  who  followed  them,  were  invited 
by  rich  spots  of  lund  on  the  water  courses,  to  the  cultivation  of  indigo  and 
alterwards  cotton,  besides  corn,  rice  and  other  provisions. 

The  town,  near  the  parochial  church  of  Opelousas,  dedicated  to  St. 
Landry,  has  not  the  advantage  of  standing  upon  navigable  water ;  and  this 
circumstance  has  contributed  to  check  its  growth.  It  has  a  branch  of  the 
Louisiana  bank. 

At  a  few  miles  below  it,  is  a  convent  of  nuns,  the  inmates  of  which 
devote  themselves  to  the  education  of  young  persons  of  their  sex.  This 
establishment  is  a  new  one,  and  entirely  due  to  the  piety  of  a  lady  of  the 
neighborhood. 

The  upper  part  of  the  settlements  of  Attakapas,  which  lie  between 
Opelousas  and  the  sea,  differ  very  little  from  the  former.  Emigrants  from 
the  other  states,  having  settled  on  the  land  near  the  sea,  have  given 
them  selves  to  the  culture  of  the  sugar  cane,  and  meet  with  great 
success. 

There  are  two  towns  in  the  Attakapas — St.  Martinsville  and  Franklin, 
on  the  river  Teche,  which  rises  in  the  Opelousas.  The  first,  though  not 
considerable,  has  a  weekly  gazette,  and  a  branch  of  the  state  bank,  a 
church  and  the  other  public  buildings  of  the  parish.  The  other  is  as  yet 
an  embryo. 

The  Spaniards  made  an  abortive  attempt  to  establish  a  town,  called 
New  Iberia,  about  sixteen  miles  below  St.  Martinsville. 

The  prairies  in  this  part  of  the  state  are  not  natural  ones :  they  owe 
their  origin  to  the  Indian  practice  of  setting  fire  to  dry  grass  during  the 
fall  and  winter,  in  order  that  the  tender  herbage,  in  the  spring,  may 
attract  game ;  this  destroys  young  trees,  and  the  prairie  annually  gains 
on  the  woodland,  as  long  as  the  practice  prevails.  When  it  ceases,  the 
woodland  gains  on  the  prairie. 

To  the  west  is  a  collection  of  houses  on  Vermilion  river,  near  the  public 
Imildings  of  the  parish  of  Lafayette. 

Towards  the  sea,  near  the  base  of  the  delta  formed  by  bayou  Lafourche 
and  the  Mississippi,  are  a  number  of  lakes,  the  principjil  of  which  are 
Barataria  and  Salvador.  Of  the  streams  that  fall  into  the  gulf,  west  of 
the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  the  most  important  are  Lafourche, 
Atchafalaya,  Teche,  Mentao,  Calcasu  and  Sabine. 

All  the  space  between  these  streams,  near  the  gulf,  is  interspersed  with 
trembling  prairies,  lagoons  and  numerous  bayous.    There  are,  however, 


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HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


many  spots  of  high  ground ;  but  the  difficulty  of  access  and  distance  from 
inhaoited  tracts  have  prevented  migration  to  them. 

The  Teche  has  its  source  in  the  prairies,  in  the  upper  part  of  the 
settlements  of  Opelousas,  and  during  the  season  of  high  water,  flo^vs 
partially  into  the  Courtableau.  As  it  enters  the  settlements  of  Attakapas, 
it  receives  from  the  right  side  bayou  Fusilier,  which  bayou  Bourbeux 
connects  with  Vermilion  river.  A  little  more  than  twenty  miles  farther, 
it  passes  before  the  town  of  St.  Martinsville  and  reaches,  fifteen  miles 
after,  the  spot  on  which  the  Spaniards,  soon  after  the  cession,  made  a  vain 
attempt  to  establish  a  city,  to  which  the  name  of  New  Iberia  was  destined  ; 
twenty  miles,  from  the  mouth  of  the  Teche,  is  the  town  of  Franklin. 

Above  St.  Martinsville,  cotton  is  universally  cultivated  on  the  banks  of 
the  Teche :  below  it,  are  a  number  of  sugar  plantations,  which  succeed 
remarkably  well.  The  low  price  of  cotton  has  of  late  induced  many  of 
the  planters  to  attempt  the  culture  of  the  cane,  above  St.  Martinsville,  even 
as  high  as  bayou  Boeuf. 

On  the  east  of  the  Teche,  and  between  that  stream  and  the  Atchafalaya, 
is  Prairie  Grand  Chevreuil,  occupying  the  ground  beyond  the  reach  of 
inundation.  On  the  opposite  side,  and  to  the  east  oi'  Vermilion  river  is 
the  Attakapas  prairie ;  the  land  of  which,  especially  on  the  banks  of  the 
latter  stream,  is  of  good  quality  and  well  adapted  to  the  culture  of  sugar, 
cotton,  indigo,  tobacco  and  corn. 

The  Vermilion  river  has  its  source  in  the  upper  part  of  the  Opelousas 
settlements  :  between  it  and  the  Mentao  is  the  Opelousas  prairie,  which  is 
more  extensive  than  the  two  just  mentioned ;  being  about  seventy-five 
miles  in  length  and  twenty-five  in  breadth.  Its  direction  is  S.  W.  to  N. 
E.     It  affords  an  extensive  range  for  cattle. 

The  Mentao  and  Calcasu  rise  near  the  sandy  ridge  separating  the 
settlements  of  Red  river  from  those  of  Opelousas.  These  streams  are 
nearly  parallel  to  the  Vermilion  and  Sabine.  The  land  on  their  banks  is 
of  less  fertility  than  near  the  Mississippi.  Agricultural  establishments 
are  rare,  and  the  few  settlers  confine  their  attention  to  raising  cattle. 

At  the  mouth  of  Sabine  river,  where  the  western  boundary  of  the  state 
begins,  the  country  exhibits  a  wild  state  of  desolation.  A  line  of  shell 
banks  extends  along  the  shores  of  the  lake,  into  which  the  river  expands, 
at  the  distance  of  twenty  miles  from  its  mouth ;  they  are  covered  with 
trees  of  a  stunted  growth.  The  country  around  is  a  morass  to  the  distance 
of  twenty  miles  above  the  lake. 

The  whole  coast  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  Sabine,  as  from  the  former 
stream  to  Pearl  river,  is  low  and  swampy,  and  except  in  a  very  few  places 
indeed,  can  only  be  approached  through  the  water  courses. 


CHAPTER    I. 


■'I 


Charles  the  oightli,  the  seventh  monarch  of  the  house  of  Valois,  wielded 
the  sceptre  of  Frunce,  and  Henry  the  seventh  that  of  England,  in  1492, 
when  Columbus,  under  the  auspices  of  Ferdinand  of  Aragon  and  Isabella 
of  Castile,  dis(u)vered  the  western  hemisphere. 

Charles,  during  a  reign  of  nineteen  years,  sought  military  glory,  and  an 
extension  of  territory,  in  the  invasion  of  Italy.  Success,  for  a  while 
jittended  his  arms,  and  with  the  aid  of  the  Pope,  he  caused  himself  to 
1(0  crowned  Emperor  of  Constantinople  and  King  of  Naples ;  but,  he  was 
.soon  driven  bacK,  and  died  in  1496,  the  fiftieth  year  ol  his  age,  without 
iiaving  ever  sought  to  avail  himself  of  the  advantages  the  discovery  of  the 
new  world  offered.  Less  ambitious  of  warlike  fame,  Henry  made  an  early 
efl'ort  to  share  them.  He  fitted  out  a  small  fleet,  the  command  of  whicn 
he  gave  to  Cabot,  a  Venetian  adventurer,  settled  in  Bristol,  whom  he  sent 
on  a  voyage  of  discovery.  No  historical  record  informs  us  of  the  success 
of  this  expedition ;  but  in  1496,  this  navigator  saiied  in  a  ship  furnished 
by  the  crown,  and  four  barques,  supplied  by  the  merchants  of  Bristol. 
He  discovered  a  large  island,  to  whic*h  he  gave  the  name  of  Prima  vista, 
now  known  by  that  of  Newfoundland,  and  soon  after  the  continent.  He 
sailed  southwardly  along  the  Ci)ast,  as  far  as  the  bay  of  Chesapeake.  It  is 
not  known  that  he  effected  or  even  attempted  a  landing,  and  the  ocular 
possession  he  took  of  the  country  is  the  origin  and  basis  of  the  claim 
of  the  English  nation  to  all  the  land  in  North  America,  from  the  Atlantic 
to  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

Charles  the  eighth,  having  left  no  issue,  was  succeeded  by  Louis  the 
twelfth,  a  distant  kinsman ;  their  common  ancestor  being  Charles  the 
seventh,  the  grandfather  of  the  deceased  monarch.  Louis  continued  the 
war  in  Italy  with  the  same  spirit,  and  with  as  little  success  as  his 
predecessor ;  and  viewed  the  progress  of  the  Spaniards  in  America  with 
equal  unconcern.  His  subjects,  however,  extended  their  industry  and 
their  commerce  to  the  new  world.  In  1504,  the  Biscayans,  the  Bretons 
and  the  Normans,  visited  Newfoundland,  in  quest  of  fish.  Two  years 
after,  Denys  entered,  and  made  a  map  of  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence ;  and  in 
MOcS,  Aubcrt  carried  over  the  first  American  Indians  who  trod  the  soil  of 
France.  The  crown  of  England  in  the  following  year,  passed,  on  the 
death  of  Henry  the  seventh,  in  his  fifty-second,  to  his  son  Henry  the 
eighth. 

The  southernmost  part  of  the  continent  of  North  America,  was  first 
discovered  l)y  a  S])anish  adventurer  in  1513.  Not  impelled  by  avarice  or 
am1)ition,  l)ut  led  by  credulity  and  chance.  Ponce  de  Leon,  believing  that 
the  island  Binimi,  in  the  archipelago  of  Bahama,  possessed  a  fountain,  the 
waters  of  which  had  the  virtue  of  repairing  the  ravages  of  time  on  the 
human  frame,  sailed  from  the  island  of  Porto  Rico,  in  search  of  this 
renovating  stream.  A  violent  storm  disappointed  his  hopes,  and  threw 
him  on  the  cape,  opposite  to  the  northern  side  of  the  island  of  Cuba.  He 
called  the  country  thus  discovered  Florida,  either  from  its  flowery  appear- 
ance, or  from  the  circumstance  of  his  having  discovered  it  on  Palm 
Sunday,  Panqua  de  Flares.  Erecting  a  large  cross  on  the  beach,  he  took 
formal  possession  in  the  name  of  his  sovereign,  Charles  the  first  of  Spain, 


¥^M, 


% '-  *m 


m 


Ilili 


J   ! 


i    I 


I         I 


li,. 

!■■        , 

i 

i^: 

( / 

I  '■ ' 

32 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA, 


the  grandson  of  Isuhella,  the  late  Queen  of  Castile.  He  returned  in  the 
following  year  and  landed  on  the  same  spot,  with  a  nunil)er  of  his  eountry- 
men ;  but  the  natives  fell  on  the  intruders  and  killed  them  all  but  six,  who 
were  grievously  wounded.  The  chief  was  among  the  latter.  He  sailed 
for  the  island  of  Cuba,  where  he  and  his  five  surviving  eompanions  died 
of  their  wouuds. 

Louis  the  twelfth  died  on  the  first  of  January,  1515,  the  fifty  third  year 
of  his  age,  without  issue.  His  successor  was  Francis  the  first ;  their 
common  ancestor  was  the  Duke  of  Orleans,  a  brother  of  Charles  the  sixth. 

The  first  attempt  of  the  French  to  plant  a  colony  in  America,  was  made 
in  the  second  year  of  Francis'  reign.  A  few  adventurers  of  that  nation, 
were  led  by  tne  Baron  de  Levy  to  the  small  island,  in  the  forty-fourth 
degree   of  northern   latitude,  now   known   as   8able  Island,   part  of  the 

Srovince  of  Nova  Scotia.  The  spot  was  most  unfavorable ;  at  a  great 
istance  from  the  continent,  or  any  other  island ;  the  soil  is  rocky  and 
sterile.  These  men  were  unable  to  derive  their  subsistence  from  it.  They 
suffered  much  from  the  cold  ;  many  sickened  and  died.  The  Baron  carried 
back  the  survivors  to  France,  leaving  some  cattle  and  hogs  on  the  island. 

In  1520,  Vasquez  de  Aillon  sailed  from  Hispaniola  for  the  northern 
continent,  with  views  not  quite  so  unexceptionaole  as  those  of  Ponce  de 
Leon.  His  object  was  to  seize  some  of  the  Indians,  transport  them  to 
Hispaniola  and  sell  them  to  his  countrymen,  who  could  not  obtain  from 
Africa  a  sufficient  number  of  negroes  to  work  the  mines.  He  made  land 
on  the  coast  of  the  present  state  of  South  Carolina,  near  the  mouth  of  a 
river  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Jourdain,  after  a  man  on  board  of  one 
of  his  ships,  who  first  descried  it ;  it  now  bears  that  of  Santee.  He  was 
received  with  hospitality :  after  staying  awhile,  and  supplying  himself 
with  provisions,  he  invited  a  number  of  the  natives  to  a  banquet  on  board 
of  his  ship,  made  them  dance  at  the  sound  of  his  trumpets,  plying  them 
with  abundant  doses  of  ardent  spirits.  When  exercise  and  ebriety  had 
lulled  their  senses,  he  hoisted  his  sails  and  brought  off"  his  unwary  guests. 
Heaven  did  not  allow  him  to  reap  the  fruits  of  his  treachery.  One  of  the 
ships  perished  in  a  storm.  The  sturdy  captives  in  the  other,  for  a  long 
while,  refused  to  take  any  food ;  the  voyage  was  long,  and  disease  made  a 
great  havoc  among  the  Spaniards  and  the  Indians, 

Velasquez  made  another  voyage  to  Florida  in  1552,  with  two  ships ;  he 
was  quite  unsuccessful.  He  lost  one  of  the  ships,  and  the  Indians  kille^l 
a  great  part  of  his  people. 

Veranzany,  a  Florentine,  employed  by  Francis  the  first,  appears  to  have 
been  the  first  navigator,  who  visited  America  at  the  expense  of  the  crown 
of  France.  He  reached  it  in  the  month  of  March,  1524,  a  little  below  Cape 
Hatteras,  near  the  spot  on  which  sixty  years  after,  the  first  attempt  towards 
English  colonization  in  America  was  made,  under  the  auspices  and  at  the 
cost  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh.  He  sailed  up  the  coast,  as  far  as  the  fiftieth 
degree  of  northern  latitude,  entered  a  few  of  the  rivers,  had  some  little 
intercourse  with  the  aborigines,  by  whom  he  was  every  where  friendly 
received,  and  returned  to  France,  without  any  attempt  towards  a  settlement. 

He  made  other  voyages,  in  the  two  following  years,  and  it  is  supposed 
perished  in  the  last. 

The  misfortunes  of  Francis,  made  a  prisoner  at  Pavie,  his  long  captivity 
im  Spain,  and  his  distresses  tiU  the  peace  of  Cambray,  prevented  the 


[1  t 
i 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


in  the 
)untry- 
ix,wn«) 
>  Bailed 
18  died 

rd  year 
t;  their 
le  sixth. 
18  made 

nation, 
y-fourth 
t  of  the 

a  great 
cky  and 
t.  They 
n  carried 
le  island, 
northern 
Ponce  de 

them  to 
tain  from 
aade  land 
louth  of  a 
ird  of  one 
He  was 
T  himself 
I  on  hoard 

ing  them 
)riety  had 
irv  guests. 

Ine  of  the 

for  along 

se  made  a 

ships ;  he 
lans  kille^l 

irs  to  have 
the  crown 
)elo\vCapc 
pt  towards 
and  at  the 
the  fiftieth 
5ome  Uttle 
[e  friendly 
Settlement, 
supposed 

^  captivity 
rented  the 


33 
the 


execution  of  the  plan  he  had  formed  of  i)lanting  a  French  colony  in 
new  world.  . 

Paniphilo  de  Narvaez,  having  ol)tained  from  Charles  the  first  of  S{)ain, 
the  government  o(  all  the  countries  he  could  discover  from  Rio  de  Palma, 
to  the  undefined  limits  of  Florida,  sailed  from  the  island  of  Cuba,  with 
four  ships  and  a  banjue  in  March,  ir)2<S,  with  four  hundred  foot   and 
eighty  horse.    He  landed  near  the  hay  del  Spiritu  Santo,  called,  in  modern 
times,  the  bay  of  Tampa.    The  Indians  cheerfully  sui)plied  him  with  corn 
and  other  i)rovisions.     He  landed  a  part  of  his  force  and  took  s<denm 
posse^.■ion  of  the  country,  in  the  name  of  his  imperial  master.      Noticing, 
at  this  ceremony,  a  cymbal  of  gold,  in  the  hands  of  an  Indian,  his  hope 
of  securing  a  large  (juantity  of  this  metal  was  greatlv  excited.      He  was 
told  that  the  Ai>alachians,  a  nation  not  far  distant,  ha(l  much  of  it.    Under 
tlie  intluence  of  the  excitement  which  the  information  created,  he  put  the 
shipping  under  the  orders  of  Cabeca  de  Vacca,  with  directions  to  sail 
along  the  coast ;  he  landed  the  rest  of  his  force,  and  marched  uj)  the 
country  the  last  day  of  May.    On  the  next,  he  crossed  a  river,  on  the  banks 
of  which  was  a  town,  where  the  Indians  supplied  him  with  i)rovisions. 
He  ranged  the  country  for  several  days,  without  meeting  a  human  being ; 
at  last  he  overtook  a  chief  preceded  by  men  l)l()\ving  flutes,  and  followed 
hv  a  large  party.     He  gave  them  to  understand,  he  was  going  towards  the 
Apalachians ;  the  chief  told  him  these  Indians  were  at  war  with  his  nation  : 
Narvaez  travelled  with  him  to  his  village,  in  which  he  was  hospitably 
entertained.     Proceeding,  he  reached  on  the  25th  the  first  village  of  the 
Aijalachians,  which  consisted  of  about  forty  cabins.      He  took  })ossession 
of  it  without  oi)position,  and  found  corn,  venison  and  skins ;  but  no  metal. 
He  sojourned  near  this  village  for  several  days,  making  occasional  excursions 
into  the  country ;  during  which,  he  hatl  frequent  skirmishes  with  the 
natives,  who  darted  their  arrows  at  his  people  and  hid  themselves  in  the 
swamps.     At  last,  destitute  of  provisions,  seeing  nothing  but  a  sterile 
country  and  unpassable  roads,  he  determined  on  marching  towards  the 
sea,  and  reached  Ante,  an  Indian  town,  not  far  distant  from  the  spot  on 
which  the   Spaniards  afterwards   erected   the  fort  of  St.   Mark  of  the 
Apalaches.  The  Indians  followed  on  the  flanks  of  their  invaders,  harrassing 
them  at  times  by  clouds  of  arrows.      Their  countrymen  at  Aute,  strongly 
defended  themselves  and  killed  a  number  of  Spaniards.    Cabeca  de  Vacca 
approached  the  coast,  and  Narvaez  and  his  men  took  shipping ;  but  the 
greatest  part  perished  through  fatigue,  hunger,  disease  and  shipwreck. 
Those  who  escaped  these  complicated  disasters,  reached  Rio  de  Palma. 
Narvaez  was  not  among  them ;  his  vessel  foundered  in  a  storm  and  he 
never  was  heard  of. 

Francis,  having  married  his  rival's  sister,  and  released  his  sons,  detained 
as  hostages  in  Spain,  availed  himself  of  the  tranquillity  that  followed  the 
peace  of  Cambray,  to  resume  his  plan  of  adding  a  part  of  America  to  his 
dominions. 

For  this  purpose,  he  directed  two  barques  of  sixty  tons,  with  one  hundred 
iuid  fifty  men,  to  be  fitted  out  at  St.  Maloes,  and  gave  the  command  of 
them  to  Cartier,  who  sailed  on  the  30th  of  April,  1534.  He  reached 
Bonavista  in  the  island  of  Newfoundland  in  twenty  days,  crossed  the  gulf 
and  entered  a  bay,  which  from  the  extreme  heat  at  the  time,  he  called 
Chaleur  bay ;  it  is  a  little  to  the  south  of  the  mouth  of  the  river  St.  Lawrence. 
Two  sailors  (the  wretched  remnant  of  the  crew  of  a  Spanish  ship,  which 


m 


mM 


-faf 


m 


illl 


1 1 


84 


IMSTOUY  OF   LOUIHIANA. 


til 


!'"%> 


haci  l)cen  w..'ck(Ml  tluTc)  wen;  wiindcring  on  the  Ix'iu'li,  wht'U  Cartii-r'n 
bout  aj)|)r()a(l)(Ml.  The  French  in(|iiiriMl  what  country  they  were  in;  one 
of  th(^  SpaniardH,  who,  Indiif^  pri^Hsed  Wy  liun^or,  iniaj^ined  lie  was  awkecl 
whether  there  was  any  thing  to  eat,  replied,  Am  timhi ;  "there  in  nothing? 
here."  The  French  in  the  hoat,  on  retiirninj;  to  (.'artier,  tohl  iiiin  the 
Spaniard  said  the  country  was  caUed    VinKidd.     ('artier  visited  several 

Iiarts  of  the  gulf,  and   took  jjossession  of  the  country  for  the  crown  (»f 
i'rance. 

The  king,  on  the  return  of  ('artier,  ordered  a  new  expc'dltion,  consisting 
of  three  sliips  ;  the  largest,  commanded  hy  ('artier,  wasof  one  hundred  an(l 
twenty  tons;  they  sailed  on  the  IWtli  of  May,  loo').  On  reaching  the 
continent,  Cartier  was  obliged  by  stress  of  wi'ather,  to  put  into  a  })ort  which 
he  called  St.  Nicholas.  He  gave  the  name  of  St.  Lawrence  to  the  gulf  and 
the  river ;  leaving  the  two  small  vessels  at  the  mouth  of  the  stream,  he 
proceeded  to  an  Indian  town  called  Hochelaga,  near  the  spot  on  which 
the  I'ity  of  Montreal  now  stands.  The  friendly  reception  the  Indians 
gave  him,  induced  him  to  send  for  the  vessels  he  had  left,  and  to  build  a 
number  of  cabins,  which  he  surrounded  with  a  strong  palisado,  that  might 
enable  him  to  resist  a  sudden  attack  ;  and  he  made  other  i»rei)arations  to 
winter  there.  Thi>  season  jjroved  extremelv  severe,  and  the  scurvy  broke 
out  among  his  men ;  he  was  himself  attacked  by  it.  Twenty-five  of  his 
people  had  alrcjady  perished,  and  two  alone  esca))ed  the  disease,  when  a 
specific  remedy  was  i)ointe(l  out  by  the  Indians,  in  a  decoction  of  the  bark 
of  the  Abies  Cnnndoisix,  (the  (Janadian  fir.)  Eight  days  after  it  had  been 
resorted  to,  Cartier  found  all  his  men  perfectly  recovered.  Some  who  had 
been  afflicted  with  another  disease,  and  had  l)een  but  partially  cured,  were 
perfectly  restored  to  health  by  the  use  of  this  specific.  In  the  spring, 
Cartier  brought  back  such  of  his  men  as  the  fell  disorder  had  spared ; 
but  nothing  more  was  done  in  Francis'  reign,  towards  the  settlement  of  a 
French  colony  in  America. 

Two  years  after,  Charles  the  first  of  S])ain  gave  the  government  of  St. 
Yago  (le  Cuba  to  Hernandez  de  Soto,  with  permission  to  prosecute  the 
discovery  of,  and  subjugate,  Florida ;  and  on  the  twelfth  of  May  of  the 
foHowing  year,  he  sailed  from  the  Havana  with  an  army  of  nine  hundred 
foot  and  three  hundred  and  fifty  horse.  The  fleet  was  etiuipjyed,  and  the 
naval  and  land  forces  raised  and  sup|)orted  at  Soto's  ex|)ense.  He  had 
amassed  considerable  wealth  in  Peru,  in  the  concpiest  of  which  he  had 
accompanied  Pizarro.  The  fleet  was  delayed  by  contrary  winds,  and  at 
last  reached  the  bay  in  which  Narvaez  had  landed  eleven  years  before. 
Three  hundred  men,  having  landed  and  marched  a  short  distance,  were 
repelled  with  great  loss.  Soto  now  di.sembarked  his  horse  and  foot,  and 
sent  back  the  large  vessels.  He  ])roceeded  northerly,  his  march  being 
retarded  by  frequent  interruptions  from  the  natives,  who  hung  on  his 
flanks  *  and  he  halted  at  Herriga,  the  first  town  he  came  to,  at  the  distance 
of  six  miles  from  the  shore.  He;  spent  some  days  there,  to  give  time  to 
the  baggage  to  come  up  and  afford  some  rest  to  his  men,  and  began  his 
march  for  the  country  of  the  Apalachians,  which  was  at  the  distance  of 
about  four  hundred  miles.  The  country  was  divided  into  small  districts, 
each  governed  by  a  cacique ;  the  (diief,  the  district  and  its  prin(;ipal  town, 
generally  bearing  the  same  name.  The  town  was  a  collection  of  from 
fifty  to  two  hundred  houses ;  surrounded  l)y  a  strong  palisado.  Gannlasso 
de  la  Vega,  in  his  history  of  this  expedition,  has  recorded  the  names  of  the 


IP^ 


HISTORY   OP    I.Ol'IHIANA. 


35 


rticr  H 
i;  one 
awki'il 
othinjj; 
in  thf 
-(>v(  rill 
»wn  of 

iHiHtini? 
red  and 
injJ!  llif 
t  which 
;ulf  anil 
(Mini,  ho 
1  which 
Indians 
I  huihA  ii 
it  nuj?ht 
itionB  to 
vy  i)roko 
;-e  of  his 
>,  when  a 
'  the  i)ark 
had  heen 
who  had 
ired,  were 
lie  spring, 
I  spared ; 
iient  of  a 

nt  of  St. 

iocute  the 

ay  of  the 
hundred 

,  and  tlie 
He  iKid 

■\   lie  had 
Is,  and  at 

Irs  before. 

Ince,  were 
foot,  and 

Irch  heing 
n^  on  his 
,e  distance 
time  to 
"began  his 
liBtancc  of 
.  districts, 
lipal  town, 
In  of  froi« 
Tarcilasso 

mes  of  the 


towns  through  which  Soto  passi'd,  from  the  hay  del  Spiritu  Santo  to  the 
Apalaclnans.  They  are  many,  hut  it  is  helieved  the  name  of  none  of  them 
(■orres|»ondH  with  that  of  any  of  the  present  divisiojis  of  the  country.  Two 
of  tlu'  priiu'ipal  districts,  or  provinces,  were  governed  hy  a  female  cacique. 
After  advancing  into  the  country,  Soto's  prof^rcss  cease<l  to  he  ohstructed, 
iind  at  several  towns  he  was  hospitahly  received,  and  (thtained  ahundant 
supplies  of  corn  and  venis(Mi.  One  of  the  female  cacicpies  added  to  this 
needed  sui'cor,  pn'sents  of  j)earls.  If  w»' credit  (Jarcilasso,  these  i»resents 
in  the  <iuantity  and  value  of^the  nearls,  were  immense;  tla'V  were  often  as 
large  as  hazel  nuts  and  wen;  dealt  out  hy  the  hushel,  except  those  of  the 
smallest  kind,  called  xral  nf  itcnrlx,  which  were  weijjhed.  Mut  this  writer 
speaks  of  lions  in  the  forests  of  Florida,  and  of  a  nund)er  of  caciques, 
whi)  conmianded  several  tliousands  of  warriors.  It  is  helieved  those  who 
furnished  this  Indian  author  with  the  memoirs  on  which  he  wrote,  were 
li'ss  fond  of  truth  than  of  the  marvellous. 

Several  caciques  opposed  the  passage  of  the  Spaniards  through  the 
country,  hut  none  could  resist,  with  hows  and  arrows,  an  army  with 
luusketrv  an<l  artillery.  By  courtesy,  tlireats  and  violence,  Soto  made  his 
wav  to  tlie  country  of  th(!  Apalachians.  There,  after  taking  some  rest,  a 
part  of  his  army  was  sent  in  strong  detachments  to  reconnoitre  the  ground  ; 
while  th(!  rest  proceeding  southwesterlv,  reached  Ante,  a  town  near  the 
sea  shore,  which  Narvacz  had  visited.  I'here,  this  party  dividing  itself  in 
two  detachments,  one  of  them  marched  westerly  to  Ancihusi,  another  large 
town,  on  tlu!  spot  on  which,  about  a  century  and  a  half  after,  was  built 
the  town  of  Pensacola;  while  the  latter,  proceeding  at  first  easterly,  then 
southerly,  reached  the  hay  in  which  the  army  had  landed,  from  which  one 
of  the  small  vessels  was  sent  to  (/uba,  with  an  account  of  Soto's  progress, 
and  to  ohtain  supplies. 

The  two  detachments  uniting  again  at  Aute,  joined  the  main  body  at 
the  Apalachians,  where  Soto  had  determined  on  wintering. 

The  army  resumed  its  march  early  in  the  spring ;  its  direction  was  at 
first  northwesterly  ;  passing  through  the  hack  parts  of  the  jiresent  state  of 
(ieorgia,  it  marched  for  some  time  northerly,  then  northwesterly  through 
the  country  of  the  Cherokees,  then  a  large  and  warlike  nation,  crossing 
the  present  state  of  Tennessee  and  proceeding  to  that  of  Kentucky,  as 
high  up  as  the  thirty-seventh  degree  of  northern  latitude.  It  marched 
thence  southwesterly  to  the  bay  of  Mobile.  Of  the  Indians  thus  visited 
hy  Soto,  the  Tuscaloosas,  Mobilians  and  Alabamans,  are  the  only  ones 
who,  at  this  day  retain  their  names.  The  Mobilians  made  a  furious 
resistance,  hut  were  at  last  overpowered.  (Jarcilasso  reckons  they  lost  in 
several  skirmishes,  a  pitched  battle  and  the  defence  of  their  principal 
town,  u])wards  of  eleven  thousand  men,  and  that  more  than  one  thousand 
women  were  burnt  in  a  single  house.  Soto,  having  subdued  the  Mobilians, 
<iave  one  month's  rest  to  his  army ;  then  continued  his  march  to  the 
Chickasaws,  among  whom  he  wintered. 

A  party  of  these  Indians  attacked  him  at  night,  in  the  latter  part  of 
January  following,  by  torch  light.  The  torches  were  formed  of  a  grass, 
which  made  into  a  roj)e,  takes  and  retains  fire  like  a  match.  The 
Chickasaws  darted  arrows,  armed  with  this  grass  thus  lighted,  on  the  huts 
of  their  invaders,  principally  those  used  as  stables,  thus  setting  the 
provender  on  fire ;  several  horses  were  burnt  at  their  mangers,  to  which 
they  were  made  fast  with  small  chains.    The  Indians,  hovering  round 


•A: 


V^i    . 


.*^,^ 

1                             '    U     1 

rl 

k.H 


86 


IIISTOUY    (•!••    r.oriHIANA. 


tll1|. 


■     -  i 


'  |i 


I      il 


their  enemy,  l»eeanie  vinilde  only  when  tliey  iijiitnted  their  torches.  Tlio 
musketry,  artiih-ry  ami  cavalry,  luiwever,  soon  compellcfl  them  to  tlisperse  ; 
the  Spaniards  hail  forty  !nen  and  fifty  horses  killed  in  this  attack.  Soto 
removed  his  camp  to  what  he  c(»nceived  a  more  detensihie  spot,  ahout  three 
miles  to  the  west.  Hut  notwithstanding  his  utmost  vi^rilance  and  the 
alertness  of  his  men,  the  army,  while  it  remained  in  the  country  of  the 
Chic'kasaws  was  incessantly  harrass«M|  hy  hovering  parties,  and  every 
individual  who  strujij^h'd  to  any  distinice  from  the  camp,  was  almost 
instantly  made  a  prisoner  or  killed. 

Early  in  April,  Soto  marched  northwesterly  through  the  country  of  the 
('hoctaws,  and  the  western  narts  of  the  present  states  of  Mississippi  and 
Tennessee.  He  reached  the  mif^hty  stream  then  <'alle(l  hv  the  Indians, 
(Mcuajia,  an<l  now  Mississipj)!,  a  little  helow  the  lowest  Chickasaw  hlutl". 
llavinj?  employed  some  time  in  huilding  flats,  h»'  overcame  without  nnich 
difliculty  tlu!  opposition  ma<le  hv  the  Indians  to  his  crossiuf^  it.  On  the 
western  hank,  he  i)roceed(!d  as  high  up  as  White  river,  and  tln'n  downwards 
in  a  circuitous  route,  to  avoid  the  swampy  shore,  thn)Utjh  the  pres<>nt 
territory  of  the  Arkansas,  to  his  winter  (juarters.  On  the  left  side  of  the 
Mississii)pi,  the  Spaniards  met  with  the  sanu?  reception  from  the  Indians, 
as  on  the  opposite.  At  times  the  natives  were  confident  and  friendly,  at 
others  reserved,  often  cruel  and  treacherous ;  rarely,  though  som(^  times, 
api>roaching  in  ho.stile  array. 

In  the  spring,  the  army  proceeded  southerly  hv  slow  marches  ;  hut  in 
the  heginning  of  the  summer,  fatigue,  dearth  o^  provisions,  the  intense 
heat  and  the  impure  air  of  the  swamps,  greatly  injured  the  health  of  the 
Spaniards;  many  sickened  and  died.  At  last,  after  long  and  frenuent 
halts,  the  army  reached  the  mouth  of  Red  river.  Here  the  chi(>i  was 
seized  with  a  fever,  the  mortal  character  of  which  hecamc;  manifest  in  a 
few  days.  It  was  not  long  hefore  he  hecame  conscious  of  his  situation, 
and  ho  contemplated  approaching  dissolution  with  composure.  He 
appointed  Luis  Muscoso  de  Alvarado  his  successor,  calmly  conversed 
with  his  ofKcers  on  the  most  nroper  movements  of  the  army,  had  almost 
all  the  individuals  in  it  brought  to  his  hedside,  received  tneir  ouths  of 
fidelity  to  the  future  chief,  recommended  to  the  men  obedience  to  him, 
and  affection  to  each  other,  discipline,  unanimity  and  ])erseyerance. 
Then,  giving  his  renuiining  moments  to  the  rites  of  the  church  of  Rome, 
expired  about  the  30th  of  June. 

He  was  in  his  forty-second  year.  Ambitious  to  have  his  name  as 
conqueror  of  Florida,  in  the  i)age  of  history,  betwecm  those  of  ('ortez  and 
Pi/arro,  the  con(iuerors  of  Mexico  and  Peru,  he  spent  in  this  scheme  an 
immense  fortune,  acquired  in  the  conquest  of  the  latter  kingdom,  and  was 
the  indiscreet  cause  of  the  death  of  the  greatest  portion  of  his  followers, 
without  any  advantage  to  his  country  or  himself.  In  rej)ublics,  as  wealth 
is  seldom  acquired  with  great  rapidity  and  ease,  and  is  more  generally 
divided,  it  is  seldom  so  profusely  lavished,  and  it  rarely  enables  the 
possessor  to  command  the  sacrifice  of  the  lives  of  men  to  his  ambitious 
views. 

His  remains  were  inclosed  in  a  strong  coffin,  which  was  filled  with 
bullets  and  sunk  in  the  Mississippi,  opposite  to  the  mouth  of  Red  river, 
to  prevent  them  from  falling  into  tne  hands  of  the  Indians. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  plan  of  settling  a  colony  in  Canada,  though 
abandoned  by  the  monarch,  had  been  resumed  by  individuals,  in  France. 


IIISTOUY    OK    loriSIANA. 


a? 


Krainis  *\v  la  Utxnu',  Lnnl  of  KolH'i-tval,  a  man  of  coiiHidcrahlo  infliUMUJO 
ii)  llu'  |»roviii(«'  ot  I'icanly,  liad  Holicitcil  KranciH  the  t\rt<i  to  permit  him  to 
piuHcciitc  the  (liHcovcricH  of  ('artier.  He  had  Iteeii,  hy  letters  |>at<'nt  of 
the  tifteeiith  of  Jaiiujirv,  lolO,  ereiited  "Lord  of  Noriml»emi<',  Vieerov  and 
Meuteiiant-deiieral  ot  ('ana(hi,  Iloehehi^a,  Saji!Henay,  NewfoumUund, 
iulisi*',  Carpen,  the  j^reat  hav  and  Maeealoes." 

Tiie  Vieen»y,  in  th(*  following,'  year,  nailed  with  five  ships,  havini^  taken 
('arti«'r  as  ids  first  pilot.  Th<(  voyaj^i!  was  pn>sperous.  lie  huilt  a  fort 
(some  say  on  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  others  on  the  island  of  St.  John)  of 
uliich  he  anvv  tlu!  command  to  I'artier.  licavini?  a  m)od  j^arrison  in  it, 
jind  a  hanpie  for  the  orosecntion  of  (!artier's  discoveries,  he  sailed  for 
France,  in  search  of  farther  aid  for  his  colony. 

Incessantly  annoyed  hy  tlu!  natives,  assailisd  hy  diseast;,  and  unahle  to 
withstand  the  stiverity  of  the  weather,  the  colotusts  j)n'vaile{l  on  their 
chief,  in  the  followinji  year,  to  carry  tliem  hack  to  France.  Near  the 
island  of  Newfoundland,  they  njet  llohertval,  who,  hy  solicitations  and 
threats,  induced  them  to  return.  Having  reston-d  ordc^r  anion^  them,  he 
proceeded  up  the  rivers  St.  Lawrence'  and  Saguenay  to  e.\i)Ior(^  their 
shores.  He  sent  one  of  his  i>ilotH  in  quest  of  ti  northwest  passage  to 
(!hina,  and  went  hack  to  France. 

Muscoso,  the  succi'ssor  of  Soto  in  the  command  of  tlu;  Spaniards  on  the 
Mississippi,  conducted  the  remaindc'r  of  the  army  uj)  Hed  river,  through 
that  part  of  the  country  now  called  NatchitoclHss  and  Nagodoches,  to  a 
nation  of  Imlians,  whom  from  tins  nund>er  of  wild  cattle  he  found  among 
them,  he  called  Ion  vaqncrm;  prohably,  in  that  part  of  the  country  now 
known  as  the  province  of  Texas.  Proct^eding  ahout  one  hundred  miles 
further,  the  army  reached  the  foot  of  a  mountainous  country.  Mus(!080 
had  heen  induced  to  march  this  way  in  the  hope  of  getting  to  Mexico  by 
1,'md.  H<!  now  determined,  on  account  of  the  distance  which  he  received 
from  the  Indians,  to  retrograde,  and  Hoat  down  the  Mississii)pi  to  the  sea. 
The  army  accordingly  marched  into  winter  quarters,  at  the  mouth  of  Red 
river. 

During  the  month  of  January,  Museoso  employed  his  carpenters  in  the 
construction  of  vessels,  to  convey  his  men  to  Mexico.  The  neighboring 
cacicpies,  ai)prehensiyo  that  his  views,  in  going  thither,  were  to  apprise  his 
cnuntrymen  of  the  fertility  of  the  land  on  the  Mississippi,  and  to  solicit 
aid  to  return  and  subjugate  the  Indians,  leagued  themselves  for  the  purpose 
of  raising  a  sutficiiMit  force  to  destroy  the  Spaniards,  or  at  least  to  set  fire 
to  the  vessels  they  wc^re  building.  Garcilasso  relates  the  league  was  so 
general,  that  the  caciques,  who  entered  in  it,  agreed  to  raise  forty  thousand 
men.  The  jdot,  however,  became  known  to  some  Indian  women,  who 
attended  the  Spanish  officers,  and  was  disclosed  to  Muscoso.  The  measures 
he  took  to  defeat  it,  induced  most  of  the  caciques  to  withdraw  from  the 
league.  Those  who  dwelt  immediately  on  the  river  and  their  nearest 
neighbors,  ])ersevered  in  their  intention,  and  collected  a  considerable  number 
of  canoes  and  })irogues  and  made  rafts,  with  the  view  of  pursuing  the 
Spaniards  down  the  stream. 

On  the  twenty-fourth  of  June,  the  vessels  were  launched,  and  soon  after 
the  army  went  on  board ;  hides  having  been  placed  around  the  bows,  as  a 
protection  against  the  arrows  of  the  Indians.  Out  of  the  twelve  hundred 
and  fifty  nu;n  who  were  landed  at  the  bay  del  Spiritu  Santo,  there  remained 
now  but  three  hundred  and  fifty,  and  the  three  hundred  and  fifty  horses 


m 


-^' 


•'1^ 


1"'' 

f: 

■*( 

88 


HISTORY   OF  LOUISIANA, 


8  ■    !> 


were  reduced  to  thirty.  On  the  second  diiv  after  their  departure,  the 
Indian  fleet  hove  in  siglit  towards  noon  ;  Gareilasso  says,  it  consisted  of 
one  thousand  pirogues,  canoes  or  rafts  of  various  sizes ;  the  largest 
containing  eighty  men  and  the  least  having  four  oars  on  each  side.  Each 
pirogue  was  neatly  painted  in  and  outside,  with  hkie,  red,  yellow  or  white. 
The  oars  and  feathers,  hows  and  arrows  of  the  warriors  in  each  pirogue, 
was  of  the  same  color  with  it.  The  oars  were  jdied  in  measure  and 
cadence,  the  rowers  singing  to  mark  the  time.  Tlie  Heet  advanced  in  live 
divisions,  each  pouring  a  volley  of  arrows,  as  it  i)assed  the  Spaniards ;  the 
pursuit  was  continued  during  ten  days,  when  it  was  given  up.  Almost 
every  Spaniard  was  wounded,  and  of  the  thirty  horses  that  were  emharked, 
twenty-two  were  killed.  The  Spaniards  had  heen  unahle  to  defend 
themselves,  having  no  longer  any  powder. 

Muscoso  j)erceiving  a  village  near  the  shore,  and  concluding  he  was 
approaching  the  sea,  deemed  it  prudent  to  land  one  hundred  of  his  men  in 
quest  of  provisions.  As  they  advanced  toward  the  village;,  the  Indians 
left  it,  flymg  in  all  directions.  The  Spaniards  found  in  it  abundance  of 
corn,  venison  and  dried  fruit.  But  a  part  of  the  Indian  ileet,  having 
landed  above,  a  junction  was  formed  between  it  and  the  Indians  of  the 
village,  and  they  marched  down  against  ihe  Spaniards,  who  were  com})elle(l 
to  return  in  great  haste  to  their  shipping;  leaving  their  horses  behind, 
which  the  Indians  destroyed  with  their  arrows. 

Four  davs  after,  the  Spaniards  reached  the  sea,  and  sailing  slowly  along 
the  coast,  arrived  at  Panuco,  a  port  distant  about  sixty  leagues  from  the 
city  of  Mexico. 

Garcilasso  de  la  Vega,  who  has  written  the  best  account  that  has 
reached  us  of  this  expedition,  entitles  his  work  the  history  of  the  conqvM 
of  Florida.  With  as  much  propriety,  an  English  writer  might  entitle  his 
memoirs  of  Sir  Edward  Packenham's  expeditions  in  1814,  the  history  of 
the  ron</V('>tt  of  Louisiana.  Perhaps  Garcilasso  wrote  more  as  a  lawyer 
than  a  soldier,  and  imagining  that  this  burthensome  perambulation  of  the 
country  had  accpiired  a  title  to  the  crown  of  Spain,  considered  Florida  as 
thereh)  acquired,  and  called  the  act  an  acquisition  or  conipiest.  So  might 
the  sailing  of  Cabot  in  1498,  in  a  vessel  fitted  out  by  Hemy  the  seventh  of 
England,  be  called  the  acqvnsition  or  conqneM  of  the  northern  continent  of 
America.  Although  the  name  was  not  given,  the  elFect  was  claimed ;  and 
General  Hill,  in  1711,  demanded  the  surrender  of  the  fortress  of  Quebec, 
on  the  incontestible  title,  ac([uired  to  the  crown  of  England  to  all  North 
America,  by  the  discovery,  or  ocular  occupation,  of  the  country,  by  Cabot. 

The  sceptre  of  England,  on  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  January,  1547, 
passed  from  the  hands  of  Henry  the  eighth,  in  the  fifty-seventh  year  of  his 
age,  into  those  of  his  infant  son,  Edward  the  sixth ;  and  that  of  France, 
on  the  thirty-first  of  March  following,  from  those  of  Francis  the  first,  in 
his  fifty-third  vear,  into  those  of  his  son,  Henry  the  second.  Francis  had 
entirely  lost  sight  of  the  new  world,  during  the  war  with  England,  in  the 
latter  part  of  his  reign. 

History  has  not  recorded  any  attempt  of  Henry  the  eighth,  to  extend  his 
dominions  to  the  western  hemisphere.  English  vessels,  however,  were 
employed  during  his  reign,  in  the  fisheries  of  Newfoundland  ;  and  in  the 
reign  of  his  youthful  successor,  was  passed  the  first  English  statute,  which 
relates  to  America.     Its  object  was  to  repress  the  extortions  of  the  otticers 


HISTORY   OF   LOUISI.iXA. 


39 


of  the  Admiralty,  wlio  demiindod  a  duty,  or  j)art  of  the  profits  made  on 
every  voyafie  to  Ireland,  Iceland  or  Newfoundland. — 2  Ed.  vi.  G. 

Edward  died  in  1553,  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  und  was  succeeded  l)y  Mary, 
liis  sister. 

America  does  not  a))i)earto  have  attracted  the  attention  of  this  princess, 
nor  that  of  Henry  the  second  of  France,  who  prosecuted  the  war  his  fatlier 
hiid  bef:;un  witli  England.  At  the  conclusion  of  it,  he  entered  into  a 
league  with  the  elector  of  Saxony  and  the  Margrave  of  Brandenhurg, 
against  Charles  the  first ;  but  when  his  antagonist  luid  reconciled  himself 
to  liis  (lerman  adversaries,  Henry  was  left  to  nuiintain  the  war  alono. 
I'hilip  th(!  second  of  Spain,  on  the  abdication  of  his  father  in  1550', 
l)n)secuted  it  with  great  vigor,  aided  ))y  the  English,  whose  (jueen  he  had 
nuirricd. 

Mary,  who  ended  her  life,  on  the  seventh  of  November,  1558,  at  the  age 
of  forty-one,  without  issue,  had  for  her  successor  Elizabeth,  her  sister ;  and 
on  the  loth  of  July  of  the  following  vear,  Henry  the  second  died,  at  the 
same  age,  in  conse(iuence  of  a  wound  he  had  accidentally  received  in  a 
tournament.  The  wars  that  desolated  Frai.ce  during  almost  the  whole 
reign  of  this  prince,  were  i)robably  the  cause  that  the  French  made  no 
progress  in  the  new  world. 

His  son  and  successor,  Francis  the  second,  the  husband  of  the  unfortunate 
Mary  Stuart  of  Scotland,  reigned  but  seventeen  months,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Charles  the  ninth,  Henry's  second  son. 

In  the  beginning  of  Charles's  disturbed  reign,  Admiral  Coligny  sought 
in  Florida,  an  asylum  for  his  i)rotestant  adherents.  He  equipped  two 
ships  at  Dieppe,  under  the  direction  of  Jean  Ribaud,  whom  he  put  at  the 
iiead  of  a  snuill  military  force,  and  a  consideral)le  number  of  colonists. 
Ribaud  weighed  anchor  on  the  eighteenth  of  February,  1562,  and  made 
land  in  the  thirtieth  degree  of  northern  latitude,  near  a  ca})e,  to  which  he 
gave  the  name  of  Cap  FriDwaiH  :  it  is  one  of  the  promontories  of  the  estuary 
on  which  the  town  of  St.  Augustine  now  stands.  He  landed  on  the  banks 
of  the  river  St.  Mary,  Avhich  now  sep;  -ates  Georgia  from  Florida.  He 
called  it  the  river  of  May,  from  the  circumstance  of  liis  entering  on  the  first 
day  of  that  nu)nth.  The  Indians  received  him  with  much  hospitality.  He 
erected  a  colunm  on  the  banks  of  the  stream,  and  affixed  to  it  an  escutcheon 
of  the  armorial  of  France,  in  token  of  his  having  taken  solemn  possession 
of  the  country.  After  a  short  stay,  he  proceeded  northerly  to  an  island, 
at  the  mouth  of  Edisto  river,  in  the  present  state  of  South  Carolina.  He 
called  this  stream  the  great  river,  a  fort  which  he  erected  on  tJie  island 
Charles's  Fort,  or  Arx  Curollna,  and  the  place,  before  wdiich  he  anchored. 
Port  Royal ;  an  a])pellation,  which  it  retanis  at  this  day.  Having  settletl 
his  colony  around  it,  he  placed  Albert  at  the  head  of'  the  colonists,  and 
returned  to  France.  Although  he  had  been  very  friendly  received  by  the 
natives,  he  in  vain  endeavored  to  prevail  on  some  of  them  to  accompany 
him. 

Albert  visited  the  Indian  tribes  near  the  fort,  and  found  them  all  disposed 
to  hve  on  the  most  friendly  terms  with  the  whites.  These  were  more  anxious 
to  ramble  over  the  country,  in  search  of  mines  of  the  precious  metals, 
than  to  till  the  I'arth  ;  and  the  stock  of  provisions  left  by  Ribaud,  although 
considerable,  was  at  last  exhausted.  This  chief,  on  his  arrival  in  France, 
had  found  bis  countrymen  distracted  bv  a  civil  war,  and  his  patron  out 
of  favor  at  court,  so  that  he  was  unable   to  procure  for  the  colony  the 


>■    I ,    fri 


'^'  t^}f4 


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It ; , 


40 


HISTORY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


needed  supplies  lie  had  come  after.  For  awhile,  Alhert  procured  relief 
from  the  natives ;  corn  and  peas  were  obtained  in  tolerable  abundance: 
but  fire  consumed  the  buildino;  in  which  the  succor  liad  l)een  stored.  The 
Indians  became  unable  or  unwillinff  to  minister  to  the  increasini^  wants 
of  the  colonists.  The  distress,  attendin<^  the  jienury  that  followed, 
heightened  the  discontents  which  the  ill  conduct  or  misfxuided  severity 
of  Albert  had  excited,  and  the  colonists  rose  against  and  slew  their  chief. 

Nicholas  Baree  was  called  by  the  insurgents  to  the  sui»remo  connnand. 
They  had  ascertained  that  there  was  n<»  gold  mine  near  them,  and  thought 
it  preferable  to  return  to  the  old  world,  than  to  seek  a  scanty  and  precarious 
subsistence  by  labor,  in  the  new.  Unanimity  strengthened  their  eiforts ; 
a  vessel  was  built  and  corked  with  Spanish  beard;  ropi's  were  made  of 
grass,  and  sails,  with  the  tents,  bags  and  linen  cloth  that  remained;  l)ut 
as  famine  drove  them  from  the  land,  the  stock  of  provisions  they  carried 
to  sea,  was  not  abundant ;  calms  retarded  their  progress  ;  they  were  reduced 
to  a  scanty  ration  of  eighteen  grains  of  corn  a  day  to  each  man  ;  and  the 
moment  came  when  there  was  not  a  single  grain  to  deal  out.  Lots  were 
cast,  and  the  wretch  pointed  out  by  chance,  tamely  submitted  his  neck  to 
the  butcher's  knife,  to  a})pease  the  hunger  of  his  companions.  Soon  after 
this,  they  were  met  by  an  English  ship,  which  enabled  them  to  reach 
France. 

Coligny  had  been  restored  to  favor,  and  he  did  not  solicit  in  vain  his 
sovereign's  aid,  for  the  prosecution  of  his  plan  to  settle  a  colony  in 
Florida.  Three  ships  were  fitted  out  at  Havre  de  (Jrace;  and  Laudon- 
niere,  to  whom  the  command  of  them  was  given,  sailed  on  the  twenty- 
second  of  April,  1564,  and  landed  on  the  shores  of  the  river  St.  Mary,  near 
the  monument  erected  two  years  before  by  Ribaud,  as  an  evidence  of  his 
having  taken  possession  of  the  country  around  it,  in  the  name  of  Charles 
the  ninth. 

The  Indians  manifested  great  joy  at  the  arrival  of  the  French,  and  led 
Laudonniere  to  the  column.  He  directed  a  fort  to  be  built,  on  the 
southern  bank  of  the  stream,  and  called  the  country  Caroline,  in  honor 
of  his  king.  Parties  of  his  men  went  in  different  directions,  to  explore 
the  country.  The  Indians,  discovering  that  the  precious  metals  were  the 
main  oljject  of  the  {)ursuit  of  the  whitef.,  played  on  their  credulity,  amused 
them  with  fanciful  stories,  and  pointed  to  the  westward  as  the  |)art  of 
their  country  in  which  mines  of  gold  could  be  found.  No  success 
attended  a  search  for  metals ;  but  a  ship  arrived  from  France,  laden  with 
provisions. 

Laudonniere's  administration  did  not  please  the  colonists.  A  mutiny 
ensued,  hut  its  conseijuences  were  not  so  fatal  to  tlie  chief,  as  the  fornicr 
had  been  to  his  predecessor.  Someof  thenmtineers  possi'ssed  themselves 
of  two  barques,  which  Laudonniere  had  caused  to  be  constructed,  and 
sailed  on  a  piratical  cruize  down  the  canal  of  Bahama,  towards  the 
Havana. 

On  the  third  of  August,  in  the  following  year,  Sir  John  Hawkins, 
a  renowned  English  navigator,  visited  Caroline,  with  four  vessels. 
Laudonniere  obtained  one  of  them,  and  made  preparations  to  sail  in  her 
for  France.  He  was  near  his  departure,  when,  on  the  twenty-fifth,  a  sninll 
fleet  was  descried  approaching  the  coast.  It  consisted  of  seven  sail,  and 
was  commanded  by  Uibaud.  Complaints  against  Laudonniere  had  l)een 
made  to  the  King ;  he  was  represented  as  oppressing  the  men  under  him. 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


41 


ai  1  it  had  been  strenuously  urged  that  unless  he  was  recalled,  there  was 
much  ground  to  appreliend  that  the  garrison  would  redres;-  their  own 
wrongs,  in  the  same  manner  as  the  former  eohmists  had  redressed  theirs. 
Kihaud  was  accordingly  appointed  governor  of  Caroline,  and  instructed  to 
sond  his  predecessor  home.  Contrary  winds  compelled  the  fleet  to  seek 
shelter  successively  in  the  ports  of  Havre  de  (irace  and  Portsmouth;  it 
had  sailed  from  the  latter  towards  the  middle  of  June,  and  the  passage 
had  been  tedious.  Kibaud  had  hardly  delivered  the  minister's  dispatches 
to  Laudonniere,  when  a  Spanish  fleet  hove  in  sight. 

Philip  the  second,  a])j)rised  of  the  progress  of  the  French  in  Caroline, 
li;i(l  ordered  a  fleet  to  be  equi})ped  at  Cadiz,  under  the  orders  of  Don 
Pedro  Mencndez,  for  the  ])ur|)ose  of  destroying  their  colony.  Don  Pedro 
had  sailed  on  the  twenty-ninth  of  June.  At  the  departure  of  Riband  from 
France,  notice  of  the  i)re))arations  nuiking  at  Cadiz  had  reached  Paris, 
and  although  the  obje(^t  oi^  them  was  not  known,  an  attack  on  Caroline 
was  suspected.  He  was,  therefore,  instructed,  whilst  he  was  charged  to 
attempt  nothing  against  the  rights  of  the  Spanish  King,  to  resist  any 
encroachment  on  those  of  his  own  sovereign. 

Don  Pedro  landed  near  the  mouth  of  a  stream,  which  the  French  had 
called  the  river  of  the  dolphins,  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  St. 
Augustine,  who,  on  the  day  of  his  arrival  was  honored  in  the  Romish 
Church  ;  it  is  now  known  by  that  of  St.  John.  He  took  fornud  possession 
of  the  country  in  Philip's  name,  and  gave  orders  f()r  the  immediate 
erection  of  a  fort.  Ribaud  thought  it  best  to  set  sail,  and  attack  the 
S])anish  flv.st  before  the  land  forces  could  be  put  ashore,  and  invest  the 
French  fort.  Leaving,  therefore,  a  few  men  with  Laudonniere,  he  took  in 
all  the  rest,  and  hoisted  sail.  A  violent  storm  overtook  and  dispersed  his 
vessels,  and  drove  several  of  them  on  shore.  In  the  meanwhile,  the 
Spanish  chief  had  landed  his  troops  and  marched  towards  the  fort.  He 
reached  it  on  the  nineteenth  of  September,  before  sunrise.  The  weather 
was  foggy,  and  the  Spaniards  were  in  the  fort,  while  several  of  the  French 
were  still  in  bed.  An  immediate  slaughter  began.  But  Laudonniere, 
with  a  few  of  his  men,  effected  his  escape  on  board  of  a  vessel,  in  which 
they  sailed  for  France. 

Don  Pedro  now  went  in  quest  of  Ribaud ;  he  found  him  at  anchor ; 
after  a  parley  of  twenty-four  hours,  the  French  chief  surrendered  his 
vessels  and  the  men  under  his  orders.  Two  hundred  soldiers  or  sailors, 
having  refused  to  yield  themselves  prisoners,  escaped  during  the  night, 
and  marched  through  the  woods  southerly.  Notwithstanding  his 
pledged  faith,  Don  Pedro  caused  all  such  of  his  prisoners  as  were  protestants 
t(i  ]>e  hung  or  slaughtered.  The  Catholics,  who  were  in  a  small  number 
indeed,  were  spared.  The  bodies  of  those  who  were  hung  were  left  on 
the  trees  along  the  shore  ;  and  an  inscription  was  set  up  announcing  they 
were  hung  "  not  as  Fren(di,  but  as  heretics." 

Laudonniere's  fort  was  repaired  and  garrisoned,  and  it,  as  well  as  the 
river  on  which  it  stood,  was  called  San  Matheo,  after  the  saint,  the  festival 
of  wiiich  was  celebrated  in  Spain,  on  the  day  on  which  Don  Pedro  entered 
the  stream. 

A  strong  party  was  sent  after  the  men  who  parted  from  Ribaud,  the 
nifrht  preceding  liis  surrender ;  they  were  overtaken  at  a  place,  afterwards 
called  by  the  Spaniards, /*w/t<a  (/(^  Canai7c/'«/jjn.  " 
and  made  prisoners.  ^ 


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42 


HISTOHY   OK    I.oriSIANA. 


Six  lmii(lri'<l  F'lvnch  are  reckoned  to  have  fallen  victims  to  the  criiolty 
of  the  Si)anianlH,  wliose  force,  at  tlie  end  of  this  tratzedy,  is  said  to  liavc 
heen  rediu'e(l  to  four  hunch'ed,  wlio  were  divi(l(Ml  hetween  the  forts  of  San 
Alatlieo  and  St.  Augustine. 

Tliis  is  the  first  act  of  hostiHty  I)et\veen  Kuropean  nations  in  the  new- 
world. 

Cluirles  the  ninth,  took  no  measure  to  avenge  the  murder  of  his 
])rotestant  suhjeets.  The  apathy  of  tlie  monarch,  of  the  court  and  the 
nation,  i^xcited  the  valiant  spirit  of  I)omini(iue  de  (iourgues,  of  I'ont 
Marsan,  in  the  province  of  (Jascony.  Having  sold  his  i)atrimony,  aided 
by  two  of  his  friends,  he  e<iuipped  three  vessels  in  tlie  port  of  Bordeaux, 
engaged  two  hundred  men  to  accompany  him,  and  left  the  (Jaronne  on 
the  second  of  .\ugust,  15()7.  As  he  ap))roached  the  river  of  San  Matheo, 
the  Spaniards  mistaking  his  vessels  for  some  of  their  nation,  fired  a 
salute.  !)(>  (Jourgues,  unwilling  to  undeceive  them,  returned  the  com- 
j)liment,  and  j)assed  on.  He  landed  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  then  called 
the  Seine,  now  Alatamaha.  With  the  neighboring  Indians,  who  rati  to 
the  shore  on  the  ai)proach  (>f  the  vessels,  came  some  of  Lau<lonniere's  men. 
wlu)  had  found  a  refuge  in  their  towns.  By  their  assistance,  De  (lourgues 
was  enabled  to  converse  with  the  natives,  who  greatly  dissatisfied  with 
their  new  neighbors,  offered  to  join  him  if  he  would  dislodge  the  Sjianiards. 
De  (rourgues  told  them  liis  voyage  had  not  heen  undertaken  with  any 
hostile  intention;  hut,  if  the  Indians  desired  it,  he  was  ready  to  assist 
them  in  getting  rid  of  their  unwelcome  neighbors.  He  was  informed  that 
besides  the  fort  at  St.  Matheo  and  St.  Augustine,  the  Spaniards  had  a 
third,  which  they  called  St.  Helen,  at  a  small  distance  to  the  south  of  the 
second ;  and  their  effective  force,  in  the  three,  was  about  four  hundred 
men. 

A  number  of  warriors,  from  the  more  distant  tribes,  came  and  joined 
those  from  the  sea  shore  who  had  put  themselves  under  De  (lourgues. 

The  combined  army  was  soon  in  the  neighliorhood  of  the  northernmost 
fort.  DeGourgues  sent  some  of  his  allies  to  form  a  cordon  around  it,  into 
the  woods ;  he  went  after  them,  accompanied  by  a  considerable  part  of 
his  men,  whom  he  placed  as  near  the  edge  of  the  woods  as  could  bo, 
without  being  seen  by  the  enemy ;  while  the  rest  of  his  force,  in  a  small 
body,  approached  slowdy  in  front,  and  halted  out  of  the  reach  of  the 
artillery  of  the  fort.  On  their  being  perceived  by  the  Spaniards,  a  strong 
detachment  sallied  out  to  attack  them.  De  (Jourgues  then  came  forth, 
placing  the  detachment  between  him  and  the  party  they  expected  to 
attack.  They  were  completely  routed.  He  now  turned  against  the  fort, 
and  the  Indians  contracting  the  circle  they  had  formed  around  it,  rushed 
forward,  giving  the  war  whoop.  The  garrison,  intimidated  by  this  unex- 
pected nianceuvre,  became  an  easy  prey.  A  great  carnage  ensued.  A  few 
Spaniards  flew  to  the  woods,  wliere  they  were  pursued  and  dispatched  by 
the  Indians.  De  Gourgues  had  the  survivors  hung  on  trees  along  the 
shore,  with  an  inscription  announcing  they  were  thus  treated  "  not  as 
Spaniards,  but  as  murderers." 

De  Gourges  next  marched  against  St  Augustine,  and  the  other  fort; 
there  were  but  fifty  men  in  each  ;  they  surrendered,  and  were  not  ill 
treated.     The  buildings  were  burnt  and  the  forts  dismantled. 

The  French  being  too  few  in  numiier  to  hold  possession  of  the  country, 
De  Gourgues  brought  them  back  to  France.     lie  was  obliged  to  conceal 


HISTOUY   OF   LOnSIANA. 


43 


liiinsclf  to  avoid  fallinji  u  victim  to  the  resentniont  of  Philip  II.,  who 
(ifl'orod  a  hirge  ])ric'C'  for  his  head,  and  whusc  Amhassador,  at  Paris, 
(k'lnanded  that  hv.  should  hi'  jtunished,  for  having  waged  war  against  a 
prince  in  aniitv  with  his  own  sovereign.  Thus  are  often  the  in(»st  heroic, 
useful  and  disniterested  services  that  an  individutil  renders  to  his  country, 
not  only  unrewarded,  hut  the  source  of  chagrin,  distress  and  misery. 
Sic  rax,  noii  V(t}>ix. 

During  the  remainder  of  the  reign  of  Charles  the  ninth,  the  kingdom 
was  distracted  hy  the  struggles  of  the  Condes,  the  Ouises  and  tlie  Colignys  ; 
«()  that  the  re-estahlishment  of  the  French  colony  in  Florida,  was  not 
attempted.  Charles  died  on  the  thirtieth  of  May,  1574,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-four,  and  was  succeeded  hy  his  hrother,  Henry  the  third. 

Elizaheth  of  England,  who,  during  her  long  reign,  saw  the  crown  of 
France  on  the  heads  of  five  kings,  does  not  appear  to  have  thought  of  the 
new  world  till  loTS.  On  the  eleventh  of  June  of  that  year,  she  authorized 
Sir  Uumjdiry  (Jilhert,  hy  letters  patent,  to  discover  and  take  possession 
of  such  remote,  heathen  and  harharous  countries,  as  were  not  possessed 
l)y  any  christian  prince  or  people. 

Sir  Humphry  was  n»»t  successful  in  his  attempt.  He  made  no 
settlement,  and  his  country  gidned  no  advantage,  but  the  formal 
possession  which  he  to(»k  of  the  island  of  Newfoundland.  In  his  pursuit 
of  farther  advantages,  he  lost  his  fortune  and  his  life. 

Henry  the  third  does  not  ajtpear  to  have  turned  his  attention  towards 
the  western  hemisphere  till  the  ninth  year  of  his  reign ;  when  he  granted 
to  the  Marcjuis  de  la  Roche,  the  powers  which  the  Marcpiis  (le  Rol)ertval 
liad  enjoyed  under  Francis  the  first,  and  which  Henry  the  second  had 
granted  to  the  former,  who  had  been  prevented  hy  the  distresses  of  the 
times  to  avail  himself  <.if  them.  The  grant  is  of  the  twelfth  of  January, 
1583.  It  states  that  the  king,  in  compliance  with  the  wishes  of  his 
predecessor,  appoints  the  Marquis,  his  Lieutenant-Ceneral  in  Canada, 
Hochelaga,  Newfoundland,  Labrador,  the  river  of  the  great  bay,  (St. 
Lawrence)  Norembegue  and  the  adjacent  country. 

The  condition  of  the  grant  is,  that  the  grantee  shall  have  in  particular 
view,  the  extension  of  the  catholic  faith.  His  authority  is  declared  to 
extend  over  persons  in  the  land  and  sea  service.  He  is  to  appoint  the 
captains  and  officers  of  the  ships,  and  they  are  to  obey  him ;  he  is 
authorized  to  ]»ress  ships  and  to  raise  troops,  declare  war,  erect  fortifi- 
oations  and  towns,  baronies,  earldoms  and  fiefs  of  less  dignity,  to  enact 
laws  and  punish  tht)se  who  break  them.  The  exclusive  commerce  of  the 
country  is  granted  him,  and  he  is  empowered,  in  case  of  death,  or  sickness, 
to  appoint,  by  will  or  otherwise,  one  or  more  lieutenants,  in  his  stead. 

The  success  of  the  grantee  did  not  correspond  to  the  extent  of  his 
powers.  Desirous  of  visiting  the  country,  over  which  they  were  to  be 
(xercised,  he  fitted  out  a  shij>.  The  island  of  Sable,  on  which  the  Baron 
de  Levy  had  stopped  in  1508,  was  the  first  land  he  saw.  He  left  on  it 
forty  wretches,  whom  he  had  taken  out  of  the  prisons  of  Paris.  A  Spanish 
ship  had  lately  beeri  cast  on  it;  the  timber,  these  men  took  from  the 
wreck,  enabled  them  to  build  huts.  The  cattle  and  sheep  left  by  the 
baron  had  greatly  nudtiplied,  and  afibrded  them  meat.  The  Marquis 
from  thence  proceeded  to  the  (lontinent,  and  explored  the  shores  of  the 
countrv  which   was   after  called    Acatlie,  and   now   Nova   Scotia.      He 


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44 


HISTORY   OK    LoriSIANA. 


retnrnod  to  Franco  and  died,  without  liavin<?  hern  uhh;  to  advance  liis 
hiterest  or  tliat  of  his  country,  hy  his  grants. 

Sir  Hun»])hry  (lilliert  had  a  half  hrotlier,  who  makes  a  most  conspicuous 
figure  in  tlte  history  of  the  new  worhl,  and  of  England — Sir  Walter 
Kaleigh.  who  had  taken  an  interest  in  the  expedition  that  folh)wed  the 
grant.  To  him,  tlie  (iueen  granted  a  new  one,  on  the  twenty-si xtii  of 
March,  1")<S4.  Within  a  montli  from  that  day,  the  grantee  equipped  two 
vessels,  which  reached  the  northern  continent  of  America,  on  the  coast  of 
the  present  state  of  North  Carolina.  They  entered  Pamplico  sound,  hy 
Occacock  inlet,  and  })roceeded  to  Koanoke  island.  A  short  time  was 
spent  in  exploring  the  country,  and  tradicking  witli  the  natives. 

On  the  return  of  tlie  adventurers,  their  rei)ort  greatly  excited  the  hopes 
of  their  patron.  The  new  discovered  country  was  called  Virginia,  in 
honor  of  the  maiden  queen,  and  Sir  Richard  (irenville  was  dispatched  to 
convey  thither  a  small  colony,  which  Sir  Walter  al)undantly  supplied 
with  provisions,  ai'ms  and  amnumition. 

Sir  Richard  landed  one  hundred  and  eight  colonists,  whom  he  left 
under  the  orders  of  Ralph  Lane,  after  having  visited  the  harren  shores  of 
Alhcmarle  and  Pamplico  sounds. 

The  English,  like  the  French  in  Caroline,  instead  of  employing  their 
time  in  th(^  tillage  of  the  soil,  wasted  it  in  the  search  after  ores.  The 
stock  of  i)rovisions  hrought  over,  not  hcing  renewed  hy  agriculture,  was 
exhaustcit ;  and  the  colonists  scattered  themselves  along  the  shore,  in 
small  jiarties,  with  the  hope  of  finding  a  precarious  suhsistenee  in  fishing 
and  hu  iting.  Sir  Francis  Drake,  returning  in  the  following  vear  from  a 
successful  ex])edition  against  the  Spaniards,  (the  first  act  of  hostility  of 
England  against  Spain,  in  the  new  world)  visited  Virginia;  and  at  first 
determined  on  adding  one  hundred  men  to  thos«-  under  Ralph  Lane,  and 
leaving  one  of  his  vessels  with  them ;  but,  at  last,  at  their  request,  he 
took  him  and  his  men  on  board  of  his  fleet  and  carried  them  back  to 
England. 

Sir  Richard  arrived  some  time  after,  with  three  vessels.  Finding  the 
country  deserted,  .and  desirous  of  keeping  possession  of  it,  he  left  as  many 
of  his  men  as  he  could  spare,  fifty  in  number,  on  Roanoke  island.  Some 
time  after  his  departure,  these  men  were  massa«'red  by  the  natives. 

The  ill  success  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh's  attempt,  did  not  discourage  him. 
He  fitted  out  three  ships,  in  which  a  number  of  colonists  embarked ;  sonu' 
women  accompanied  them  ;  an  ample  supply  of  provisions  was  })rovi(lc(l, 
and  John  White  was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  colony,  with  twelve  assistants, 
who  were  to  act  as  his  council.  On  reaching  the  island  of  Roanoke,  in 
the  latter  part  of  July,  1587,  they  erected  cabins  for  their  accommodation 
during  th.  winter,  and  made  preparations  for  a  crop  in  the  spring,  and  in 
the  following  year,  their  chief  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  solicit  further  aid 
from  the  knight. 

On  his  reaching  England,  he  found  i  tie  nation  in  great  alarm,  at  the 
formidable  ])reparations  of  the  King  of  Sp^nn  for  the  invasion  of  the  country, 
and  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  and  Sir  Richard  Grenville,  too  much  engaged,  in 
providing  the  means  of  defei>ding  their  country,  to  attend  to  the  affairs  of 
Virginia.  Sir  Walter,  at  last,  assigned  his  ])atent  to  a  company  of  merchants, 
at  the  head  of  whom  was  John  Smith. 

On  the  first  of  August,  1589,  Henry  the  third  of  France  fell,  in  his 
thirty-ninth  year,  under  the  knife  of  Jacques  Clement,  a  fanatic  priest. 


mSTOUY   OF    LOUISIANA. 


45 


Ninoty-six  yoars  had  rolled  iiway  since  the  discovery  of  America,  at  the 
<lt'ath  of  Henry,  the  last  Monarch  of  the  house  of  Valois.  Tin;  French, 
the  Si>aniards  and  the  En}»li>*h  hud  made  a  numher  of  attempts  at 
(•(•Ionization,  on  the  northern  continent;  yet,  hesides  a  few  soldiers,  whom 
the  Spaniards  had  sent  to  garrison  fort  St.  Augustine,  the  few  colonists 
left  by  John  White  on  Roanoke  island,  and  the  forty,  by  the  Marcjuis  de 
la  Iloche,  on  Sable  island,  there  was  not  an  European,  living  under  his 
national  Hag  in  North  America,  the  northern  part  of  which  was  now  known 
to  Europe  under  the  appellation  of  Canada,  the  middle  by  that  of  Virginia, 
and  the  southern  bv  that  of  Florida. 


CHAPTER    II, 


At  the  death  of  Henry  tlie  third,  the  house  of  Valois  l>ecame  extinct. 
Its  princes  had  occupied  the  French  throne,  for  two  hundred  and  sixty-one 
years  ;  the  first  king  of  that  branch,  having  been  Philip  VI.,  who  succeeded 
to  Charles  V.  Henry  of  Bourbon,  was  the  nearest,  though  a  very  distant 
kinsntan  of  the  deceased  monarch ;  their  common  ancestor  being  Louis 
IX.,  more  commonl)'  called  St.  Louis,  who  died  in  122G. 

The  assignees  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh's  patent,  in  March,  1590,  fitted  out 
three  ships,  in  which  White  embarked  for  Virginia.  So  much  time  was 
lost  in  a  fruitless  cruise  against  the  Spaniards,  that  these  vessels  did  not 
reach  their  destination  till  the  month  of  August.  The  colonists,  whom 
White  had  left  on  Roanoke  island,  three  years  before,  were  no  longer  there, 
and  every  effort  to  discover  them  was  fruitless.  No  other  attempt  was 
made  to  find  them,  and  the  })eriod  and  manner  of  their  perishing  was 
never  known. 

A  French  vessel  came  to  Sable  Island  for  the  forty  wretches,  whom  de 
la  Roche  had  left  there.  Twenty-eight  had  perished ;  the  survivors  were 
taken  back  to  France. 

Henry  the  fourth,  the  first  king  of  France  of  the  house  of  Bourbon,  did 
not  obtain  at  once  the  peaceable  possession  of  the  throne.  He  had  been 
lired  aprotestant,  and  the  catholics  suspected  the  sincerity  of  his  attachment 
to  their  faith,  which  he  had  embraced.  He  confirmed  his  power  by  the 
victories  of  Aripie  and  Ivry.  and  to  silence  all  ojjposition,  pronounced  his 
adjuration,  and  his  adherence  to  the  catholic  faith,  in  St.  Denys,  before  his 
coronation,  and  in  the  following  year,  the  fifth  since  his  predecessor's 
(Icmiso,  the  city  of  Paris  opened  its  gates  to  him. 

On  ihe  llrirteenth  of  Septeml)(;r,  1593,  the  crown  of  Spain,  by  the  death 
of  Philip  the  second,  in  the  seventh-second  year  of  his  age,  passed  to  his 
son,  Philip  the  third.  The  revolution,  which  severed  the  Spanish  provinces 
in  the  low  countries,  from  the  dominions  of  Spain,  began  in  the  latter  part 
of  the  reign  of  the  deceased  monarch ;  and  the  war,  whi(!h  ended  in  the 
beginning  of  the  next,  left  the  house  of  Nassau  in  possession  of  these 
provinces.  The  loss  of  territory,  thus  sustained,  was  followed  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  life  of  Philip  III.,  by  a  considerable  diminution  of  population, 
througli  the  ill  advised  expulsion  of  the  Moors. 

The  attention  of  Henry  the  fourth,  nor  that  of  his  subjects,  does  not 
appear  to  have  been  drawn  to  America,  till  many  years  after  his  accession. 


M 


i    •  -Yf^n 


IWIlT'P''!- 


Jlil 


M 


40 


inSTORY  OF   LoriSIANA. 


Pontgravc,  an  oxitcrienccd  navijijator  of  St.  Maloos,  who  had  for  sovonil 
vcarH  traded  to  Tafloiissac,  on  the  nortliorn  shore  of  the  river  St.  Ijiiwrenee, 
at  a  sliort  distanee  helow  thewpot  on  which  the  city  of  (iuehec  lias  since  heen 
Iniilt,  and  (-hauvin,  a  (•ai)tain  of  tl)e  kinji's  shins,  who  had  obtained  a  patent, 
nearly  similar  to  that  of  the  Manjnis  de  la  Roche,  made  a  voya;i;e  to 
Canada,  in  10()2.  They  proceeded  nj)  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  as  far  as  the 
place,  on  which  the  city  of  Trois  Uivieres  now  stands,  where  l*ont<frave 
wished  to  begin  a  settlement;  but  Chauvin,  more  anxioiis  of  j)romotin}j; 
his  interest,  by  traflic  with  the  Indians,  than  that  of  his  vountry,  by 
planting  a  colony,  refused  his  consent.  A  few  men,  howi'ver^  \\  n-e  left  at 
Tadoussac,  who  would  have  i)erishe(l,  if  the  Indians  li;id  not  relie\"d  theni. 

The  English  now  kept  pace  with  the  French,  in  their  endeavors  to  make 
a  settlement  in  the  new  world.  Bartholomew  (losnold.  a  l)old  navigator, 
departed  from  Falmouth,  with  thirty-two  men  in  a  bjirciue.  and  siiiling  as 
nearly  west  as  possible,  mad(>  the  continent  on  the  eleventh  of  May  of  th(> 
same  year,  towards  the  forty-third  degree  of  northern  latitude.  IL^  gave 
the  names,  which  they  still  bear,  to  C'ape  Cod,  Martha's  Vineyard  and 
Elizabeth  Island,  in  the  present  state  of  Massai'husetts ;  but  no  account 
has  reached  us  of  his  leaving  any  person  behind.  Indeed,  the  smai! 
number  of  men  he  took  out,  precludes  any  idea  of  it. 

On  the  third  of  May,  1608,  Queen  Elizabeth  died  in  the  seventieth  year 
of  her  age,  without  issue,  and  was  .succeeded  by  James  VI.,  of  Scotland, 
the  son  of  the  unfortunate  Mary  Stuart. 

At  the  accession  of  the  House  of  Stuart  to  the  throne  of  England,  there 
was  not  a  single  individual  of  the  English  or  French  nation  in  North 
America,  living  under  the  nrotection  of  his  national  flag. 

The  Commander  de  la  Cnatte,  who  had  acquired  the  rights  of  Chauvin, 
formed  a  company,  chiefly  composed  of  merchants  of  Rouen,  to  whom 
were  joined  several  persons  of  distinction.  It  prepared  an  expedition,  the 
command  of  which  was  given  to  Pontgrave,  to  wh(»m  Henry  the  fourth 
had  granted  letters  })atent,  authorising  him  to  make  discoveries  and 
settlements  on  the  shores  of  the  river  St.  Lawrence.  Samuel  de  Champlaiii, 
an  experienced  seaman,  who  makes  a  consj)ieuous  figure  in  the  history  of 
the  new  world,  accompanied  him.     They  sailed  in  1603. 

After  a  short  stay  at  Tadoussac,  they  left  the  shipping  there;  and 
proceeded,  in  a  light  boat,  with  five  sailors  to  the  ra])ids  of  St.  Louis,  or 
the  Indian  town  of  Hochelaga,  which  Cartier  had  visited  sixty-eight  years 
before.  They  carried  on  some  traflic  with  the  natives,  and  joining  the 
shipping,  returned  to  France. 

Their  patron,  the  Commander  de  la  Chatte,  had  died  during  their 
absence,  and  his  powers  had  been  vested  by  the  king,  in  Pierre  de  (Uiard. 
Sieur  du  Monts,  to  whom  had  also  been  granted  the  exclusive  trade,  in 
furs  and  peltries,  from  the  40th  to  the  oOth  degree  of  north  latitude,  with 
the  authority  of  granting  land,  as  far  as  the  4Gth.  He  was  also  created 
Vice  Admiral,  and  Lieutenant-General  over  that  extent  of  country.  He 
was  allowed  the  free  exercise  of  his  religion  (the  Calvinist)  in  America, 
for  himself  and  his  people.  He  covenanted  to  settle  the  country,  and 
establish  the  Roman  Catholic  religion  among  the  Indians. 

The  grantee  fitted  out  four  vessels,  one  of  which  was  intended  for  the 
fur  trade,  at  Tadoussac.  Pontgrave  was  directed  to  proceed  with  another 
to  Canceaux,  to  sail  through  the  canal  between  Royal  Island  and  that  of 


: 


(lostructi^ 
tages,  inc 
event,  he 
f'olonists  { 
Aoadie 
The  earls 
«hi(di   th( 
thirtieth  ( 
tlie  coiitin 
latitude; 
iis('cMide(l  i 
■i.iiriculturf 
purcliase  ( 
trafficking 
"f  his  liavi 
hanks  of  tl 
iiiid  live  ot 
Tlie  shir 
Aoadie,  let 
tedious. 
I'nntgrave 
'on/idence  ; 
loiij^^T,  he  . 
^^ho  williiif 
«nalhiess  < 


r-u^':  ,; 


IIISTOUY   OK    I.onSIANA. 


47 


St.  Jolin,  i\u(\  to   (Irivo    intcrloixTs  tiwiiy. 
Ac'iulif  witli  the  other  two. 


Dumontz   intt^nded  to  ^o  to 

In  tlu! 


Till'  cxiH'dition  left  Hiivrc  dc  (iraco,  the  seventh  of  Miiv,  H'AU. 
t'nllowin.L:  iiiontli,  Dumontz  (iuttuvd  a  port  of  Acadie,  in  which  he  found  ii 
vessel  tradinfi,  in  violation  of  his  e.xelusive  privilege;  lie  confiscated  it, 
and  ^MV(!  the  name  of  llossignol  (that  of  his  n»aster)  to  the  port.  He 
proeeccled  to  another  place,  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Port  Monton, 
from  tlu^  circumstance  of  a  sheep  being  drowned  there.  He  landed  his 
men  liere,  and  stayed  one  month,  while  (Jluiniplain  was  exploring  the 
coast.  They  afterwards  jiroceedeil  to  an  island,  to  which  the  name  of  St. 
Croi.x  was  givin.  They  there  committed  sonu;  wheat  to  the  ground, 
which  succeede(l  amazingly. 

During  the  winter  the  French  suflered  for  want  of  water.  The  ditliculty 
they  found  in  ))rocuring  a  supply  from  tlie  continent,  induced  them  to 
use  melt(>d  snow.  This  brought  on  the  scurvy,  whi(di  made  great  havoc 
among  them.  As  soon  as  the  weatlier  grew  mod(!rate,  Dumontz  went  in 
search  of  a  more  favorable  s})ot.  He  sailed  along  the  coast,  and  up  tlie 
livers  l*enol)sc()t  and  Pentagoct.  Unable  to  find  a  suitable  plac(!,  he 
returned  to  the  island,  where  he  was  soon  met  by  Pontgrave.  Despairing 
of  success  there,  he  moved  his  men  to  Port  Royal.  Pontgrave  was  so 
delighted  with  the  place,  that  he  solicited  and  obtained  from  Dumontz  a 
grant  of  it,  wliicli  was  afterwards  confirmed  by  the  king. 

More  attentive  to  acquire  wealth  by  a  trade  in  furs  and  peltries,  than  a 
subsistence  by  the  culture  of  the  soil,  Pontgrave  derived  but  little 
advantage  from  his  grant. 

In  the  autumn  Dumontz  returned  to  France.  The  complaints  of  the 
merchants  of  I)iepi)e  and  St.  Maloes,  who  rej)resented  his  privilege  as 
destructive  of  the  fisheries,  from  which  these  cities  derived  great  advan- 
tages, induced  the  king  to  revoke  it.  Undismayed  by  this  untoward 
event,  he  jirevailed  on  Poutrincourt  to  fit  out  a  ship  for  the  relief  of  the 
colonists  at  Port  Royal, 

Acadie  had,  in  the  meanwhile,  attracted  the  attention  of  the  English. 
The  earls  of  Southampton  and  Arundel  fitted  out  a  ship,  the  command  of 
which  they  gave  to  Weymouth.  He  sailed  from  the  Downs  on  the 
thirtieth  of  March,  1605,  and  after  a  passage  of  forty-four  days,  risached 
tlio  continent  between  the  forty-first  and  forty-second  degrees  of  north 
latitude;  coasting  it  northerly,  he  entered  the  river  Penobscot,  and 
ascended  it  upwards  of  sixty  miles.  The  plans  of  his  employers  were  not 
iuj;ri(ultural ;  the  discovery  of  mines  of  the  precious  metals,  and  the 
purchase  of  furs  and  peltries,  were  the  objects  they  had  in  view.  After 
tiafliicking  for  awhile  with  the  Indians,  and  setting  up  crosses  (in  token 
of  his  having  taken  i)ossession  of  the  country)  in  different  parts  of  the 
l)anks  of  the  river,  he  returned  to  England,  carrying  thither  a  Sagamore 
and  five  other  chiefs. 

The  ship,  whicdi  Dumontz  had  induced  Poutrincourt  to  fit  out  for 
Acadie,  left  La  Rochelle  on  the  twelfth  of  May,  1606;  her  passage  was 
tedious.  Left  so  long  without  assistance,  the  colonists  began  to  despair. 
Pontgrave  had  used  in  vain  his  best  efforts  to  inspire  them  with 
confidence  and  patience.  At  last,  unable  to  withstand  their  clamors  any 
longer,  he  eml)arked  with  them  for  France ;  leaving  behind  two  men  only, 
who  willingly  remained  in  the  fort,  to  preserve  the  property,  which  the 
f^malluess  of  the   only   vessel  he   could    procure   prevented   him   from 


^4 


'■  m 

i 

,<'f.:jJt:iUjU| 

,i.' 

1  IJft^flfl 

:Mi; 

.h^hB 

■^1 


r.i 


\:.i^^w 


N 


-4s'rl 


4H 


lirSTOKV    OF    F.oriHIAiNA. 


■  -n\ 

carryiiif!;  jiway.  He  liati  iidt  left  H\\ih{  (tf  KitihI)  l)av  wiicii  hv  iiK't  a 
l»ar(iu(>,  Ity  which  he  was  hiloriiu'*!  of  the  arrival  of  Poutriiucmrt  at 
Cuiict'aiix.  This  iiuhiccil  him  lo  rctro<ii'a<l(',  aii<l  n  rt -t'nti'riiifj?  I'mt 
Royal,  he  fo\iinl  th(  re  I'outriiicourt,  who  had  passed  hctwccii  tia- 
t'ontiiu'iit  ami  the  ishmd  of  (ape  Hri'toii. 

Ahuiidaiu'c  hi'iiij,'  thus  restored  to  tiie  colony,  the  chiefs  ^avc  their 
undivided  attention  to  its  security.  Fortilicatiitns  wert;  en.'cted,  and  \uiu\ 
iiKdosed  and  enhivated.  Kmoloyment  checked  idleness  and  its  consc- 
(luence,  disease;  tlie  friciidshij)  <>i'  the  natives  was  secured,  an<l  the 
colony  hefian  to  thrive.  ])umont//  atl'airs  in  France  had  not  heon  e(|Ually 
prosperous.  He  was  unaMe  to  recover  his  privilege,  and  received  a  very 
triHinji;  indemnilication.  He  \s.is  at  hist  pennitteil  t(»  exercise  it  during 
one  year;  at  the  expiration  of  whii'h,  it  was  to  l>e  enjoyed  hy  the  Marchi- 
oness of  (luerchevillc,  a  lady  of  great  distincti''n  at  the  court  of  i'^ancc; 
hut  this  favor  was  hurdened  witli  the  ohligation  of  niakinj^  a  scittlenicnt 
on  the  hanks  of  the  St.  Lawrence.  His  former  friends  hud  not  ahandoned 
him;  but  their  object  was  not  colonization,  l»ut  tratKe  with  the  Indians. 
They  fitted  out  two  ships,  which  they  placed  under  the  orders  of  ('ham- 
plain  and  Pontgrave,  who  were  sent  to  trade  at  Tadoussac. 

In  tlio  meanwhile,  a  plan  had  been  adopted  in  Enf^hind,  under  the 
auspices  of  James  the  first,  which  was  the  orig'ii  of  the  extension  of  his 
dominions  to  the  western  hemisphere.  Letters  patent  had  been  issued  on 
the  tenth  of  May,  KiOO,  granting?  to  Sir  Thomas  dates  and  his  assoeiates, 
the  territories  in  America,  lying  on  the  coast,  between  the  thirty-fourtli 
and  fortv-fifth  degrees,  either  belonging  to  the  king,  or  not  possessed  by 
any  christian  prince  or  people.  The  grantees  were  divided  into  two 
companies. 

The  southern  was  re<iuired  to  settle  between  the  34th  and  4lHt,  and  the 
northern  between  the  88th  and  45th.  But  neither  was  to  settle  v/ithin  one 
hundred  miles  from  any  establishment  made  by  the  other. 

The  northern  company  fitted  out  a  vcsscd  the  same  year ;  but  she  was 
taken  by  the  Spaniards,  who  claimed  the  exclusive  right  of  navigating  tlic 
American  seas.  During  the  next,  they  sent  two  vessels,  in  which  wen 
embarked  about  two  hundred  colonists,  who  were  landed  near  Sagadehoc 
in  the  fall.  They  erected  a  small  fortification,  to  which  they  gave  thi- 
name  of  Fort  George,  The  winter  was  extremely  severe.  The  leader,  and 
some  of  the  principal  colonists,  fell  victims  to  the  diseases,  which  the  great 
cold  produced.  The  rest,  hearing  of  the  t^  jath  of  their  most  infiuential 
patron,  by  the  vessel  that  brought  them  provisions  in  the  spring,  retumfd 
to  England  quite  dispirited. 

The  southern  company  was  more  fortunate.  Its  first  expedition  consisted 
of  a  vessel  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  terns,  and  two  barques,  whidi 
besides  their  crews,  carried  one  hundred  and  fifty  colonists.  The  conunaiid 
of  it  was  given  to  Newport.  It  sailed  from  the  Thames,  on  the  nineteenth 
of  December,  1606,  and  did  not  enter  the  bay  of  Chesapeake,  till  tlu' 
seventeenth  of  April  following.  It  proceeded  up  the  river,  then  (tailed 
Powhatan,  but  to  which  Newport  gave  the  name  of  James  river,  on  the 
shores  of  which  was  laid  the  foundation  of  the  oldest  town  of  English 
origin,  now  existing  in  the  new  world ;  it  was  called  James  Town.  8t. 
Augustine  in  Florida,  and  Port  Royal  in  Acadie,  now  Anna})olis  of  Novn 
Scotia,  are  the  only  towns  on  the  northern  continent,  which,  in  point  <il 
antiquity,  rightly  claim  the  precedence  of  it. 


Aboi 
on  the 
(iii(d»ec 

The 

narnow» 

one  mil 

Chan 

tlie  Hui 

against 

imagine 

a  strong 

sulxlue 

awe  ever 

siipport( 

Canada. 

This  ^ 

I       Ihitch  J^ 

t      <lis('ov(>r( 

the  NortI 

Chami 

name  of 

They  wer 

Chanddy 

th(>v  mar 

their  bar! 

A  few 
Inxjuois. 
lest.     lid 
they  migl 
Algonquii 
tlio  foe,  w 
arms  of  t 
three Iroq 
('onspicuo 
The  Al< 
hundred 
French,  rii 
loaders  of 
third  was 
vollies  of 
enemy  to 
frreater  nu 
Jihout  fifte( 
jTovisions 
iiuu'h  neec 
C'hanipja 
after  arriv( 
tlio  colony 
Henrv  th 
'li'n  of  the 
'lominions 
his   best  e 


HISTORY   OF   LOriSIANA. 


49 


tllOt    !1 

urt  lit 
i  Port 
•n     tlx' 

r  tlu'ir 
id  UiihI 

iv\  tlu' 
(Miually 
I  ii  very 
•  luring 
Miirclii- 
I'^iancc; 
tlonit'ut 
uhIoik'*! 
Iiidiiuis. 
•  {'ham- 

\{\vr  till' 
in  of  h\^ 
ssuod  on 
isociivtcs, 
ty-lovirtl) 
»e'Msod  l>y 
into  two 

,  and  tin- 
ithin  on»' 

she  was 
atinf^  th<' 
liich  woif 
p;adeh()(', 
pave  the 
ader,  and 
the  groat 
fluentiiil 
returnoil 

I  consisted 
;8,  which 
ionnnaii'l 
inoteonth 
till  the 
en  (billed 
r,  on  the 
f  English 
wn.     i^t. 
s  of  I^ova 
point  <>i 


Ahout  fifteen  months  after,  on  the  third  of  .luly,  160S,  ('lianinlain  laid, 
((11  the  northern  short'  of  the  St.  Lawninee,  the  foun<lution  of  tiie  city  of 
(iurhee,  at  the  distance!  of  three  liundnid  and  sixty  miles  from  the  sea. 

The  place  was  ealhid  hy  the  [ndians  (^uehecio,  a  word  indicating  a 
iiarnowed  place;  the  width  of  tlu!  stream  there  diminishing  from  thn'c  to 
one  mile,  while  ahout  thirty  miles  helow,  it  expands  to  twelve  and  fifteen. 

Champlain  was  joined  here,  in  the  spring,  hy  Pontgrave.  I'arties  of 
the  Hurons,  Algon<|uins  and  Montagues,  were  pn^paring  for  an  expedition 
against  the  Inxpiois,  and  he*  was  induced  to  accompany  them.  Ho 
imagined,  that  aidetl  hy  thes«'  thn-i  nations  who  were  numerciis,  and  had 
a  strong  interest  to  nnite  with  hi.n,  he  would  he  aide  successively  to 
suhdue  all  others;  hut  he  was  ignorant  that  the  Iioijuois,  who  kept  in 
awe  every  Iiulian  within  a  <  ircdt-  of  three  hundred  miles,  wen;  ahout  to  ho 
supported  hy  an  European  nation,  jealous  of  the  progress  of  his  own  in 
Canada. 

This  vear  Henry  Hudsim,  an  English  seanian,  in  the  service  of  the 
Dutch  fllast  India  Company,  sent  to  seek  a  northwest  passage  to  C  hina. 
discovered  the  river  which  still  hears  his  luime,  thougli  sometimes  eallecl 
tjie  North  river,  and  now  separates  the  states  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey. 

Champlain,  ascending  the  St.  Lawrence,  entered  the  river  to  whieh  the 
name  of  Sorel  was  afterwards  given,  in  the  company  (»f  his  red  allies. 
They  went  up  this  stream,  as  far  as  its  rapids,  near  th(;  place  now  called 
Chan»l)ly.  Here,  finding  it  impossihie  to  proceed  farther  in  their  hoats, 
thev  marched  along  the  shore  :  the  Indians  hearing  on  their  shoulders 
their  hark  canoes,  which  alone  could  now  he  of  any  use. 

A  few  days  after,  towards  sunset,  they  perceived  the  camp  of  the 
Irocpiois.  The  allied  army,  having  taken  some  slight  precaution,  went  to 
rest.  B(!fore  dawn,  ('hamplain  i)laeed  two  Frenchmen  in  the  woods,  that 
they  might,  as  soon  as  light  heamed,  fall  on  the  flank  of  the  enemy.  The 
Algonquins  and  Hurons  were  divided  into  two  hands.  All  were  armed  as 
the  foe,  with  hows  and  arrows ;  hut  great  reliance  was  j>laeed  in  the  fire- 
arms of  the  Frent^h,  to  whom  it  was  recommended  to  take  good  aim  at 
three  Iroquois  chiefs,  whom  high  feathers,  decorating  their  heads,  rendered 
conspicuous. 

The  Algtmquins  and  Hurons  advanced  side  by  side,  till  within  one 
hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  the  Inxiuois ;  they  then  opened,  and  the 
French,  rushing  hetweeen,  })oured  in  their  fire.  Two  of  the  obnoxious 
loaders  of  the  enemy,  who  had  been  designated  to  the  French,  fell ;  the 
third  was  wounded.  The  Algonquins  and  Hurons  veiled  and  discharged 
voUies  of  arrows,  while  the  French  gave  a  second  fire.  This  put  the 
onomy  to  flight ;  he  was  pursued  ;  several  of  his  men  were  killed,  and  a 
greater  number  made  prisoners,  The  victors  lost  none  of  their  men ; 
ahout  fifteen  were  wounded,  but  not  one  dangerously,  A  large  supply  of 
))rovisi()ns  was  found  in  the  enemy's  camp,  of  which  the  pursuers  were  in 
nuudi  need. 

Champlain  returned,  with  his  allies,  to  Quebec,  where  Pontgrave  soon 
after  arrived.  They  sailed  together  for  France,  leaving  the  command  of 
tlio  colony  to  Pierre  Chauvin. 

Honry  the  fourth  was  much  pleased  with  the  account  Champlain  gave 
him  of  the  settlement  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  gave  to  his  American 
dominions  the  name  of  New  France.  Dumontz  was  then  at  court,  using 
his   best  efforts,   especially  with   the   Marchioness  of   Guercheville,  to 


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HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


recover  his  privilege ;  but  without  success.  His  associates,  the  principal 
of  whom  were  le  Gendre  and  Collier,  did  not  forsake  him.  They  fitted 
out  tAvo  ships,  the  command  of  which  they  gave  to  Champlain  and 
Pontgrave.  The  views  of  these  men  were  quite  different.  Champlain  had 
most  at  heart  the  success  of  the  colony ;  Pontgrave  thought  of  nothing 
but  the  acquisition  of  wealth,  by  traffic  with  the  Indians. 

The  first  reached  Tadoussac  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  April,  1610,  and 

proceeded  to  Quebec  without  delav.     He  found  the  colony  in  a  prosperous 

condition.     Wheat  and   rye   had   been   sown  the   preceding  year,   and 

succeeded  well ;  vines  had  been  planted,  but  the  event  had  disappointed 

the  hope  of  the  farmer.    The  people  were  healthy,  and  the  Indians  much 

jleasea  with  their  new  neighbors,  among  whom  they  found  a  supply  of 

)ro visions,  when  the  precarious  resource  of  the  chase  rendered  it  necessary ; 

)ut  they  valued  the  whites   most,   on  account  of  the  protection  they 

afforded  against  the  irruptions  of  the    Iroc^uois.      The    Hurons,    the 

Algonquins  and  the  Montagues  were  the  most  immediate  neighbors  of  the 

French.    The  first  dwelt  above  Quebec,  and  the  two  other  below,  towards 

Tadoussac. 

These  Indians  pressed  Champlain  to  accompany  them,  on  a  second 
expedition  against  the  Iroquois;  their  warriors  being  already  assembled 
at  the  mouth  of  the  river  Sorel.  On  his  arrival  there,  he  found  the 
number  of  these  much  smaller  than  it  had  been  represented.  A  party,  of 
about  one  hundred  of  the  enemy,  was  hovering  in  the  neighborhood ;  he 
was  told  he  might  surprise  them  if,  leaving  his  boat,  he  went  up  in  a  light 
canoe  of  the  Indians.  He  did  so,  with  four  of  his  countrymen,  who  had 
accompanied  him,  and  he  had  hardly  proceeded  three  miles  up,  when  his 
Indians,  without  saying  one  word,  jumped  out  of  the  canoe,  and  without 
leaving  a  guide  with  the  whites,  ran  along  the  shore  as  fast  as  they  could. 

The  country  was  swampy,  and  the  musquitoes  and  other  insects 
extremely  troublesome.  Champlain  was  advancing  slowly,  in  uncertainty 
and  doubt,  when  an  Algonquin  chief  came  to  hurry  him,  saying  the 
battle  was  begun.  He  hastened,  and  soon  heard  the  yells  of  the 
combatants.  The  Iroquois  had  been  found,  and  attacked  in  a  small 
entrenchment,  and  had  repelled  the  assailants.  These,  taking  courage  on 
the  approach  of  their  white  allies,  returned  to  the  charge.  The  conflict 
was  obstinate ;  Champlain  was  wounded  in  the  neck,  and  one  of  his  men 
in  the  arm.  This  dia  not  prevent  a  galling  fire  from  being  at  first  poured 
in ;  but  at  last,  the  ammunition  was  exhausted ;  the  enemy,  greatly 
distressed  by  the  musketry,  was  elated  on  its  silence.  The  French,  placing 
themselves  at  the  head  of  their  allies,  marched  to  the  attack  and  were 
repelled ;  but  others,  whom  Champlain  had  left  behind,  coming  up,  the 
charge  was  renewed,  and  the  Iroquois  were  mostly  killed  or  wounded,  and 
those  who  attempted  to  escape  were  drowned  in  the  stream. 

On  the  fourteenth  of  May,  Henry  the  fourth  fell  under  the  dagger  of 
Ravaillac,  in  the  fifty-seventh  year  of  his  age,  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
son,  Louis  the  thirteenth. 

The  Marchioness  of  Guercheville  was  now  in  the  enjoyment  of  the 

Erivilege,  which  had  been  granted  to  Dumontz ;  who,  after  its  revocation, 
ad  been  permitted  to  resume  it  for  one  year.  Her  avowed  object  was  the 
conversion  of  the  Indians,  and  the  promotion  of  the  Catholic  religion  in 
Acadie.     For  this  purpose,  she  sent  thither,  in  the  following  year,  two 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


51 


Jesuits,  fathers  Briart  and  Masse,  as  missionaries  to  Port  Royal.  This  is 
the  first  spiritual  succor  sent  to  this  part  of  the  continent  from  France. 

Champlain  discovered  the  lake  to  which  he  gave,  and  which  still  bears, 
his  name. 

The  Dutch  be^an,  in  1613,  their  first  establishment  on  the  northern 
continent,  in  the  island  of  Manhattan.  They  called  it  Nova  Belgica,  and 
its  principal  town  (now^  the  city  of  New  York)  New  Amsterdam. 

The  Marchioness  of  Guercheville  fitted  out  two  ships  at  Honfleur,  for 
Acadie.  She  gave  the  command  of  them  to  De  la  Saussaie,  whom  she 
intended  placing  at  the  head  of  her  affairs  there.  He  sailed  on  the  twelfth 
of  March,  1613,  and  cast  anchor  in  the  port  de  la  Halve,  on  the  sixth  of 
May.  He  erected  there  a  pillar,  with  the  armorial  escutcheon  of  the 
Marchioness.  From  thence  he  went  to  Port  Royal,  where  he  found  only 
an  apothecary,  w^ho  commanded,  two  Jesuits  and  three  other  persons 
— Becancourt,  whom  she  had  entrusted  with  her  affairs  there,  being  gone 
with  the  rest  of  the  colonists,  into  the  country  in  quest  of  provisions. 
Having  taken  the  Jesuits  on  board,  De  la  Saussaie  proceeded  to  the  river 
Penobscot,  on  the  northern  shore  of  which,  he  erected  a  small  fort  with 
the  aid  of  his  crew,  and  of  twenty-five  colonists,  whom  he  had  brought 
from  France,  and  a  few  cabins  for  their  accommodation.  He  called  the 
place  St.  Sauveur. 

He  was  hardly  settled  there,  when  Samuel  Argal,  an  Englishman  from 
Virginia,  with  eleven  men  of  his  nation,  came  into  the  neighborhood,  and 
hearing  of  the  French  settlement,  determined  on  destroying  it ;  viewing  it 
as  an  encroachment  on  the  rights  of  the  northern  company,  within  whose 
grant  he  conceived  it  to  be.  The  French,  being  unprovided  with  artillery 
(and  the  English  having  four  pieces  of  cannon)  made  but  a  feeble  resistance. 
They  had  several  men  killea.  After  their  surrender,  the  settlement  was 
abandoned  to  pillage  and  destruction ;  the  vanquished  were  permitted  to 
return  to  France ;  some  of  them,  however,  voluntarily  followed  Argal  to 
Virginia.  The  escutcheon  of  the  King  of  England  was  substituted  for 
that  of  the  Marchioness.  Argal,  before  he  sailed,  sent  some  of  his  men  to 
St.  Croix  and  Port  Royal,  where,  as  at  St.  Sauveur,  the  houses  of  the 
French  were  consumed  by  fire. 

The  death  of  Henry  the  fourth  had  left  Dumontz  without  support; 
Champlain  had  found  a  patron  in  the  Earl  of  Soissons,  whom  the  queen 
regent  had  placed  at  the  head  of  the  affairs  of  New  France ;  but  this 
nobleman  died  soon  after,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Prince  of  Conde. 
Under  the  auspices,  of  the  latter,  Champlain  sailed  with  Pontgrave,  who 
had  lately  returned  from  Acadie.  Landing  at  Quebec,  on  the  seventh  of 
May,  1613,  and  finding  every  thing  in  ^ood  order,  he  proceeded  up  the 
river,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  the  city  of  Montreal.  He  visited  the 
Ouatamais,  and  joining  Pontgrave,  whom  he  had  left  trading  below, 
returned  with  him  to  St.  Maloes.  He  formed  there  an  association  with 
merchants  of  that  city,  of  Rouen  and  of  la  Rochelle,  and  by  the  aid  of 
the  Prince  of  Conde,  obtained  a  charter  for  it.  • 

The  English  northern  company,  deterred  by  the  ill  success  of  the  colony 
they  had  sent  to  Sagadehoc  five  years  before,  had  in  the  meanwhile 
limited  their  enterprise  to  a  few  voyages,  undertaken  for  the  sole  purposes 
of  fishing  and  trading  for  furs  and  peltries  with  the  natives.  In  one  of 
these,  John  Smith  made  in  1614,  an  accurate  map  from  Cape  Cod  to 
Penobscot  river.    He  laid  it  before  the  Prince  of  Wales,  who  gave  the 


52 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


1 4.i  i;f 


f 


li^^'Mif 


country  the  appellation  of  New  England,  under  which  the  territory  between 
the  Dutch  colony  of  Nova  Belgica,  and  the  French  of  Canada  became 
known  to  Europe. 

The  company,  lately  formed  by  Champlain,  at  St.  Maloes,  fitted  out 
their  first  expedition  for  New  France,  in  the  following  year.  He  carried 
thither  four  recollet  friars,  whom  he  landed  at  Quebec,  on  the  twenty-fifth 
of  March,  1615.  He  next  proceeded  to  Montreal,  where  he  found  a  large 
party  of  the  Hurons,  who  proposed  a  third  expedition  against  the  Iroquois. 

He  assented  to  it,  provided  they  would  wait  till  his  return  from  Quebec, 
where  his  presence  was  absolutely  necessary ;  this  was  agreed  to,  and  he 
set  off. 

The  Indians,  however,  grew  soon  tired  of  waiting  for  him,  and  proceeded 
with  a  few  Frenchmen  he  had  left  in  Montreal  and  father  Joseph  le  Caron, 
one  of  the  recollet  friars  lately  arrived.  Champlain  reached  Montreal,  a 
few  days  after  their  departure,  and  was  much  vexed  at  their  conduct.  He 
would  have  desisted  from  following  them,  had  he  not  feared  the  friar,  who 
was  with  them,  might  be  ill  treated.  He  embarked  with  two  Frenchmen 
and  ten  Indians,  and  joined  the  Hurons  in  the  village.  Placing  himself 
at  their  head,  he  led  them  towards  the  Iroquois,  who  were  found  in  an 
entrenchment,  the  approaches  to  which  were  in  every  direction,  obstructed 
by  trunks  of  large  trees,  still  armed  with  all  their  branches.  The  assailants, 
repulsed  on  their  first  approach,  attempted  to  set  fire  to  the  trees ;  but  the 
besiegers  had  provided  themselves,  against  this  mode  of  offence,  with  a 
large  supply  of  water.  Champlain  now  erected  a  high  scaffold,  on  which 
he  placed  his  countrymen,  whose  galling  fire  greatly  annoyed  the  enemy 
and  would  have  insured  victory,  if  the  Hurons  had  not  become  untractable 
and  unmindful  of  the  orders  of  their  leader.  He  was  at  last  wounded  in 
the  leg,  an  accident,  which  drove  his  allies  from  presumption  to  despair ; 
and  he  found  himself  compelled  to  order  a  retreat.  It  was  made  in  a 
better  order  than  he  had  expected ;  for,  notwithstanding  the  pursuit,  he 
did  not  lose  one  man. 

Champlain  wintered  in  the  neighborhood,  unable  to  procure  a  guide  for 
his  return  to  Quebec.  He  visited  the  villages  near  him,  as  far  as  Lake 
Nipissing.  In  the  spring,  he  induced  a  few  Indians,  who  had  become 
attached  to  him,  to  pilot  rather  Joseph  and  himself  to  Quebec,  where  they 
landed  on  the  eleventh  of  July.    He  soon  after  went  over  to  France. 

During  his  absence,  two  Frenchmen,  on  a  trading  excursion,  were  killed 
by  the  Hurons.  On  his  return,  he  was  planning  an  expedition  against  his 
former  allies,  in  order  to  avenge  his  countrymen's  death  ;  but  the  former, 
apprehensive  of  the  conseqences,  if  they  gave  him  time  to  make  his 
preparations,  determined  on  striking  the  nrst  blow,  and  destroying  every 
white  man  in  Canada.  With  this  object  in  view,  they  assembled  about 
eight  hundred  warriors,  near  Trois  Rivieres.  Brother  Pacific,  a  lay  recollet 
friar,  who  had  been  stationed  as  a  school  master  in  the  settlement,  having 
received  early  information  of  their  design,  successfully  exerted  himself  to 
dissuade  them  from  it,  holding  out  the  hope  that,  if  they  abandoned  it, 
and  give  up  the  assassins,  Champlain  would  be  prevailed  on  to  forbear 
taking  the  just  revenge  he  meditated.  Accordingly,  at  their  request,  he 
went  down  to  Quebec.  Champlain  demanded  two  Indians,  who  had  been 
designated,  as  the  perpetrators  of  the  murder.  One  of  them  was  sent  and 
with  him  a  large  quantity  of  furs  and  peltries,  in  order,  aocording  to  the 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


68 


Indian  customj  to  cover  the  dead  or  atone  for  the  crime.    Prudential 
considerations  induced  Champlain  to  appear  satisfied  with  this. 

The  troubles  that  distracted  France  during  the  minority  of  Louis  the 
thirteenth,  prevented  the  regency  from  attending  to  the  possessions  of  the 
crown  in  America.  Champlain  continued  to  make  frequent,  but  unsuc- 
cessful voyages  to  France,  in  search  of  aid ;  and  his  associates,  satisfied 
with  advancing  their  own  interests  by  traffic,  did  not  think  of  promoting 
the  settlement  or  agriculture  of  the  colony. 

The  prince  of  Conde  sold,  in  1620,  his  vice  royalty  to  his  brother-in-law, 
the  Marshal  of  Montmorency.  This  nobleman,  appointed  Champlain  his 
lieutenant,  who,  encouraged  by  the  promises  of  his  new  patron,  took  his 
family  over.  On  his  landing  at  Tadoussac,  he  found  three  traders  of  la 
Rochelle,  who,  in  contempt  of  the  king's  orders,  and  in  violation  of  the 
company's  rights,  were  trafficking  with  the  Indians,  and  so  far  forgot 
themselves  as  to  supply  them  with  fire  arms  and  ammunition ;  a  measure 
which,  until  then,  had  been  cautiously  avoided. 

On  the  twentieth  of  December,  a  ship  from  England  landed  one  hundred 
and  twenty  men  near  Cape  Cod,  who  laid  the  foundation  of  a  colony, 
which,  in  course  of  time,  became  greatly  conspicuous  in  the  annals  of  the 
northern  continent.    They  called  their  first  town  New  Plymouth. 

Philip  the  third,  on  the  twenty-tirst  of  March  of  the  following  year,  the 
forty-third  of  his  age,  transmitted  the  crown  of  Spain  to  his  son,  Philip 
the  fourth. 

This  year,  James  the  first  of  England,  granted  to  Sir  William  Alexander, 
all  the  territory  taken  by  Argal  from  the  French  in  America,  giving  it  the 
appellation  of  Nova  Scotia,  instead  of  that  of  Acadie,  under  which  it  was 
then  known.  The  grantee  divided  it  into  two  provinces :  the  first,  which 
included  the  peninsula,  retained  the  name  in  tne  royal  grant ;  the  second, 
including  the  rest  of  the  territory,  was  called  Nova  Alexander.  The  king 
proposed  to  create  fifty  baronets,  from  among  the  associates  of  Sir  William, 
who  would  contribute  mobt  liberally  to  the  settlement  of  the  territory 
granted. 

The  Iroquois,  apprehending,  that  if  the  French  were  suffered  to  gain 
ground  in  Canada,  the  Hurons  and  Algonquins  would  acquire  with  their 
help,  a  preponderance  over  their  nation,  determined  openly  to  attack  the 
whites.  Accordingly  they  fell  on  a  small  party  of  the  latter,  near  the  falls 
of  St.  Louis ;  but  timely  information  of  the  approach  of  the  Indians, 
enabled  the  French  to  repel  them.  On  their  return,  they  led  away  father 
William  Poulain,  a  recollet  monk ;  but  the  French  had  taken  an  Iroquois 
chief  of  considerable  note,  and  the  holy  man,  as  they  were  tying  him  to 
the  stake,  received  his  freedom  and  his  life,  on  the  proposal  of  his 
countrymen  to  give  the  warrior  in  exchange  for  him. 

Another  party,  in  thirty  canoes,  came  to  Quebec  and  surrounded  the 
convent  of  the  recoUets,  on  St.  Charles  river.  The  pious  monks  had 
fortified  their,  till  then,  peaceful  monastery.  The  Iroquois  hovered  for 
several  days  around  it,  and  retreated  after  having  captured  a  small  party 
of  Hurons,  who  had  come  to  the  relief  of  their  godly  fathers.  After 
destroying  their  huts  and  burning  some  of  their  prisoners,  near  the  holy 
place,  the  Iroquois  withdrew.  Champlain  found  the  force  he  could 
command  too  weak  to  venture  on  a  pursuit.  At  the  solicitation  of  the 
principal  inhabitants,  he  sent  father  George  le  Baillif  to  France,  to  lay  the 


54 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


f  r4:. 


■  f  y 


distressed  situation  of  the  colony  before  the  sovereign,  and  implore  the 
needed  relief. 

Quebec  in  1622,  fourteen  vears  after  its  settlement,  had  only  fifty 
inhabitants,  men,  women  ana  children.  A  brisk  trade  was  carried  on 
with  the  natives  at  Tadoussac  below,  and  at  Montreal  and  Trois  Rivieres 
above  the  city. 

The  charter,  which  the  Prince  of  Conde  had  procured  to  the  company 
of  merchants  of  St.  Maloes,  Rouen  and  la  Rochelle,  which  Champlain  had 
formed,  was  now  revoked  and  its  privilege  granted  to  William  de  Caen 
and  Edmund  de  Caen,  his  nephews. 

The  uncle  came  to  Quebec,  and  although  a  protcstant,  was  cordially 
received.  He  gave  the  direction  of  his  affairs  m  Canada  to  Pontgrave, 
who  was,  by  the  ill  state  of  his  health,  obliged  to  follow  his  principal  to 
France,  in  the  following  year. 

Champlain,  having  received  intelligence  that  the  Hurons,  his  former 
allies,  meditated  an  union  with  the  Iroquois  against  the  French,  sent 
among  them  three  recollet  monks — Fathers  Joseph  le  Caron  and  Nicholas 
Viel  and  brother  Nicholas  Saghart.  The  timely  exertion  of  the  influence 
of  these  pious  men,  had  the  effect  of  averting  the  impending  calamity. 
He  now  laid  the  foundation  of  the  fortress  of  Quebec,  and  went  to  France 
with  his  family. 

Henry  de  Levy,  Duke  of  Ventadour,  had  succeeded  his  uncle  the 
Marshal  of  Montmorency,  in  the  vice-royalty  of  New  France.  All  the 
relief,  which  the  solicitations  of  Champlain  could  obtain  from  the  new 
viceroy,  who  had  lately  withdrawn  from  court,  and  received  holy  orders, 
was  of  the  spiritual  kind.  Father  Lallemand,  who  had  accompanied  de 
la  Saussaie  in  Acadie,  father  Masse,  of  whom  mention  has  already  been 
made,  and  father  Jean  de  Brebeuf,  all  three  of  the  order  of  the  Jesuits, 
were  sent  as  missionaries  to  Canada,  and  were  accompanied  by  two  of 
their  lay  brethren,  and  father  Daillon,  a  recollet.  They  all  landed  at 
Quebec,  in  1625. 

On  the  twenty-ninth  of  April  of  the  same  year,  on  the  demise  of  James 
the  first,  in  the  fifty-ninth  year  of  his  age,  his  son,  Charles  the  first, 
ascended  the  thrones  of  England  and  Scotland.  This  year  is  remarkable 
as  the  one  in  which  the  French  and  English  made  their  first  settlements 
in  the  West  India  islands.  They  both  landed,  on  the  same  day,  in 
different  parts  of  the  island  of  St.  Christopher. 

Charles  the  first,  in  some  degree,  pursued  the  intentions  of  his  father, 
by  granting  patents  of  knight  baronets  to  the  promoters  of  the  settlement 
of  Nova  Scotia.  The  original  scheme  was,  nowever,  defeated,  and  Sir 
William  Alexander  sold  his  property  in  that  country  to  the  French.  He 
was  Charles'  secretary  of  state  for  Scotland,  and  was  created  Lord 
Stirling.  The  person  who  had  inherited  his  title  in  1776,  took  part  ^vith 
the  Americans,  and  served  the  United  States  with  distinction,  as  a  general 
ofl&cer  during  the  war  which  terminated  by  the  recognition  of  their 
independence^  by  their  former  sovereign. 

Fathers  Daillon  and  Brebeuf,  some  time  after  their  arrival  at  Quebec, 
get  off  for  Trois  Rivieres,  where  they  met  with  a  party  of  the  Hurons,  who 
offered  to  escort  them.  As  their  object  was  to  go  and  preach  the  gospel 
to  the  Indians,  they  accepted  the  offer,  and  were  about  starting,  when  the 
news  of  the  death  of  father  Viel  induced  them  to  remain.  This  father, 
having  spent  some  time  with  the  Hurons,  left  them  on  a  visit  to  Quebec 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


55 


ncle  the 

All  the 

the  new 

jr  orders, 

anied  de 

,dy  been 

Jesuits, 

J  two  of 

anded  at 


in  a  canoe,  with  two  of  their  young  men.  Instead  of  the  usual  pass,  they 
took  the  branch  of  the  river  which  runs  between  the  islands  of  Montreal 
and  Jesus,  commonly  called  the  river  of  the  meadows,  in  which  there  is  a 
fall,  and  neglecting  to  make  a  small  portage,  thev  attempted  passing  over 
the  fall.  In  doing  so,  the  canoe  upset,  and  the  mther  with  an  Indian  boy 
who  waited  on  him,  were  drowned.  The  fall  was,  from  this  circumstance, 
called  le  mult  du  recoUet.  The  Indians  made  their  escape.  As  they  carried 
away  the  father's  baggage,  and  did  not  appear  well  disposed  before,  they 
were  strongly  suspected  of  premeditated  murder. 

Three  Jesuits,  father  Philibert,  Nouet  and  Anne  de  Noue  and  a  brother, 
came  to  Quebec  in  1626,  in  a  vessel  chartered  by  their  order.  This 
spiritual  was  accompanied  by  worldly  aid.  A  number  of  useful  mechanics 
came  also.  They  added  much  to  the  appearance  of  the  place,  which  now 
began  to  take  that  of  a  town,  having  had  before  that  of  a  plantation  only. 
The  Indians  were  often  troublesome ;  at  times,  killing  such  of  the  whites 
as  straggled  to  any  distance.  Animosities  larose  between  the  inhabitants 
and  the  agents  of  the  de  Caens,  who  were  protestants.  They  paid  but 
little  attention  to  the  culture  of  the  ground,  being  solicitous  only  of 
collecting  furs  and  peltries.  Such  was  the  situation  of  the  colony  when 
Champlain  returnea,  in  1627. 

Gustavus  Adolphus,  king  of  Sweden,  having  patronized  the  plan  of 
Gulielm  Usselin,  for  establishing  a  colony  near  that  of  the  Dutch  on 
Hudson  river,  a  number  of  Swedes  and  Fins  came  over  this  year,  and 
landed  on 'Cape  Henlopen,  which  they  called  Paradise  point;  they 
purchased  from  the  natives  all  the  land  from  the  Cape  to  the  falls  of  the 
Delaware,  and  began  their  settlement. 

In  the  month  of  May,  Louis  the  thirteenth,  at  his  camp  before  la 
Rochelle,  issued  an  edict  by  which  a  number  of  individuals,  which  was 
to  be  carried  to  one  hundred,  were  incorporated  under  the  style  of  "  the 
company  of  New  Prance."  The  privilege  of  the  de  Caens  was  expressly 
revoked.  New  France  and  Caroline  or  French  Florida,  were  transferred 
to  the  company ;  the  sovereign  reserving  only  the  faith  and  homage  of 
its  members  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  country,  with  a  golden  crown,  on 
the  accession  of  every  king,  the  right  of  commissioning  the  officers  of  the 
highest  tribunal  of  justice,  presented  to  him,  by  the  company,  the  power 
of  casting  cannons,  erecting  forts  and  doing  whatever  mignt  be  needed  for 
the  defence  of  the  country.  The  company  was  invested  with  the  power  of 
granting  land,  erecting  dukedoms,  marquisates,  earldoms,  baronies,  etc. 
An  exclusive  trade  in  furs  and  peltries  was  granted  forever;  and  in 
everything  else,  during  fifteen  years.  The  right  was,  however,  reserved 
to  the  king's  subjects  in  the  country,  to  purchase  furs,  peltries  and  hides 
from  the  Indians;  under  the  obligation  of  selling  beaver  skins  to  the 
factors  of  the  company  at  a  fixed  price. 

The  company  covenanted  to  transport  in  the  course  of  the  first  year, 
two  or  three  hundred  mechanics  of  different  trades  to  Canada ;  to  increase 
the  number  of  its  inhabitants,  within  fifteen  years,  to  sixteen  thousand ; 
to  lodge,  feed  and  maintain  the  people  they  should  send  thither,  during 
three  years,  and  afterwards  to  grant  them  cleared  land,  sufficient  for  their 
support,  and  supply  them  with  grain  for  seed.  It  was  stipulated  tha,t  all 
the  colonists  should  be  native  French  and  Roman  catholics,  and  no  alien 
or  heretic  was  to  be  received ;  it  was  provided  that  in  every  settlement 


m 


i^ 


iff  • 

111 


Ui' 


t* 


\: 


■It  -r    I  ■ 

h 

pill- 


56 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


there  should  be  at  least  three  priests  supported  by  the  company ;  cleared 
land  was  to  be  allotted  for  their  support. 

The  company  was  composed  of  several  noblemen,  wealthy  merchants 
and  other  influential  characters,  at  whose  head  was  the  Cardinal  of 
Richelieu.  The  Duke  of  Ventadour  surrendered  his  office  of  viceroy  to 
the  king. 

The  first  efforts  of  the  companv  were  unsuccessful.  Its  vessels  were 
taken  by  the  English,  although  there  was  no  war  between  them  and  the 
French ;  but  the  cabinet  of  St.  James  had  taken  umbrage  at  the  siege  of 
la  Rochelle. 

David  Kertz,  a  native  of  Dieppe,  but  a  refugee  in  the  service  of  Charles 
the  first,  instigated,  as  was  supposed,  by  William  de  Caen,  who  was 
exasperated  at  the  loss  of  his  privilege,  cast  anchor  with  a  small  fleet 
before  Tadoussac,  early  in  the  spring  of  the  following  year,  and  sent  one 
of  his  ships  to  destroy  the  houses  and  seize  the  cattle  at  Cape  Tousmente ; 
and  anotner  to  summon  Champlain  to  surrender  Quebec.  The  French 
chief  was  in  the  utmost  distress  for  provisions  and  ammunition.  He, 
however,  returned  a  bold  answer.  Kertz  having,  in  the  meanwhile, 
received  intelligence  of  the  approach  of  a  number  of  vessels,  sent  by  the 
company  to  carry  men  and  provisions  to  Canada,  thought  it  more 
advisable  to  go  and  meet  them  than  to  attempt  a  siege. 

Roquemont,  who  commanded  the  company's  ships,  cast  anchor  at 
Gaspe,  from  whence  he  dispatched  a  light  vessel  to  Quebec,  in  order  to 
apprise  Champlain  of  his  approach,  and  deliver  him  a  commission,  by 
wnich  he  was  appointed  governor  and  lieutenant  general  of  New  France. 
Miscalculating  the  relative  forces  of  the  French  and  English  fleets, 
Roquemont  went  in  search  of  Kertz,  and  fought  him ;  but  his  ships,  being 
overladen  and  encumbered,  were  all  captured. 

The  jov,  which  Roquemont's  messenger  had  excited  in  Quebec,  was  not 
of  long  diuration.  It  was  soon  followed  by  the  melancholy  tidings  of  the 
capture  of  the  vessels  loaded  with  the  needed  supplies.  This  misfortune 
was  attended  by  another.  The  crops  failed  throughout  the  country.  The 
Indians  for  a  while  yielded  some  relief  from  the  produce  of  their  chase ; 
but  this  precarious  aid  did  not,  nor  could  it,  last  long.  The  colonists  had 
still  some  hope  from  another  quarter.  Father  Nouet,  superior  of  the 
Jesuits,  and  father  Lallemand,  were  gone  to  solicit  succor  in  France. 
They  found,  in  the  generosity  of  their  friends,  the  means  of  chartering  a 
vessel  and  loading  her  with  provisions,  and  took  passage  in  her  with 
father  Alexander  Vieuxpont  and  a  lay  brother.  A  storm  cast  her  ashore 
on  the  coast  of  Acadie.  The  superior  and  lay  brother  were  drowned. 
Father  Vieuxpont  joined  father  Vimont  in  the  island  of  Cape  Breton. 
Father  Lallemand  sailed  for  France,  but  experienced  a  second  shipwreck 
near  San  Sebastian,  from  which  he  however  escaped. 

Famine  was  not  the  only  calamity  that  afflicted  Canada.  The  Indians 
had  grown  turbulent  and  intractable,  on  the  approach  of  the  English. 
The  ill  will  which  a  difference  of  religious  opinions  often  creates,  was 
greatly  excited,  and  the  Huguenots,  whom  the  de  Caens  had  introduced, 
refused  obedience  to  the  constituted  authorities.  Champlain  had'oeed  of 
all  his  firmness  and  energy  to  suppress  the  disorder.  lu  this  state  of 
affairs,  he  thought  the  best  measure  he  could  adopt  was  to  march  against 
the  Iroquois,  who  of  late  had  given  him  great  cause  of  complaint,  attack 
them  and  seek  subsistence  for  his  men  in  their  country.    But  he  was 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


57 


without  ammunition  and  could  not  reasonably  expect  any  for  many 
months.  Brule,  his  brother-in-law,  whom  he  had  sent  to  France  to  lay  the 
distressed  situation  of  the  coU>ny  before  the  king,  had  sailed  but  a  few 
weeks  before. 

Towards  the  middle  of  July,  he  was  informed  that  a  number  of  English 
vessels  were  behind  Pointe  Levy.  This  intelligence,  which  at  any  other 
time  would  have  been  very  unpleasant,  received  a  different  character  from 
circumstances.  He  viewed  the  English  less  as  enemies  than  as  liberators 
who  came  to  put  an  end  to  the  horrors  of  famine.  A  few  hours  after,  a 
boat,  with  a  white  flag  advanced  and  stopped  in  the  middle  of  the  port,  as 
if  waiting  for  leave  to  approacih.  A  similar  flag  was  hoisted  in  town,  in 
order  to  intimate  a  wish  tnat  it  might  come  to  shore.  An  officer  landed, 
and  brought  to  Chamolain  a  letter  from  Louis  and  Thomas  Kertz,  brothers 
to  David,  the  Commoaore.  One  of  them  was  destined  to  the  command  of 
Quebec,  the  other  had  that  of  the  fleet,  which  was  at  Tadoussac.  The 
vessel  that  carried  Brule,  had  fallen  into  their  hands,  and  the  distressed 
situation  of  the  colony  had  become  known  to  them,  from  the  report  of 
some  of  her  sailors.  Champlain  was  offered  to  dictate  the  terms  of  the 
capitulation ;  the  place  was  yielded. 

On  the  twentieth,  the  English  cast  anchor  before  it.  They  had  but  three 
ships ;  the  largest  was  of  one  hundred  tons,  and  had  ten  guns ;  the  other 
two  were  of  fifty  tons,  and  had  six  guns  each. 

The  conquest  of  Canada  added  but  little  to  the  wealth  or  power  of 
England.  Quebec,  the  only  part  of  it  which  could  be  said  to  be  settled, 
was  a  rock  on  which  one  hundred  individuals  were  starving.  It  contained 
but  a  few  miserable  huts.  All  the  wealth  of  the  place  consisted  in  a  few 
iiides  and  some  peltries  of  inconsiderable  value. 

Thus,  one  hundred  and  twenty  years  after  the  French  first  visited  the 
northern  continent  of  America,  notwithstanding  a  great  waste  of  men  and 
money,  they  were  without  one  foot  of  territory  on  it. 

The  English  colonies  were  in  a  more  prosperous  condition.  The  sturdy 
pilgrims  who  had  landed  but  a  few  years  before,  in  the  north,  had  already 
wrested  from  the  metropolis  the  government  of  their  colony ;  and  spreading 
their  population  along  the  sea  shore,  had  laid  the  foundation  of  the  towns 
of  Plymouth,  Salem  and  Boston. 

The  settlements  in  Virginia  were  extended  to  a  considerable  distance 
along  the  banks  of  James  and  York  rivers  to  t  • ;  •lapahanoc,  and  even  the 
Potomac.  They  had  subdued  the  neighboring:  bes  of  Indians,  who  had 
attempted  a  general  massacre  of  the  whites,  luey  enjoyed  already  the 
privilege  of  making  their  own  laws.  Regular  courts  of  justice  were 
established  among  them,  and  they  had  victoriously  stood  a  contest,  which 
terminated  in  the  dissolution  of  the  company,  at  whose  cost  the  country 
had  been  settled ;  too  spirited  to  submit  to  the  arbitrary  sway  of  Sir  John 
Harvey,  whom  the  king  had  sent  to  govern  them,  they  had  seized  and 
shipped  him  to  England. 

On  the  thirtieth  of  October,  Charles  the  first  granted  to  Sir  Robert 
Heath,  his  attorney-general,  all  the  territory  between  the  thirty-first  and 
thirty-sixth  degrees  of  northern  latitude,  not  yet  cultivated  or  planted, 
from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  ocean,  with  the  islands  of  Viaries  and 
Bahama.  This  immense  tract,  including  all  the  country  now  covered  by 
the  states  of  North  and  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  Tennessee  and  Mississippi 
with  parts  of  that  of  Louisiana,  the  territory  of  Arkansas,  with  a  con- 


58 


lIIHTOItY   OK    UH'IHIANA. 


:*^; 


iV'l  tvl. 


p  2';»':ii' 


Hitlcnibh;  portion  of  Now  Mexico — wjis  oreotcd  into  ;in  Rnf^Iinh  province 
by  the  name  of  Cnrolana.  This  is  the  larj^eBt  f?rant  of  a  king  of  Knghmd 
to  an  individual.  Sir  Robert  doen  not  appear  to  have  made  an  attenint  to 
occupy  any  part  of  it.  In  1(J37,  he  transferred  bin  tittle  to  Lord 
MaltraverH,  wno  Home  time  after  on  the  death  of  bis  father,  became  Karl 
of  Arun<l«d  and  Hurry,  and  Earl  Marsbal  of  England.  This  nobleman  in 
said  to  have  been  at  consichirable  expense  in  ;vn  attempt  to  transplant  u 
colony  there,  but  the  civil  war  which  began  to  rage  soon  after,  prevented 
his  success.  The  province  afterwards  became  the  i)roperty  of  Dr.  Coxe  of 
New  Jersey,  whose  right,  us  late  as  the  21st  ot  November,  1699,  was 
recognized  by  the  attorney-general  of  king  William,  and  reported  by  the 
lords  commissioners  of  trade  and  plantations  as  a  valid  one.  The  V^irginiu 
company  loudly  complained  of  the  grant  to  Sir  Robert  as  an  encroachment 
on  their  charter. 

While  a  new  government  was  thus  sought  to  be  establishedi  n  the  south, 
by  the  king's  authoritv,  new  establishments  were  formed  by  the  northern 
company  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  French :  Sir  Ferdinando  (iorgoH 
and  John  Mason,  two  members  of  that  corjmration,  built  a  house  at  the 
mouth  of  Piscataqua  river,  and  afterwards  others  erected  cabins  along  the 
coast  from  Merrimack  eastwardly  to  Sagadehoc,  for  the  purpose  of  fishing. 
In  1631,  Sir  Ferdinando  and  Mason  sent  a  party,  under  one  Williams, 
who  laid  the  foundation  of  the  town  of  Portsmouth  in  the  present  state  of 
New  Hampshire. 

By  the  treaty  of  St.  Germain,  which  put  an  end  to  the  war  between 
France  and  England,  on  the  twenty-ninth  of  March,  1632,  the  latter 
restored  to  the  former,  Canada  and  Acadie,  without  any  description  of 
limits ;  Quebec,  Port  Royal  and  the  island  of  Cape  Breton  were  so  by 
name. 


CHAPTER    III, 


m$f\^'! 


Emery  de  Caen  was  dispatched  with  a  copy  of  the  treaty  to  Quebec. 
His  principal  object  in  bringing  it  was  the  recovery  of  the  property  he 
had  left  in  Canada,  for  the  restoration  of  which  provision  had  been  made 
by  an  article  of  the  treaty.  With  the  view  of  yielding  to  him  some 
indemnification  for  the  loss  of  his  privilege,  Louis  the  thirteenth  had 
granted  him  the  exclusive  commerce  of  New  France,  in  furs  and  peltries, 
for  one  year. 

Kertz  surrendered  the  country  to  de  Caen. 

Charles  the  first,  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  June,  granted  to  Cecilius,  Lord 
Baltimore,  a  large  tract  of  country,  between  the  settlements  of  Virginia 
and  the  river  and  bay  of  Delaware.  It  was  called  Maryland,  in  honor  of 
Henrietta  Maria,  sister  to  Louis  the  thirteenth  of  France.  Lord  Baltimore, 
soon  after  sent  thither  two  hundred  colonists.  They  were  all  Roman 
catholics,  and  chiefly  from  Ireland. 

The  company  of  New  France  resumed  its  rights  in  1633,  and  Champlain, 
who,  on  its  nomination,  had  been  appointed  governor  of  Canada,  returned 
to  Quebec,  bringing  with  him  a  few  Jesuits. 

Acadie  was  granted  to  the  commander  of  Razilly,  one  of  the  principal 
members  of  the  company.    He  bound  himself  to  settle  it,  and  began  a 


mSTORY   OF   LOriSIANA. 


59 


•(•vjnce 
upland 

'lUpt  tl) 

)    l.ord 
DC  Karl 
muin  is 
iplant  a 
KVcnU'd 
Coxc  of 
tK),  was 
I  hy  the 
V^irj?inia 
ichiuent 

le  south, 
iiortlunn 
I  Gor{?eH 
se  at  the 
ilong  tho 
f  fishins. 
tVilUaiuH, 
it  state  of 

■  between 
,he  latter 
ription  of 
ere  so  by 


,0  Quebec, 
operty  he 
>een  made 
lim  some 
jenth  had 
Id  peltries, 


ilius,  Lord 
|f  Virginia 
honor  of 
iBaltimore, 
111  Roman 

phamplain. 
,  returned 

principal 
[d  began  a 


amall  establishm.nt  at  la  Haivo.  A  nartv  of  his  people  attacki'd  a 
tradinji  house  of  the  colony  of  Now  Kngtan<f  on  Penobscot  river.  In  tho 
following  vear,  ho  erected  a  small  military  post  there.  It  was  attacked  l»y 
an  Knglish  ship  an<l  barque,  under  Captain  (Jirling;  but  it  successfully 
defended  itself. 

The  Plymouth  company,  dividing  its  territory  among  its  members,  tho 
land  between  Merrimack  and  Piscataqua  rivers  was  granted  to  Mason. 
It  now  constitutes  the  state  of  New  Hampshire.  That  to  the  northeast, 
as  far  as  Konnebeck  river,  was  allotted  to  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges,  another 
member.     It  is  now  the  state  of  Maine. 

Roger  Williams,  a  popular  preacher,  and  a  Mrs  Hutchinson,  being 
banished  from  Massachusetts,  pundiased  each  a  tract  of  land  from  the 
Xaraganset  Indians,  on  which  they  settled,  with  a  few  of  their  adherents, 
and  laid  the  foundations  of  Provi<lence  and  Rhode  Island.  Nearly  about 
the  same  time,  Hooker,  a  favorite  minister  in  Boston,  with  leave  of  the 
fjovernment,  led  a  small  colony  farther  southerly,  and  laid  in  tho  towns  of 
Hartford,  Windsor  and  Wetherfield,  tho  foundation  of  the  present  state 
of  Connecticmt. 

In  December  1635,  a  college  was  established  by  royal  authority  at  Quebec, 
and  in  the  following  year,  Champlain  died,  and  was  succeeded  by  the 
Chevalier  de  Montmagny. 

The  piety  of  the  Dutchess  d'Aiguillon  procured  to  the  colony  two  useful 
establishments — that  of  the  Sisters  of  the  Congregation,  who  came  from 
Dieppe  in  1637 ;  and  that  of  the  Ursuline  Nuns  from  Tours,  in  1638,  to 
devote  themselves  to  the  relief  of  suffering  humanity  in  the  hospital,  and 
tho  education  of  young  persons  of  their  sex. 

With  the  view  of  checking  the  irruptions  of  the  Iroquois,  who  greatly 
distressed  the  upper  settlers,  and  came  down  the  river  that  falls  into  the 
St.  Lawrence  on  its  right  side,  at  a  small  distance  from  the  town  of 
Montreal,  Montmagny  had  a  fort  erected  on  its  banks ;  it  was  called  Fort 
Richelieu,  in  honor  of  the  Cardinal,  then  prime  minister,  and  afterwards 
communicated  its  name  to  the  stream. 

Justice  had  hitherto  been  rendered  to  the  colonists,  by  the  governor 
and  commandants;  in  1640,  provision  was  made  for  its  more  regular 
administration,  by  the  appointment  of  judges  at  Quebec,  Montreal  and 
Trois  Rivieres,  and  a  grand  seneschal  of  New  France.  The  former  had 
original,  and  the  latter  appellate  jurisdiction. 

Louis  the  thirteenth,  on  the  fourteenth  of  May,  1648,  the  forty-second 
year  of  his  age,  transmitted  his  sceptre  to  his  son,  Louis  the  fourteenth. 

The  English  settlements,  near  the  French,  suffering  as  much  from  the 
Indians  as  Canada,  the  colonies  of  New  Hampshire,  Massachusetts,  Rhode 
Island  and  Connecticut,  sought  protection  in  the  union  of  their  efforts. 
They  entered  into  a  league  of  alliance,  offensive  and  defensive,  and  gave 
to  five  commissioners,  chosen  by  each  colony,  the  power  of  regulating  the 
affairs  of  the  confederacy.  Accordingly  the  governor  of  Massachusetts, 
in  behalf  of  the  united  colonies,  in  the  following  year,  concluded  a  treatjr 
of  peace  and  commerce,  with  Monsieur  d'Antouy,  governor  of  Acadie ;  it 
was  laid  before,  and  ratified  by,  the  commissioners. 

In  16^  ;,  d'Aillebout  succeeded  Montmagny  in  the  government  of  New 
France. 

The  Indians  continuing  to  distress  the  back  settlers  of  New  England, 
the  commissioners  of  the  united  colonies  sent  a  deputy  to  Quebec ;  who, 


m 


IIIHTOKY  OK   MU'ISIAXA. 


tXUu 


in  their  iHjlmlf.  nropoHod  to  d'Aillebout,  that  tlio  FnMKrh  and  N'«!W  Kn^^Innd 
colonit'H  Hhould  untor  into  u  porputuiil  allianro,  imlopcndont  from  any 
rupture  ht'twecn  the  parent  oountrieH.  D'Aillehout,  approving  the  nuniHure, 
sent  father  DreuilleteH,  a  JeHuit,  t<>  meet  the  e<»mmiHHionerH  in  HoHton. 
The  envoy,  it  apnearH,  waw  inntru('t<'<l  not  to  agre«!  t(»  any  treaty,  unions 
th(?  aid  of  New  Kngland  waw  afforded  to  N(?w  France  aj^aiuHt  the  Iroquoin. 
Time  han  destroyed  every  trace  of  the  final  rcHuit  of  thiH  minnion. 

Demoerai-y  now  prevailed  in  H]nj?lan«l,  over  tl\e  monarch  and  itH  nohl(>H. 
The  House  of  LoniH  was  aholinhed,  and  (.'hiirl(;w  the  firnt  lowt  hin  head  on 
the  HcaflTold,  on  the  JiOth  of  January,  WAH,  in  the  forty-eighth  year  of  his 
age.  Oliver  Cromwell,  un<ler  the  title  of  prote<'tor,  aHKumed  the  reinw  of 
government.  During  the  struggle  that  preceded  the  king's  fall,  the 
northern  colonies  spiritedly  adhered  to  the  popular  party ;  Virginia 
remained  attached  to  the  royal  cause,  which  did  not  cease  to  i)revail  there 
till  the  arrival  of  a  fleet,  with  the  j)rotector's  governor.  Home  resistance 
was  oven  made  to  his  landing. 

The  commissioners  of  New  England  resumed  their  negotiations  to 
induce  the  governor  of  New  France  to  enter  into  an  alliance  with  them. 
The  English  and  French  colonies  were  now  nmch  distressed  hy  irruptions 
of  the  Indians.  The  French  had  sent  among  the  latter,  a  considerable 
number  of  missionaries,  who  proceeded,  in  their  efll'orts  to  propagate  the 
gospel,  much  in  the  same  manner  as  methodists  now  do  in  new  and 
thinly  inhabited  countries.  Besides  travelling  missionaries,  who  performed 
regular  tours  of  duty,  among  the  more  distant  tribes,  they  had  stationed 
ones  in  the  nearer.  The  stationed  missionary  was  generally  attended  by 
a  lay  brother,  who  instructed  young  Indians  in  their  Catechism.  The 
father  had  often  around  him  a  number  of  his  countrymen,  who  came  to 
sell  goods  and  collect  peltries.  His  dwelling  was  the  ordinary  resort  of 
the  white  men  whom  necessity,  cupidity  or  any  other  cause,  led  into  the 
forests.  A  number  of  Indians  gathered  near  the  mission,  to  minister  t(» 
the  wants  of  the  holy  man,  and  his  inmates  or  visitors.  His  functions 
gave  him  a  great  ascendency  over  his  flock,  amused  and  incjreased  by  the 
pageantry  of  the  rites  of  his  religion.  His  authority  often  extended  over 
the  whole  tribe,  and  he  commanded  and  directed  the  use  of  its  forces. 
As  he  was  supported  by,  and  did  support,  the  government  of  the  colony, 
he  soon  became  a  powerful  auxiliary  m  the  hands  of  its  military  chief. 
The  union  which  existed  among  the  travelling  and  stationed  missionaries, 
all  appointed  and  sent  or  stationed,  and  directed  by  their  8U[)erior  in  the 
Qonvent  of  Quebec,  had  connected  the  tribes  who  had  received  a  missionary, 
into  a  kind  of  alliance  and  confederacy,  the  forces  of  which  government 
commanded,  and  at  times  exerted  against  the  more  distant  tribes.  In 
return,  it  afforded  the  confederates  protection  against  their  enemies.  The 
Iroquois,  Eries  and  other  nations,  not  in  this  alliance,  considered  the 
members  of  it  as  their  foes,  made  frequent  irruptions  in  their  villages,  and 
at  times  captured  or  killed  the  missionary  and  the  white  men  around 
him.  The  parties  engaged  in  these  expeditions  did  not  always  confine 
the  violence  they  thus  exercised  to  Indian  villages ;  they  often  attacked 
the  frontier  settlements  of  the  whites,  and  at  times  approached  their 
towns.  These  circumstances  rendered  it  desirable  to  New  France,  to 
secure  the  aid  of  New  England  against  the  Indians.  Accordingly,  in 
June,  1651,  d'Aillebout,  calling  to  his  council  the  head  of  the  clergy  and 
8ome  of  the  most  notable  planters,  who  recommended  that  Godefroy,  one 


IlIHTOItY   OF   LOUIHIANA. 


ei 


of  the  Inttor,  nnd  fatluT  I)rfiiillutto8,  flhouM  proceod  to  RoHton,  and 
coiu'UkIc  the  uUiuiuc,  which  the  coiuiiiiHHioiierH  of  tho  Nuw  Kngland 
colonit'H  hud  proposed,  ('harluvoix  Iiuh  pri'Horvod  thu  rcHolutioiirt  of  tho 
notablt'H,  the  letter  they  wrote  to  the  (HHimiiHuioiu'rH,  and  the  paHHport  or 
lotttT  of  credence  which  the  governor  gave  to  the  envoy«;  hut  he  was  not 
altlc  to  transmit  uh  the  result  of  the  niiHsion. 
Is'ew  France  received  a  new  governor,  in  the  person  of  LauHon,  in  1652. 
A  hirgo  party  of  the  Iroquois,  advancing  towards  Montreal,  Duplessig 
Brocard,  who  commanded  there,  ])utting  himself  at  the  head  of  the 
inhultitants,  marched  out.  lie  lost  his  life  in  an  encounter,  and  hin 
followers  were  routed.  This  accident,  although  it  inspired  the  Indians 
with  much  confidence,  did  not  embolden  them  to  attack  the  town. 

On  the  failure  of  an  expedition,  which  Oromwell  had  directed  to  ho 
prepared  in  Bost<m,  under  the  command  of  Sedwick,  for  the  attack  of  the 
l)utch  in  Nova  Belgica,  this  officer  took  upon  himself  to  dislodge  the 
French  from  A(!adie. 

The  French  and  English  were  not  the  only  European  nations  annoyed 
by  the  Indians.  The  »Swedes,  who,  at  this  time,  had  several  settlements 
over  the  territory,  which  is  now  covered  by  the  states  of  New  Jersey, 
Pennsylvania  and  Delaware,  finding  themselves  in  too  small  a  number  to 
Htand  their  ground  with  the  natives,  abandoned  New  Sweden ;  and  John 
Rising,  their  governor,  in  1055  by  order  of  his  sovereign,  transferred  to 
Peter  Stuyvesant,  governor  of  Nova  Belgica,  all  the  rights  of  the  Swedish 
crown  in  this  quarter,  for  the  use  of  the  states-general. 

In  1659,  New  France  received  new  civil  and  ecclesiastical  chiefs.  The 
Vificount  of  Ar^enson  succeeded  Lauson,  and  Francis  de  Laval,  Bishop 
of  Petrea,  appointed  by  the  holy  see,  its  apostolic  vicar,  arrived  with  a 
number  of  ecclesiastics.  The  island  of  Montreal  was  erected  into  a  seignory, 
and  the  priests  of  St.  Sulpice  in  Paris,  were  made  lords  of  it.  A  seminary 
was  established  in  the  city  of  Montreal ;  it  being  the  intention  of  government, 
to  substitute  a  secular  clergy  to  the  Jesuits  and  recoUets,  who  till  now  had 
ministered  to  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  colonists.  A  similar  establishment 
had  been  begun  in  Quebec.  Regulations  were  made  for  the  collection  of 
tithes.  Societies  of  religious  ladies  in  France  sent  some  of  their  members 
to  Montreal,  for  the  relief  of  the  sick  and  the  education  of  young  persons 
of  their  sex. 

While  Canada  was  advancing  in  its  internal  improvements,  the  Virginians 
extended  their  discoveries  over  the  mountains.  Daniel  Coxe,  in  his 
description  of  Carolana,  published  in  1722,  relates  that  Col.  Woods  of 
Virginia,  dwelling  near  the  falls  of  James  river,  about  one  hundred  miles 
from  the  bay  of  Chesapeake,  between  the  years  1654  and  1664,  discovered 
at  different  times,  several  branches  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi.  He  adds, 
he  had  in  his  possession,  the  journal  of  a  Capt.  Needham,  who  was  employed 
by  the  Colonel. 

In  1660,  the  people  of  Virginia,  at  the  death  of  Mathews,  the  protector's 
governor,  called  on  Sir  William  Berkely,  the  former  governor  under  the 
king,  to  resume  the  reins  of  government,  and  proclaimed  Charles  the  second 
as  their  legitimate  sovereign,  before  they  had  any  intelligence  of  Cromwell's 
death.  Charles'  restoration  was  soon  after  effected  in  England,  and  his 
authority  recognized  in  all  his  American  colonies. 

This  year  was  a  disastrous  one  in  Canada :  large  parties  of  the  Iroquois 
incessantly  rambled  over  the  country,  in  every  direction,  killing  or  maiking 


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62 


HISTORY  OF  IX)UI8IANA. 


prisoners  of  the  whites,  who  strayed  to  any  distance  from  their  plantations. 
The  culture  of  the  earth  was  much  impeded  by  the  terror  they  inspired. 
Even  in  Quebec,  the  people  were  alarmed.  The  Ursuline  and  hospital 
nuns  were  frequently  compelled  to  seek  shelter  out  of  their  monasteries," 
at  night.  In  tne  following  year,  an  epidemic  disease  made  great  havoc. 
It  was  a  kind  of  whooping  cough,  terminating  in  pleurisy.  Many  of  the 
whites,  and  the  domesticated  Indians  fell  victims  to  it.  Its  greatest 
ravages  were  among  the  children.  It  was  imagined  to  be  occasioned  by 
enchantment,  and  many  of  the  faculty,  did,  or  affected  to,  believe  it. 
Others  were  terrified  into  credulity,  and  the  strangest  reports  were  circulated 
and  credited.  Time  and  the  progress  of  knowledge  ha;"p  di8i)elled  the 
opinion  (which  at  this  period  prevailed  in  Europe,  and  ti.e  colonists  had 
brought  over)  that  at  times,  malignant  spirits  enabled  some  individuals 
to  exercise  supernatural  powers  over  the  health  and  lives  of  others.  It  was 
said,  a  fiery  crown  had  been  observed  in  the  air  at  Montreal ;  lamentable 
cries  were  heard  at  Trois  Rivieres,  in  places  in  which  there  was  not 
any  person ;  that  at  Quebec,  a  canoe  all  in  fire  had  been  seen  on  the 
river,  with  a  man  armed  cap-a-pie,  surrounded  by  a  circle  of  the  same 
element ;  and  in  the  island  of  Orleans,  a  woman  had  heard  the  cries  of 
her  fruit  in  her  womb.  A  comet  made  its  appearance ;  a  phenomenon 
seldom  looked  upon  as  of  no  importance,  especially  in  calamitous  times. 

The  alarm  at  last  subsided.  The  parties  of  Iroquois,  who  desolated  the 
country,  became  less  numerous  ana  less  frequent ;  these  Indians  finally 
sued  for  peace.  The  governor  did  not  appear  at  first  very  anxious  to 
listen  to  their  proposals;  but  prudence  commanded  the  acceptance  of 
them. 

The  Baron  d'Avaugour  relieved  the  Viscount  d'Argenson  in  1662. 

Serious  discontents  now  arose  between  the  civil  and  ecclesiatical  chiefs. 
Much  distress  resulted  from  the  inobservance  of  the  regulations,  made  to 
prevent  the  sale  of  spirituous  liquors  to  the  Indians.  A  woman,  who  was 
found  guilty  of  a  breach  of  them  was  sent  to  prison,  and  at  the  solicitation 
of  her  friends,  the  superior  of  the  Jesuits  waited  on  the  Baron  to  solicit 
her  release.  He  received  the  holy  man  with  rudeness ;  observing  that, 
since  the  sale  of  spirituous  liquors  to  the  Indians  was  no  offence  in  this 
woman,  it  should  not,  for  the  future,  be  one  in  anybody.  Obstinacy 
induced  him  afterwards  to  regulate  his  conduct  according  to  this  ras^ 
declaration ;  the  shopkeepers  (thinking  themselves  safe)  suffered  cupidity 
to  direct  theirs,  and  the  regulations  were  entirely  disregarded.  The 
clergy  exerted  all  their  influence  to  suppress  the  growing  evil,  and  withheld 
absolution  from  those  who  refused  to  promise  obedience  to  the  regulations. 
The  Bishop  resorted  to  the  use  of  the  censures  of  the  church  against  the 
obstinate ;  this  created  much  ill  will  against  him  and  his  clergy,  and  he 
crossed  the  sea,  to  solicit  the  king's  strict  orders  for  the  suppression  of 
this  disorder. 

A  dreadful  earthquake  was  felt  in  Canada  on  the  fifth  of  February, 
1663.  The  first  shock  is  said  by  Charlevoix,  to  have  lasted  half  an  hour ; 
after  the  first  quarter  of  an  hour,  its  violence  gradually  abated.  At  eight 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  a  like  shock  was  felt ;  some  of  the  inhabitants  said 
they  had  counted  as  many  as  thirty-two  shocks  during  the  night.  In  the 
intervals  between  the  shocks,  the  surface  of  the  ground  undulated  as  the 
sea,  and  the  people  felt  in  their  houses,  the  sensations  which  are 
experienced  in  a  vessel  at  anchor.     On  the  sixth,  at  three  o'clock  in  the 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


ed 


ations. 
spired, 
lospital 
isteries," 
havoc. 
'  of  the 
greatest 
)netl  by 
lieve  it. 
rculatcd 
lied  the 
ists  had 
ividuals 
It  was 
nentahle 
was  not 
\  on  the 
;he  same 
3  cries  of 
nomenon 
us  times, 
dated  the 
ns  finally 
ixious  to 
ptance  of 

562. 

^al  chiefs. 
,  made  to 
,  who  was 
jlicitation 
to  solicit 
ving  that, 
ice  in  this 
)b8tinacv 
this  rash 
cupidity 
.ed.     The 
,  withheld 
(gulations. 
;ainst  the 
;y,  and  he 
tression  of 


morning,  another  most  violent  shock  was  felt.  It  is  related  that  at 
Tadoussac,  there  was  a  rain  of  ashes  for  six  hours.  During  tins  strange 
t'ommotion  of  nature,  the  bells  of  the  churches  were  kept  constantly 
ringing  by  the  motion  of  the  steeples ;  the  houses  were  so  terribly  shaken 
that  the  eaves  on  each  side,  alternately  touched  the  ground.  Several 
mountains  altered  their  positions ;  others  were  precipitated  into  the  river, 
and  lakes  were  afterwards  found  in  the  places  on  which  they  stood  before. 
The  commotion  was  felt  for  nine  hundred  miles  from  east  to  west,  and  five 
hundred  from  north  to  south. 

This  extraordinary  phenomenon  was  considered  as  the  effect  of  the 
vengeance  of  God,  irritated  at  the  obstinacy  of  those,  who,  neglecting  the 
admonitions  of  His  ministers,  and  contemning  the  censures  of  His  church, 
continued  to  sell  brandy  to  the  Indians.  The  reverend  writer,  who  has 
been  cited,  relates  it  was  said,  ignited  appearances  had  been  observed  in 
the  air  for  several  days  before ;  globes  of  hre  being  seen  over  the  cities  of 
Quebec  and  Montreal,  attended  with  a  noise  like  that  of  the  simultaneous 
discharge  of  several  pieces  of  heavy  artillery ;  that  the  superior  of  the 
nuns,  informed  her  confessor  some  time  before,  that  being  at  her  devotions 
she  believed  "  she  saw  the  Lord,  irritated  against  Canada,  and  she  invol- 
untarily demanded  justice  from  him  for  all  the  crimes  committed  in  the 
country ;  praying  the  souls  might  not  perish  with  the  bodies :  a  moment 
after  she  felt  conscious  the  divine  justice  was  going  to  strike;  the 
contempt  of  the  church  exciting  God's  wrath.  vShe  perceived  almost 
instantaneously  four  devils  at  the  corners  of  Quebec,  snaking  the  earth 
with  extreme  violence,  and  a  person  of  majestic  mien  alternately  slackening 
and  drawing  back  a  bridle,  by  which  he  held  them."  A  female  Indian, 
who  had  been  baptised  was  said  to  have  received  intelligence  of  the 
impending  chastisement  of  heaven.  The  reverend  writer  concludes  his 
narration  by  exultingly  observing, "  none  perished,  all  were  converted." 

The  bishop  was  favorably  heard  at  court,  and  returned  with  de  Mesy, 
who,  at  his  recommendation,  was  sent  to  relieve  the  Baron  d'Avaugour. 

The  company  of  New  France,  drawing  but  little  advantage  from  its 
charter,  had  surrendered  it;  and  Gaudais,  the  king's  commissioner  to 
take  possession  of  the  country,  arrived  with  the  governor  and  bishop. 
One  hundred  families  came  over  with  him.  A  number  of  civil  and 
military  officers,  and  some  troops  were  also  sent. 

After  having  executed  the  object  of  his  mission,  received  the  oaths  of 
fidelity  of  the  former  and  new  colonists,  and  made  several  ordinances  for 
the  regulation  of  the  police  and  administration  of  justice,  the  commissioner 
returned  to  France. 

The  governors  had  hitherto  claimed  cognizance  of  all  suits  which  the 
plaintiff  brouglit  before  them,  and  disposed  of  them,  in  a  summary  way, 
and  without  appeal.  They,  however,  seldom  proceeded  to  judgment 
without  having  previously  tried  in  vain  to  induce  the  parties  to  submit 
their  differences  to  the  arbitration  of  their  friends ;  and  the  final  decisions 
of  the  governors,  when  the  attempt  failed,  had  generally  given  satisfaction. 
We  have  seen,  however,  that  in  1640,  a  grand  seneschal  of  New  France 
and  inferior  judges  at  Quebec,  Montreal  and  Trois  Rivieres,  had  been 
appointed.  By  an  edict  of  the  king,  of  the  month  of  March,  1664,  a 
sovereign  council  was  created  in  New  France.  It  was  composed  of  the 
governor,  the  apostolic  vicar,  the  intendant,  and  four  counsellors,  (chosen 
among  the  most  notable  inhabitants,  by,  and  removeable  at  the  pleasure 


64 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


mi 


m 


illi 

:  it 


i'i 


of  these  three  officers)  an  attorney  general  and  a  clerk.  This  tribunal 
was  directed  to  take  the  ordinances  of  the  king,  and  the  custom  of  Paris, 
as  the  rules  of  its  decisions.  The  military  and  ecclesiastical  chief  had 
precedence  over  the  intendant  in  council,  though  the  latter  exercised  the 
functions  of  president.  A  majority  of  the  judges  was  a  quorum  in  civil, 
but  the  presence  of  five  of  them  was  required  in  criminal  cases. 

Inferior  tribunals  were  established  at  Quebec,  Montreal  and  Tto\h 
Rivieres. 

The  occupation,  by  the  Dutch  and  Swedes,  of  the  territory  between 
New  England  and  Maryland,  had  never  been  viewed  in  England  as  the 
exercise  of  a  legitimate  right,  but  rather  as  an  encroachment  on  that  of 
the  crown,  the  country  having  been  discovered  by  one  of  its  subjects, 
Henry  Hudson.  The  circumstance  of  his  being,  at  the  time,  in  the 
service  of  the  states  general,  was  not  deemed  to  affect  the  claim  of  his 
natural  sovereign.  Charles  the  second,  accordingly  made  a  grant  to  his 
brother,  the  Duke  of  York,  and  Lord  Berkeley,  of  all  the  territory  between 
New  England  and  the  river  Delaware,  and  a  force  was  sent  to  take 
possession  of  it  in  1664. 

Governor  Stuy vesant,  who  commanded  at  New  Amsterdam,  would  have 
resisted  the  English  forces,  but  the  inhabitants  were  unwilling  to  support 
him.  He  was  therefore  compelled  to  yield.  The  town  of  New  Amsterdam 
received  the  name  of  New  York,  which  was  also  given  to  the  province, 
and  fort  Orange  that  of  Albany. 

The  territory  between  the  Hudson  and  the  Delaware,  the  North  and 
South  river,  was  erected  into  a  distinct  province,  and  called  New  Jersey, 
In  New  France,  de  Mesy  did  not  live  on  better  terms  with  the  bishop  and 
clergy,  than  his  predecessor.  Great  discontents  prevailed  also  b'etween 
him  and  the  members  of  the  council.  They  rose  to  such  a  height  that  he 
ordered  Villere,  a  notable  inhabitant,  who  had  been  called  to  a  seat  in  the 
council,  and  Bourdon,  the  attorney  general,  to  be  arrested,  and,  after  a 
detention  of  a  few  days,  he  shipped  them  to  France.  The  stern  wisdom 
and  unshaken  integrity  of  the  prisoners  were  universally  acknowledged. 
Their  complaints  were  favorably  heard  at  court.  The  answer  of  the 
governor  to  thp  charges  exhibited  against  him,  appeared  unsatisfactory, 
and  de  Courcelles  was  sent  to  relieve  him. 

Louis  the  fourteenth  had,  in  the  preceding  year,  appointed  the 
Marquis  de  Tracy,  his  viceroy  and  lieutenant  general  in  America.  This 
officer  was  directed  to  visit  the  French  islands  in  the  West  Indies,  to 

Sroceed  to  Quebec  and  stay  as  long  as  might  be  necessary,  to  settle  the 
isturbed  government  of  the  colony,  and  provide  for  its  protection  against 
the  irruptions  of  the  Iroquois. 

In  June,  1665,  the  viceroy  landed  at  Quebec,  with  four  companies  of 
the  regiment  of  Carignan  Salieres.  He  dispatched  a  part  of  this  small 
force,  with  some  militia,  under  the  orders  of  captain  de  Repentigny,  who 
met  several  parties  of  the  Iroquois,  whom  he  reduced  to  order.  The  rest 
of  the  regiment  arrived  soon  after,  with  de  Salieres  its  colonel,  and  a 
considerable  number  of  new  settlers  and  tradesmen,  and  a  stock  of 
horses,  oxen  and  sheep.  The  horses  were  the  first  seen  in  Canada.  The 
addition  to  the  population  of  the  colony,  which  then  arrived,  much 
exceeded  its  former  numbers. 

The  viceroy  proceeded  with  a  part  of  the  troops  to  the  river  Richelieu, 
where  he  employed  them  in  erecting  three  forts.      The  first,  was  on  the 


ii 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


65 


•ibunal 
Paris, 
ief  had 
sed  the 
in  civil,     I 

1  Trois 

between 
L  as  the 
that  of 
mlyects, 
,  in  the 
n  of  his 
nt  to  his 
between 
to  take 

mid  have 
:)  support 
nsteraam 
province, 

^orth  and 
iW  Jersey, 
ishop  and 
)  b'etween 
it  that  he 
leat  in  the 
id,  after  a 
■n  wisdom 
lowledged. 
rer  of  the 
[tisfactory, 

linted   the 

lica.    This 

Indies,  to 

settle  the 

Ion  against 

Lpanies  of 
Ithis  small 

tigny,  who 
■  The  rest 
Uel,  and  a 
h,  stock  of 
[ida.     The 

ved,  much 

Richelieu, 
^as  on  the 


s])ot  on  which  had  stood  fort  Richelieu,  built  by  Montmagny  in  1638,  and 
which  was  gone  to  ruins.  The  new  one  was  built  by  an  officer  of  the 
iiiime  of  Sorel,  who  was  afterwards  left  in  command  there.  It  received  his 
name,  and  communicated  it  to  the  river.  The  second  fort  was  erected  at 
the  falls.  It  was  at  first  called  Fort  Louis ;  but  Chambly,  the  officer  who 
built  and  commanded  it,  haviiig  acquired  the  land  around,  it  took  his 
name.  The  third  was  nine  miles  higher  up,  and  was  called  St.  Theresa, 
from  the  circumstance  of  its  having  been  completed  on  the  day  on  which 
the  catholics  worship  that  saint.  These  fortifications  were  intended  as  a 
protection  against  the  Iroquois,  who  generally  came  down  that  river  to 
invade  the  colony.  They  were  greatly  emboltlened  by  the  expectation  of 
aid  from  the  English,  at  Albany.  The  new  forts  effectually  guarded 
against  their  approach  by  the  stream ;  but  the  Indians  soon  found  other 
parts  of  the  (country  affording  them  as  easy  a  passage.  They  became  so 
troublesome,  that  the  viceroy  and  governor  were,  for  a  considerable  time, 
compelled  to  keep  the  field  with  the  regular  forces,  and  as  many  of  the 
inhabitants  as  could  be  spared  from  the  labors  of  agriculture.  They  had 
several  encounters  with  large  parties  of  Indians,  whom  they  defeated. 
The  latter  found  it  of  no  avail  to  continue  their  irruptions,  while  the  colony 
was  thus  on  its  guard. 

The  tranquillity,  which  the  retreat  of  the  foe  and  the  vigilance  of  the 
chiefs  gave  to  the  colony,  was,  however,  soon  disturbed  by  events  over 
which  human  foresight  can  have  no  control.  Several  shocks  of  an  earth- 
quake, attended  with  the  appearance  of  the  meteors  that  had  accompanied 
that  of  1663,  now  excited  great  alarm.  A  deadly  epidemic  disease  added 
its  horrors  to  those  which  the  commotions  of  nature  had  produced. 

Charles  the  second,  unmindful  of  his  father's  charter  to  Sir  Robert 
Heath,  about  a  third  of  a  century  before,  had  in  1663  granted  to  Lord 
Clarendon  and  others,  the  territory  from  the  river  San  Matheo,  or  St.  John, 
in  Florida,  to  the  thirty-sixth  degree  of  northern  latitude.  There  was  as 
yet  but  an  insignificant  settlement  in  this  vast  extent  of  country.  It  was 
on  the  north  side  of  Albermarle  Sound,  and  had  been  formed  by  stragglers 
from  the  colony  of  Virginia,  who,  traveling  southerly,  had  stopped  at  a 
small  distance  beyond  its  southern  limit,  and  had  been  joined  by 
emigrants  chiefly  of  the  Quaker  profession,  driven  by  the  intolerant  spirit 
of  the  people  of  New  England.  The  new  proprietors  having  discovered 
valuable  tracts  of  land,  not  included  in  their  charter,  obtained  in  June, 
1065,  a  second  and  more  extensive  one.  It  covers  all  the  territory  from 
the  twenty-ninth  degree  to  Wynock,  in  30  degrees,  30  minutes  of  northern 
latitude.  They  effected,  shortly  after,  a  small  settlement  on  Cape  Fear 
liver,  which  was  afterwards  removed  farther  south,  and  became  the  nucleus 
of  the  state  of  South  Carolina,  as  that  on  Albermarle  Sound,  extending 
southerly  and  westerly,  became  that  of  North  Carolina. 

On  the  seventeenth  of  September,  1665,  Philip  the  fourth  of  Spain  died 
in  his  sixtieth  year,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  Charles  the  second. 

The  French  king  had,  in  1662,  transferred  to  the  West  India  Company 
all  the  privileges  which  that  of  New  France  had  enjoyed ;  the  former,  not 
l»eing  in  a  situation  to  avail  itself  immediately  of  the  royal  favor,  requested 
that  the  colonial  government  might  for  a  while  be  administered  by  the 
king's  officer.  In  the  spring  of  1667,  the  Marquis  de  Tracy,  according  to 
the  king's  order,  put  the  company  in  formal  possession  of  the  country, 
and  soon  after  sailed  for  France.      Neither  the  colony  nor  the  company 


!h 


s 


t:!i 


IrJJT'^ 


m 
"lis 


*f  f 


k  I 


pi 


I 


1  ifriir  ,     '-  : 


66 


HISTOKY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


appear  to  have  derived  any  great  advantage  from  this  arrangement ;  and 
in  the  following  year,  the  freedom  of  commerce  in  New  France  was 
prochiimed. 

Bv  the  treaty  of  Breda  in  1667,  Acadie  was  restored  to  the  French. 

The  ecclesiastical  government  of  New  France  had  been  hitherto  confided 
to  an  apostolic  vicar,  a  bishop  in  partibm  infidelium,  that  of  Petrea.  The 
pope  now  erected  the  city  of  Quebec,  into  a  bishop's  see,  and  St.  Vallier 
was  appointed  its  first  incumbent.  This  gentleman,  however,  did  not 
receive  the  canonical  institution  till  four  years  after. 

The  lords  of  manors  in  New  France  did  not  enjoy  any  ecclesiastical 
patronage ;  and  the  bishop  who,  receiving  all  the  tithes  collected  in 
the  diocese,  was  burdened  with  the  support  of  the  curates,  had  the 
uncontrolled  appointment  of  them. 

It  does  not  appear  that  with  the  exception  of  the  seminary  of  St. 
Sulpice,  any  lord  in  New  France,  ever  claimed  the  administration  of  iustice 
by  nis  own  judges.  This  corporation  was  in  the  exercise  of  this  right  as 
lords  of  the  island  of  Montreal;  but  they  surrendered  it  to  the  king 
in  1692. 

The  Chevalier  de  Grandfontaine  and  Sir  John  Temple,  plenipotentiaries 
of  the  French  and  British  crowns,  signed  in  Boston,  on  the  seventh  of 
July,  1670,  a  declaration  by  which  the  right  of  France  to  all  the  country 
from  the  river  of  Pentagoet,  to  the  island  of  Cape  Breton  (both  inclusive) 
was  recognized.     The  chevalier  was  appointed  governor  of  Acadie. 

Count  de  Frontenac  succeeded  Courcelles  in  the  government  of  New 
France,  in  the  following  year.  He  found  it  desolated  by  repeated 
irruptions  of  the  Iroquois,  who  came  down  along  the  eastern  shore  of  lake 
Ontario  and  descended  the  St.  Lawrence.  With  the  view  of  checking  their 
approach  this  way,  he  built  a  fort  at  Catarocoui  on  the  lake,  near  the  place 
where  its  waters  form  the  river. 

The  western  company  by  an  edict  of  February,  1670,  had  been 
authorized  to  send  to  the  islands,  small  coins  expressly  struck  for  cir- 
culation there  to  the  amount  of  one  hundred  thousand  livres,  (about 
$20,000)  and  the  edict  especially  provided  they  should  not  circulate 
elsewhere.  In  November,  1672,  however,  their  circulation  was  authorized 
in  the  king's  dominions  in  North  America,  and  their  value  was  increased 
one-third ;  pieces  of  fifteen  sous  being  raised  to  twenty,  and  others  in  the 
same  proportion.  At  the  same  time,  the  practice  that  had  prevailed  in  the 
islands  and  in  New  France,  of  substituting  the  contract  of  exchange  to 
that  of  sale  was  forbidden.  The  king  ordered  that  in  future,  all  accounts, 
notes,  bills,  purchases  and  payments  should  be  made  in  money,  and  not 
by  exchange  or  computation  of  sugar,  or  other  produce,  under  pain  of 
nullity.  Former  contracts,  notes,  bills,  obligations,  leases,  etc.,  in  which  a 
quantity  of  sugar,  or  other  produce,  was  stipulated  to  be  delivered,  were 
resolved  by  the  royal  power  into  obligations  ,to  pay  money.  This 
interference  in  the  concerns  of  individuals  created  confusion,  and  the 
great  demand  it  occasioned  for  coin,  increased  its  value  and  occasioned  a 
consequent  decrease  of  land  and  other  property,  which  had  a  most 
mischievous  effect. 

The  Canadians  had  learnt  from  the  Indians  that  there  was  a  large 
stream  to  the  west,  the  course  of  which  was  unknown ;  but  they  had 
ascertained  it  did  not  flow  northerly  nor  easterly ;  and  great  hopes  were 
entertained  that  it  might  afford  a  passage  to  China,  or  at  least  to  the  Gulf 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


67 


t;  and 

Lie  was 

•h. 

onfitied 

II.    The 

Vallier 

did   not 

siastical 
ected  in 
had  the 

ry  of  St. 
of  justice 
i  right  as 
the  king 

tentiaries 
seventh  of 
e  country 
inclusive) 

lie. 

nt  of  New 
repeated 
ore  of  lake 
'king  their 
r  the  place 

had  been 
ck  for  cir- 
:es,  (about 
it  circulate 
authorized 
3  increased 
ihers  in  the 
failed  in  the 
Ixchangeto 
[1  accounts, 
sy,  and  not 
ler  pain  of 
in  which  a 
Lvered,  were 
ley.     This 
n,  and  the 
[ccasioned  a 
tad  a  most 

vas  a  large 
lit  they  had 
,  hopes  were 
r  to  the  Gull ! 


of  Mexico.  Talon,  the  fireit  intendant  of  New  France,  was  about  returning 
home  and  determined  on  discovering  before  he  sailed  the  course  of  this 
great  river. 

He  engaged  for  this  purpose  father  Marquette,  a  recollet  monk,  who  had 
been  for  a  long  time  employed  in  distant  missions,  and  Joliet,  a  trader  of 
Quebec,  and  a  man  of  considerable  information  and  experience  in  Indian 
affairs.  The  two  adventurers  proceeded  to  the  bay  of  lake  Michigan  and 
entered  a  river,  called  by  the  Indians  Outagamis,  and  by  the  French  dr.<< 
rfiKirds.  Ascending  almost  to  its  source,  notwithstanding  its  falls,  they 
made  a  small  portage  to  the  Ouisconsing.  Descending  this  stream,  which 
flows  westerly,  they  got  into  that  they  were  in  quest  of  on  the  seventh  of 
.July,  1673.  History  has  not  recorded  any  account  of  its  having  been 
Hoated  on  by  any  white  man  since  Muscoso,  with  the  remainder  of  his 
army,  descended  it  from  Red  river  to  its  mouth,  about  one  hundred  and 
thirty  years  before. 

Committing  themselves  to  the  current,  the  holy  man  and  his  companion- 
soon  reached  a  village  of  the  Illinois,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Missouri. 
These  Indians  gladly  received  their  visitors.  Their  nation  was  in  alliance 
with  the  French,  anH  traders  from  Canada  came  frequently  among  them ; 
a  circumstance  which  had  rendered  them  obnoxious  to  the  Iroquois,  whom 
they  found  too  numerous  to  be  successfully  resisted,  without  the  aid  of  their 
white  friends.  The  guests  were  hospitably  entertained,  and  their  influence, 
with  the  governor  and  ecclesiastical  superior,  was  solicited,  that  some  aid 
might  be  afforded  them,  and  that  a  missionary  might  come  and  reside 
among  them. 

After  a  short  stay,  the  current,  which  now  began  to  be  strong,  brought 
the  travellers  in  a  few  days  to  a  village  of  the  Arkansas.  Believing  now 
they  had  fully  ascertained  that  the  course  of  the  river  was  towards  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico,  their  stock  of  provisions  being  nearly  exhausted,  they  deemed 
it  useless  and  unsafe  to  proceed  farther,  among  unknown  tribes,  on  whose 
disposition  prudence  forbade  to  rely.  They  therefore  hastened  back  to 
the  river  of  the  Illinois,  ascended  it  and  proceeded  to  Chicagou,  on  lake 
Michigan.  Here  they  parted ;  the  father  returning  to  his  mission,  among 
the  Indians  on  the  northern  shore  of  the  lake,  and  the  trader  going  down 
to  Quebec,  to  impart  to  their  employer  the  success  of  their  labors.  Count 
de  Frontenac  gave  to  the  river  they  had  explored  the  name  of  Colbert,  in 
compliment  to  the  then  minister  oi  the  marine. 

Joliet's  services  in  this  circumstance,  were  remunerated  by  a  grant  of 
the  large  island  of  Anticosti,  near  the  mouth  of  the  river  St.  Lawrence. 

This  important  discovery  filled  all  Canada  with  joy,  and  the  inhabitants 
of  the  capital  followed  the  constituted  authorities  of  the  colony  to  the 
cathedral  church,  where  the  bishop,  surrounded  by  his  clergy,  sung  a 
solemn  Te  Deum.  Little  did  they  suspect  that  the  event,  for  which  they 
were  rendering  thanks  to  heaven,  was  marked,  in  the  book  of  fate,  as  a 
principal  one  among  those,  which  were  to  lead  to  the  expulsion  of  the 
French  nation  from  North  America,  that  Providence  had  not  destined  the 
shores  of  the  mighty  stream  for  the  abode  of  the  vassals  of  any  European 
I  prince ;  but  had  decreed  that  it  should  be  for  a  while  the  boundary,  and 
for  ever  after  roll  its  waves  in  the  midst  of  those  free  and  prosperous 
communities  that  now  form  the  confederacy  of  the  United  States. 


m 


'ml 


i 


I 


ifi^' 


'^  I' 


hM 


CllAI'TKU    IV. 

TnK  pcoplo  of  Now  FiUliIiiMd  saw.  with  a  ji^alous  eve,  the  Fri'iich  in 
possoHsinn  of  A('a<lio.  On  the  tciitli  «>f  Au^ist,  1(>74,  Clianihlv,  wlio 
coimiiandcd  thcrr,  was  surprised  in  the  fort  of  I'mta^K't,  by  un  Knjjiisli 
advtMiturcr,  who  had  h>rk«'d  in  his  jjarrison  for  several  (hiys.  This  man 
ha<l  procured  the  aid  of  the  crew  of  a  Kh'inish  privatt'er,  ul)<»ut  one 
hundred  in  nuniher.  Tlu*  Kn>n(h  heinjj  hut  thirty  in  tlie  fort,  were  soon 
suh(hie(l.  The  vietor  nian-lied  afterwards  with  a  part  of  his  force  to  tlic 
fort  on  the  river  St.  John.  Manson,  who  coniiuanih'd  thi're,  was  found  still 
U'ss  prepared  for  (U'fence  tlian  his  cliief.  By  the  capture  of  these  two  forts, 
tlie  only  ones  which  the  French  had  in  Acadie,  the  whole  country  fell  into 
the  power  of  tht»  invach'rs.  Charh'S  the  second  disavowed  this  act  of 
hostdity,  conunitted  in  a  period  of  profound!  peac«'.  It  ha«l  boon  phinnetl, 
and  the  nutans  of  its  execution  had  heen  procured  in  H«>ston. 

The  ai»scnce  of  causes  of  extt>rnal  disturl)ance,  gave  rise  to  internal,  in 
Canada.  The  colonists  complained  that,  through  the  ill-timed  exertion 
of  the  inlluence  of  Count  de  Frontenac,  the  seats  in  the  superior  council, 
which  were  destinotl  for  notahle  inhahitunts,  were  ex(dusively  tilled  Ity 
men  entirely  (h»voted  to  him — that  more  suits  had  been  commenced  in 
the  last  six  months,  than  during  the  six  preceding  years.  An  act  of 
arbitrary  nower  ha<i  greatly  excited  the  clergy  against  him.  He  Inul 
imnrisonett  the  abl)c  de  Fenelon,  then  a  priest  of  the  sinninary  of  St. 
Sulpice  at  Montreal,  who  afterwards  became  Archbishop  of  C-ambray,  and 
aictiuired  great  reputation  in  the  literary  world,  as  the  author  of 
Telemachus,  on  the  alleged  charge  of  having  proaelied  against  him,  and 
»>f  having  been  oHiciously  in<lustrious  in  procuring  attestations  from  tlu' 
inhabitants,  in  favor  of  I'errot,  whom  the  count  had  put  un(U?r  arrest. 
They  also  complained  that  he  had,  of  his  own  authority,  exiled  two 
members  of  the  council,  and  openly  quarrelled  with  the  intendant. 

Much  ill  will  was  (>reated  l)etween  him  and  the  bishop,  elergv  and 
missionaries,  by  the  sale  of  spirituous  liquors  to  the  Indians,  whicfi  thov 
had  hitherto  successfully  opposed,  and  the  count  now  countenanood. 
Tlie  priests  complained  it  destroyed  the  wliole  fruits  of  their  labor  anion}.' 
the  converted  Inilians,  and  the  bishop  had  declared  the  breach  of  the 
law,  in  this  respect,  a  sin,  the  absolution  of  which  was  reserved  to  liiin 
alone,  in  his  diocese. 

These  dissensions  were  made  kn<nvn  to  the  king,  who,  with  tlie  view  of 
putting  a  stop  to  them,  directed  that  an  assembly  of  the  most  notahlo 
inhabitants  of  the  colony,  should  be  convened  aiul  express  its  o})ini()n  on 
the  propriety  of  disallowing  the  traffic,  and  that  tneir  determination 
should  be  laid  before  the  archbishop  of  Paris  and  father  de  la  Chaise,  nn 
eminent  Jesuit  confessor  of  the  king.  It  was  urged  in  France  that  n 
discontinuance  of  the  sale  would  deprive  the  colonial  government  of  tlio 
attachment  of  the  natives,  who  would  he  induced  to  carry  their  furs  and 
peltries  to  Albany  and  New  York.  The  two  high  dignitaries  of  the 
church,  to  whom  the  sovereign  had  committed  the  examination  of  thi^ 
question,  having  conferred  with  8t.  Vallier,  the  Bishop  of  Quebec,  (wlit) 
nad  been  induced  by  his  zeal  in  the  cause  of  humanity,  to  go  over  and 
solicit  the   King's  interference)   decided  that  the   sale  should    not  ln' 


IIISTOUY  OF   LOl'ISFANA. 


e» 


jill()W('<l.  This  rcoort  hccaino  the  baniH  «>f  an  onlinaiu'o,  the  strictoHt 
ol»s(>ivanco  of  wlii<'n  was  onjoined  on  thtMoiint,  and  the  prohite  nlcdned 
Iiims«'lf  to  conHnv  his  inttTfi-n-ncc  to  cases  of  the  most  Ha^rant  viohition 
<it'tlie  ordinance. 

Father  Marouette  liad  died;  and  the  great  j<)y  which  the  discovery  of 
tiie  Mississippi  had  excited,  ha<I  subsided.  Joliet  was,  iierhajjs,  too  n)U(;h 
engaged  hy  his  own  private  concerns  to  ]»n»seciite  the  phins  of  further 
(liscoveries,  and  the  utmost  apathy  on  this  subject  prevailed  in  tlie 
(olonial  }jov<irnment.  To  the  enterprise  of  a  then  obscure  individual, 
France  <»wed  h«^r  success  in  colonization  on  tlu;  Mississii>pi. 

Hubert  ('avelier  de  Lasalle,  a  native  of  Houen,  who  had  spent  several 
veins  in  the  order  of  the  Jesuits,  and  whou;  this  circiumstance  had  prevented 
from  receiving  any  i)art  of  the  succession  of  his  parents,  wlio  had  ended 
tlu'ir  lives,  while  he  was  thus  civilly  dead,  came  to  Canada,  in  search  of 
some  enterprise  that  might  give  him  wealth  or  fame.  Such  appeared  to 
have  been  the  prosecution  of  Marquette  and  Joliet's  disiioveries.  He  did 
not  doubt  that  the  mighty  stream  j)oured  its  waters  into  the  ( iulf  of  Mexico ; 
but  be  fostcHMl  the  idea,  that  by  ascending  it,  a  way  might  b(^  found  to 
mmw  other  river  running  westerly  and  affording  a  passage  to  Japan  and 
China. 

fh' communicated  his  views  to  count  de  Frontenac,  to  whom  lie  suggested 
the  propriety  of  enlarging  the  fort  at  Catarocoui,  in(!reasing  its  fonte,  and 
thus  by  holding  out  protection,  induce  settlers  to  improve  the  surrounding 
country,  which  would  afi'ord  a  strong  barrier  to  the  rest  of  the  colony  in 
case  the  Inxpiois  renewed  their  irruption.  He  presented,  as  a  farther 
advantage,  the  fiicility,  which  this  would  give  for  the  building  of  banjues 
for  the  extension  of  tra<le,  along  the  shores  of  the  lakes,  and  of  the  limits 
of  the  colonies  and  the  dominions  of  the  king  over  distant  tribes  of  Indians. 
The  count  entered  into  Lasalle's  views ;  but,  as  the  execiition  of  the 
proposed  plan  reipiired  considerable  disbursements,  which  he  did  not  choose 
to  order  without  the  minister's  directions,  he  ordered  the  projector  to  go 
over,  to  present  and  exphiin  his  plans. 

Lasalle,  on  his  arrival,  was  ft)rtunate  enough  to  ])rocure  an  introduction 
to,  and  gain  ihe  notice  of  the  Prince  de  Conti,  whose  patronage  secured  him 
tho  most  am]de  success  at  court.  The  king  granted  nim  letters  of  nobility, 
aiul  an  extensive  territory  around  the  fort  at  Catarocoui,  now  called  fort 
Frontenac,  on  condition  of  his  rebuilding  it  with  stone,  and  invested  him 
witli  ami)le  i)ower  for  prosecuting  the  projected  discoveries,  and  carrying 
on  the  trade  with  the  natives.  The  prince  desired  Lasalle  to  take  with 
liiin  the  chevalier  de  Tonti,  an  Italian  officer,  who  had  served  in  Sicily, 
whore  he  had  lost  a  hand.  He  had  substituted  to  it,  one  made  of  copper, 
(»f  which  habit  enabled  him  occasionally  to  make  a  powerful  use.  He  was 
the  sou  of  the  projector  of  a  plan  of  placing  money  at  interest  (not  unknown 
now  in  the  United  States)  called  a  tontine ;  in  which  the  principal,  paid  in 
hy  those  who  die,  is  lost  to  their  estates,  and  enures  to  the  benefit  of  the 
survivors. 

Daniel  Coxe  mentions,  in  his  description  of  the  English  province  of 
Oarolana,  that  this  year,  1678,  a  considerable  number  of  persons  went  from 
New  England,  on  a  journey  of  discovery,  and  proceeded  as  far  as  New 
Mexico,  four  hundred  and  fifty  miles  beyond  the  Mississippi,  and  on  their 
return  rendered  an  account  of  their  discoveries  to  the  government  of  Boston, 
lis  is  attested  among  many  others  by  Colonel  Dudley,  then  one  of  the 


1 


,1    ?H'  'yh 


l''& 


J!'*.|  ■  I, 


^,1 


mi:U 


!!v  im; 


,;:.!il-  ,•1: 


1;1p 


-iS. 


70 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


magistrates,  and  aftenvards  (Jovernor  of  New  England,  and  since  Deputy 
Governor  of  the  Isle  of  Wight,  under  Lord  Cutts. 

Lasalle,  accompanied  by  the  prince's  protege  and  thirty  colonists,  among 
whom  were  useful  mechanics,  landed  at  Quebec  on  the  15th  of  September, 
1678,  and  proceeded  without  tarrying,  to  the  entrance  of  lake  Ontario,  then 
called  Frontenac.  He  immediately  employed  his  men,  in  rebuilding  the 
fort,  and  put  a  barque  of  forty  tons  on  the  stocks.  The  exnedition  with 
which  the  fort  and  vessel  were  completed,  gave  to  the  colonial  government 
a  high  idea  of  his  activity.  He  was  a  man  of  genius,  enterprise  and 
perserverance,  firm  and  undaunted.  Power  rendered  him  harsh,  capricious 
and  haughty.  He  was  ambitious  of  fame ;  but  this  did  not  render  him 
inattentive  to  pecuniary  advantages. 

The  barque  being  launched,  Lasalle  thought  of  nothing  but  trade  and 
discoveries,  and  left  the  fort  on  the  18th  of  November.  After  a  tedious 
and  dangerous  passage,  he  reached  a  village  called  Onontarien,  where  ho 
purchased  provisions,  and  proceeded  to  one  of  the  Iroquois,  near  the  falls 
of  Niagara.  He  stayed  but  one  night  there  :  next  morning  he  went  nine 
miles  higher  up,  where  selecting  a  convenient  spot,  he  traced  the  lines  of 
a  fort,  and  set  his  men  to  work  :  but  observing  this  gave  umbrage  to  the 
Indians,  he  desisted ;  to  preserve  however  what  was  already  done,  ho 
surrounded  it  with  a  palisade. 

The  season  being  now  far  advanced  and  the  cold  very  severe,  he  deenieil 
it  best  to  place  his  men  in  winter  quarters,  and  sent  a  party  to  reconnoitre 
the  way  to  the  Illinois ;  leaving  the  rest  at  Niagara,  with  the  Chevalier  de 
Tonti,  he  returned  to  fort  Frontenac.  In  the  spring  he  came  back  with  a 
considerable  stock  of  merchandise,  provisions  and  ammunition  :  but  his 
vessel  was  wrecked  oir  approaching  the  shore ;  most  of  the  lading  was 
however  saved,  and  put  on  bor.rd  of  another  barque,  which  his  men  had 
constructed  during  tne  winter. 

He  now  dispatched  the  chevalier  with  a  few  men  to  explore  the  shores 
and  country  on  the  northeast  side  of  lake  Erie,  then  called  Conti.  The 
chevalier,  after  performing  this  service,  passed  to  lake  Huron,  and  landed 
on  the  northern  shore.  He  there  heard  of  the  party  who  had  gone 
towards  the  Illinois;  they  had  passed  higher  up.  After  viewing  the 
country  he  returned  to  Niagara.  Lasalle  had  sold  all  his  goods,  and  was 
gone  for  a  new  supply ;  on  his  return  he  brought,  besides  merchandise,  a 
large  stock  of  provisions  and  three  recollet  monks  to  minister  to  the 
s{)iritual  wants  of  his  people.  The  whole  party  now  crossed  lake  Erie 
without  accident,  but  were  detained  for  a  long  time  by  tempestuous 
weather  at  Michillimackinac.  Lasalle  took  a  view  of  the  isthmus,  traded 
with  the  Indians,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  a  fort.  The  chevalier 
proceeded  northeasterly,  in  search  of  some  men  who  had  deserted,  and  to 
obtain  a  better  knowledge  of  the  land  in  those  parts.  He  went  ashore 
near  a  strait  called  St.  Mary,  and  following  the  coast,  reached  a  river 
which  runs  from  ♦he  lake,  and  after  a  circuit  of  two  hundred  miles  falls 
into  the  St.  Lawrence.  After  a  ramble  of  eight  days  he  returned  to  his 
boat,  and  reaching  the  point  of  the  lake,  took  the  southern  pass,  and 
landed  near  a  plantation  of  the  Jesuits,  where  he  found  the  men  he  was 
in  quest  of,  and  prevailed  on  them  to  go  back  to  the  party. 

In  the  meanwnile,  Lasalle  had  in  the  latter  part  of  September,  crossed 
the  lakes  Huron  and  Michigan,  then  called  Tracy  and  Orleans,  and  landed 
in  the  bay  of  the  Puants  on  the  8th  of  October.    From  thence  he  had 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


71 


Ejputy 

monjj; 
mbt'v, 
(,  tht'ii 
rig  the 
II  with 
nment 
«e  urn  I 
ricious 
iv  him 

de  and 
tedious* 
here  ho 
he  fulls 
nt  nine 
linen  of 
i  to  the 
one,  he 

deemed 
[)nnoitre 
yalier  de 
k  with  a 
but  his 
ling  was 
men  had 

te  shores 
,i.     The 
„  landed 
lad  gone 
ing  the 
and  was 
landise,  a 
r  to  the 
ake  Erie 
[pestuoiis 
Is, traded 
[chevalier 
|d,  and  to 
t  ashore 
a  river 
iiles  falls 
[ed  to  his 
jass,  and 
xi  he  was 

,,  crossed 
[id  landed 
pe  he  had 


sent  back  the  bunjue  to  Niagara  loaded  with  furs  and  skins.  Equally 
attentive  to  the  improvement  of  his  fortune  by  commerce,  and  the 
acquisition  of  fame  by  prosecuting  his  discoveries  he  proceeded  in  canoes 
wiUi  seventeen  men  to  the  Little  Miami,  which  he  reached  on  the  first  of 
November.  He  there  carried  on  some  trade  with  the  natives  whom  he 
induced  to  ])ut  themselves  under  the  protection  of  his  sovereign,  and  with 
their  consent  took  formal  possession  of  their  country  for  the  crown  of 
France — erecting  a  fort  near  the  mouth  of  the  stream. 

The  chevalier  though  impatient  of  joining  his  leader  had  been  compelled 
by  contrary  weather  and  want  of  provisions  to  nut  ashore.  His  men  were 
fatigued  and  refused  to  proceed  till  they  hau  taken  some  rest.  They 
gathered  acorns  and  killed  deer.  The  chevalier,  taking  the  boat, 
committed  himself  to  the  waves,  promising  shortly  to  return  for  them ; 
after  being  tossed  during  six  days  by  a  tempest,  he  reached  the  fort 
basalle  was  building  on  the  Little  Miami. 

In  expressing  his  pleasure  at  the  return  of  the  chevalier  the  chief 
()l)serve(l  it  would  have  been  much  greater  if  he  had  seen  also  the  men, 
who  were  left  behind.  This  kind  of  reproof  induced  the  former,  as  soon 
as  he  had  rested  a  while,  to  return  for  these  men.  He  had  hardly  left  land 
when  a  storm  arose  and  cast  him  ashore;  dragging  his  boat  along  he 
reached  the  spot  from  whence  he  had  started.  Calm  being  restored  on 
the  lake,  the  whole  party  re-embarked  and  soon  joined  Lasalle  who  was 
much  pleased  at  this  addition  to  his  force,  viewing  it  as  essential  to  the 
completion  of  his  plan.  Little  did  he  think  these  men  would  prove  a 
source  of  vexation  and  distress  and  a  great  obstruction  to  his  views. 

He  had  been  successful  in  his  trade,  and  the  fort  he  had  just  completed 
enabled  him  to  keep  the  Indians  in  awe,  and  command  the  entrance  of  the 
lake ;  he  now  determined  on  prosecuting  his  journey  three  hundred  miles 
further  into  the  country  of  the  Illinois.  Leaving  ten  men  in  the  new 
fort  he  proceeded  up  the  river  with  the  rest,  and  after  a  passage  of  four 
days  reached  the  stream  that  now  bears  the  name  of  that  tribe,  and 
to  which  he  gave  that  of  Seignelay. 

Lasalle  had  now  forty  men  besides  the  three  friars  and  the  chevalier. 
Advancing  by  small  journeys  and  making  frequent  excursions  to  view  the 
country,  he  came  about  Christmas  to  a  village  of  nearly  five  hundred 
(■al)ins.  It  was  entirely  deserted  :  the  cabins  were  open  and  at  the  mercy 
of  the  traveller.  Each  was  divided  into  two  apartments  generally  and 
coarsely  built ;  the  outside  covered  with  mud  and  the  inside  with  mats. 
I'nder  each  was  a  cellar  full  of  corn ;  an  article  which  the  French  greatly 
needed,  and  of  which  they  did  not  neglect  the  opportunity  of  supplying 
themselves.  Pursuing  their  way  ninety  miles  further  they  came  to  a  lake 
al)out  twenty  miles  in  circumference  in  which  they  found  a  great  deal  of 
fish.  Crossing  it  they  found  themselves  again  in  the  current  of  the  river 
and  came  to  two  Indian  camps.  On  perceiving  the  party,  the  natives  sent 
their  women  and  children  into  the  woods,  and  ranged  themselves  in  battle 
array,  on  each  side  of  the  stream.  Lasalle  having  put  his  men  in  a 
posture  of  defence,  one  of  the  Indian  chiefs  advanced,  and  asked  who  they 
were  and  what  was  their  object  in  thus  coming  among  them.  Lasalle 
directed  his  interpreter  to  answer  the  party  were  French,  their  object  was 
to  make  the  God  of  heaven  known  to  the  natives,  and  ofier  them  the 
protection  of  the  king  of  France,  and  to  trade  with  them.  The  Illinois 
tendered  their  pipes  to  their  visitors  and  received  them  with    great 


72 


IirSTOHY  OF   LOUISIANA., 


'»'■  >■■ 


h  ■• 


!-  -fl 


■[  ■\ 


d:V 


im  ■ ..; 


;1.  V|. 


cordialitv.  The  Fri'nch  f?iivi'  thoin  liraiuly  un<l  hoiiic  toolH  of  huHlmiulry, 
in  return  for  the  proviwionH  tak(*n  in  their  viUage.  IMeaHed  at  thin  token 
of  ({ood  faith,  th(!  Indians  desired  Lasalle  to  tarry  and  allow  them  to 
entertain  him  and  his  men.  The  women  and  eliildren  came  forward,  and 
venison  and  dried  huilalo  meat  with  roots  and  fruit  were  presented,  and 
three  days  were  spent  in  eonvivial  mirth. 

With  the  view  of  impressinj^  his  hosts  with  awe,  Lasalle  made  his 
people  fire  two  volleys  of  musketrv.  The  wonder  exeited  hv  this 
une.xpe(;ted  thunder  had  the  <lesire((  eflect.  It  was  improved  f»y  the 
erection  of  a  fort  near  the  river.  Uneasy  at  his  heinj?  without  intelligence 
of  the  hanpie  he  had  sent  to  Niagara,  richly  laden  with  furs  and  i)eltric,«j, 
and  at  an  apnearance  of  discontent  which  forehoile  mutiny  among  his 
men,  he  gave  tne  fort  the  name  of  (Jreve  Cceur,  Heart  Break. 

Till  now  his  journey  hail  been  fortunate:  he  had  carried  his  discoveries 
to  the  distance  of  fifteen  hundred  miles.      Forts  had  been  erected   at 
reasonable  distances  to  mark  and  preserve  the  |)ossession  he  had  taken  ot' 
the  country.      The  Indian  natit)ns  had  all  wilhngly  or  otherwise  yielded 
to  his  views :  the  most  refractory  had  suft'ered  him  to  pass.     Hut  his  men 
appeared  now  tired  down,  from  the  length  of  a  journey,  the  issue  of  whicli 
appeared  uncertain,  and  displeased  to  spend  their  time  in  deserts  aniong 
wild  men ;  always  without  guides,  often  without  food.     They  broke  out  in 
murmurs  against  the  jmyector  and  leader  of  a  fatiguing  and  perilous 
ramble.     His  quick  penetration  did  not  allow  anything  to  escape  him. 
He  soon  discovered  their  diHe<)ntent  and  the  mischievous  designs  of  sonio 
of  them,  and  exerted  himself  to  avert  the  impending  storm.     Assurance 
of  good  treatment,  the  hope  of  glory,  and  the  successful  example  of  the 
Spaniards  were  laid  before  his  men  to  calm  their  minds.     Some  of  the 
discontented   who  had   gained   an   ascendency  over    part   of   the    rest, 
represented  to  them  how  idle  it  was  to  continue  the  slaves  of  the  caprice 
and   the  dupes  of  the   visions  and   imaginary  hopes  of  a  leader  wlio 
considered  the  distresses  they  had  borne,  as  binding  them  to  bear  others. 
They  asked  whether  they  could  expect  any  other  reward,  for  protracteil 
slavery,  than  misery  and  indigence,  and  what  could  be  exi)ected  at  the 
end  01  a  journey,  almost  to  the  confines  of  the  earth,   and   inaccessihie 
seas,  but  the  necessity  of  returning  poorer  and  more  miserable  than  when 
they  began  it.     They  advised,  in  order  to  avert  the  impending  calamity, 
to  return  while  they  had  sufficient  strength ;  to  part  from  a  man  wlio 
sought  his  own  and  their  ruin;  and  abandon  him  to  his  u.seless  ami 
painful  discoveries.    They  adverted  to  the  difficultv  of  a  return  while 
their  leader  by  his  intelligence  and  his  intrigues,  "had  insured,  at  tiu' 
expense  of   their  labors   and    fatigues,  the   means  of   overtaking  and 
punishing  them  as  deserters.     They  asked  whither  they  could  go,  without 
provisions  or  resources  of  any  kind.     The  idea  was  suggested  of  cuttinfj 
the  tree  by  the  root,  ending  their  misery  by  the  death  of  the  author  of  it, 
and  thus  availing  themselves  of  the  fruits  of  their  labors   and  fatigues. 
The  individuals  who  were  ready  to  give  their  assent  to  this  proposal,  were 
not  in  sufficient  number.     It  was,  however,  determined  to  endeavor  to 
induce  the  Indians  to  rise  against  Lasalle,  in  the  hope  of  reaping  the 
advantage  of  the  murder,  without  appearing  to  have  participated  in  it. 

The  heads  of  the  mutineers  approached  the  natives  with  apparent 
concern  and  confidence,  told  them  tnat,  grateful  for  their  hospitality,  they 
were  alarmed  at  the  danger  which  threatened  them ;  that  Lasalle  had 


HISTORY   OF  LOUISIANA. 


78 


onUTetl  into  strong  cnf^ageniunts  with  the  Iroquois,  their  greatest  enemies  : 
that  lie  had  advanced  into  tlieir  country  to  ascertain  then*  strength,  huilu 
it  tort  to  keep  them  in  suhjection.  and  his  meditated  return  to  Fort 
Krontenac  had  no  other  ohject  than  to  convey  to  t)ie  Iroquois  thu 
iiifurmation  he  had  gained,  and  invite  them  to  an  irruption,  while  liiu 
force  among  the  Illinois  was  ready  to  co-operate  with  them. 

Too  ready  an  ear  was  given  to  these  allegations;  Lusalle  discovered 
instantly  a  change  in  the  (!onduct  of  the  Indians,  hut  not  at  Hrst  its  cause. 
He  was  successful  in  his  endeavors  to  ohtain  a  disclosure  of  it.  Ho 
coiiuuunicrted  to  the  Indians  the  grounds  he  had  of  suspecting  the  perfidy 
of  some  of  his  men.  He  asked  how  impossihle  it  was  that  he  could 
connect  himself  with  the  Iroquois.  He  said  he  considered  that  nation  as 
a  perfidious  one,  and  there  could  he  neither  credit  nor  safety  in  an 
alliance  with  these  savages,  thirsting  for  human  hlood,  without  faitn,  law  or 
humanity,  and  instigated  only  by  tneir  brutality  and  interest.  He  added, 
lu"  had  declared  himself  the  friend  of  the  Illinois,  and  opened  his  views  to 
them  on  his  arrival  ainong  them. 

The  smallness  of  his  lorce  precluded  the  belief  of  an  intention  in  him 
to  subdue  anv  Indian  tribe,  and  the  in|;enuous  calmness  with  which  he 
Hpokc,  gained,  him  credit ;  so  that  the  nnprcssion  made  by  some  of  his 
men  on  the  Indians,  appeared  totally  effaced. 

This  success  was,  however,  of  small  duration.  An  Indian  of  the 
Mascoutans,  (a  neighboring  tribe)  called  Mansolia,  an  artful  fellow,  was 
engaged  by  the  Iroquois,  to  induce  the  Illinois  to  cut  off  the  French.  He 
loitered  tdl  night  came  on,  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  camp;  then 
entering  it,  stopping  at  different  fires,  and  having  made  presents  to,  and 
collected  the  big  men,  he  opened  the  subject  of  his  mission.  He  began  by 
observing  that  the  common  interest  of  all  the  Indian  tribes,  but  the 
particular  one  of  his  and  the  Illinois,  had  induced  his  countrymen  to 
dei)ute  him  to  the  latter,  to  consult  on  the  means  of  averting  an  impending 
calainity;  that  the  French  made  rapid  strides  in  their  attempt  to 
subjugate  every  nation  from  the  lakes  to  the  sea;  employing  not  only 
their  own  men,  but  the  Indians  themselves ;  that  their  alliance  with  the 
Iroquois  was  well  known,  and  the  fort  they  had  erected  among  the 
Illinois  was  only  a  prelude  to  further  encroachments,  as  soon  as  they  were 
joined  by  their  confederates ;  'and  if  they  were  suffered  to  remain  unmo- 
lested, it  would  soon  be  too  late  to  resist,  and  the  evil  prove  without  a 
remedy ;  but  while  they  were  so  small  in  number  and  that  of  the  Illinois 
was  80  superior,  they  might  be  easily  destroyed  and  the  blow  they 
meditated  warded  off. 

This  fellow's  suggestions^  deriving  strength  from  their  coincidence  with 
those  of  Lasalle's  men,  had  the  desired  effect.  The  suspicions  which 
Lasalle's  address  and  candor  had  allayed,  were  awakened,  and  the  head 
men  spent  the  night  in  deliberation. 

In  the  morning,  all  the  desultory  hopes  he  had  built  on  the  apparent 
return  of  confidence,  vanished  on  nis  noticing  the  cold  reserve  of  some  of 
the  chiefs,  and  the  unconcealed  distrust  and  indignation  of  others.  He 
vainly  sought  to  discover  the  immediate  cause  of  the  change.  He  knew 
not  whether  it  would  not  be  better  to  entrench  himself  in  the  fort. 
Alarmed  and  surprised,  but  unable  to  remain  in  suspense,  he  boldly 
advanced  into  the  midst  of  the  Indians,  collected  in  small  groups,  and 
speaking  their  language  sufficiently  to  )bfi  understood,  he  asked  whether 


'WsL:*^; 


'W 


''im 


n 


74 


III8T0KY  or   I.Oiri8IANA. 


;  '( 


fc.i  I 


N  if- 


\  '^h 


hu  would  uvor  liiivu  to  bugin  luid  uvcr  h(>i>  dKHdciH^e  and  diHtruHt  on  their 
broWH.  Hu  obHiTvud  ho  had  parted  with  tht>ni  tht>  pructulinx  cvu  in  \Hnn'v 
and  friundrthip,  und  ho  now  found  thoni  arniod  uixl  sonio  of  thoin  rondy  to 
fall  on  him :  ho  wuh  nuked  und  unurmcd  in  thr  niidnt  of  them,  their 
rea<ly  und  willing  victim,  if  ho  irould  bo  convicted  of  any  machinntinn 
aguiuHt  them. 

Moved  at  hiH  o\Hin  and  undaunted  demeanor,  the  Indiann  pointed  to  the 
deputy  of  the  MaMcoutunH,  Hont  to  unpriHe  them  of  hiH  Hcheme  and  connection 
with  their  enemies.  KuHhing  bohily  townrdn  him,  LuHulle,  in  an  impcriouH 
tone,  domnnded  what  token,  what  proof  exiHted  of  this  alleged  connection. 
ManHolia,  thuH  proHHed,  replied,  that  in  circuniHtanceH,  in  which  the  Hufcty 
of  a  nation  wuh  concerned,  full  evidence  was  not  always  required  to  convict 
suHpiciouM  churucters ;  the  smalleHt  upt>earanceH  often  Hufliiced  to  justify 
precautions ;  and  as  the  address  of  the  turbulent  and  seditious  consisted 
in  the  di8sinmlati<m  of  their  schemes,  that  of  the  chiefs  of  a  nation  did  in 
the  prevention  of  their  success ;  in  the  present  circumstances,  his  paHt 
negotiations  with  the  Iroquois,  his  intended  return  to  Fort  Frontenuc,  and 
the  fort  ho  had  just  built,  wore  sufficient  presumptions  to  induce  the  Illinoin 
to  apprehend  danger,  and  take  the  steps  noiH;ssary  to  prevent  their  fall  into 
the  snare  he  seemed  to  prepare. 

Lasallo  replied,  it  behooved  the  Illinois  to  prepare  means  of  defence ;  l)Ut 
not  against  the  French,  who  had  come  among  them  to  protect  and  unite 
them  m  an  alliance  with  the  other  tribes,  under  the  patrona^^o  of  the  king 
of  France ;  that  the  Iroquois  had  already  subiugated  the  Miamis,  Quichupoos 
and  the  Mascoutans,  they  now  sought  to  acid  the  Illinois  to  these  nations ; 
but  they  durst  not  make  the  attempt  while  they  were  connected  with  the 
French,  and  with  the  view  of  depriving  them  of  the  advantage,  they 
derived  from  their  union,  they  had  made  use  of  an  individual  of  a  conijuereu 
tribe  as  an  emissary,  greatly  ai)prehending  little  credit  would  be  given  to 
one  of  their  own ;  that  all  the  intercourse  he  had  with  the  Iroquois,  was 
the  purchase  of  a  few  skins ;  that  he  had  built  Fort  Frontenac  and  another 
on  the  Miami  to  arrest  their  progress  (a  circumstance  that  excited  their 
jealousy)  and  Fort  Crevecoeur  was  erected  to  protect  the  Illinois,  and 
such  of  his  men  as  remained  with  them. 

His  uniform  candor,  since  he  came  among  the  Illinois,  gained  him 
credit  with  them ;  and  Mansolia  at  last  confessed  the  Iroquois  had  caused 
the  rumor  of  his  connection  with  them  to  be  spread,  in  order  to  excite 
distrust  against  him  among  the  Illinois. 

A  good  understanding  being  now  restored,  Lasalle  finding  himself  on  a 
stream  that  led  to  the  Mississippi,  divided  his  men  into  two  parties ;  one 
of  which  was  to  ascend  the  great  river,  reconnoitre  the  country  near  its 
shores,  visit  the  tribes  below,  as  far  as  the  sea,  and  enter  into  alliances 
with  them.    The  other  party  was  to  remain  in  the  fort. 

Some  of  his  men,  seeing  him  making  preparations  for  his  departure,  and 
finding  it  impossible  to  counteract  his  views,  determined  on  destroying 
him.  Accordingly,  on  Christmas  day,  they  threw  poison  into  the  kettle, 
in  which  his  dinner  was  preparing,  expecting,  that  if  they  could  get  rid  of 
him  and  his  principal  officers,  they  could  obtain  all  the  goods  and  other 
property  in  the  fort.  The  scheme  was  very  near  being  successful.  A  few 
minutes  after  the  officers  rose  from  the  table,  they  were  attacked  with 
convulsions  and  cold  sweats.  Suspecting  what  had  happened,  they  took 
theriack  instantly,  and  this  attention  prevented  the  consequences  of  the 


HISTORY  or   I,OUI«IANA. 


tht'ir 

idy  t<i 

tht'ir 

intion 

to  tho 
loction 
)crioUH 
ection. 
Hufrty 
ronvict 
justify 
nniHt«id 
t  (lid  in 

liH    pilHt 

lao,  and 
Illinois 
Fall  into 

ice ;  but 

id  unite 

tho  king 

ichapoos 

nations ; 

with  the 

ge,  they 

»n<iuereQ 

given  to 

ois,  was 

another 

,ed  their 

tois,  and 

ed  him 

caused 

to  excite 

iself  on  a 

ties ;  one 

near  its 

lalliances 

lure,  and 
Istroying 
le  kettle, 
let  rid  of 
Ind  other 

.  A  few 
Jced  with 
Ihey  took 

BS  of  the 


to 
ania 


dire  attempt.  Thenu  wrett-hei*,  iKirceiving  their  conduct  could  n«)t  pawH 
unnoticed,  Hed  into  tho  woodn,  anu  t^Mcam^d  the  purnuit  of  tlicir  connnander. 
Dacan  watt  nelected  for  the  coniniaiui  of  the  party,  which  waH  intended 
for  the  exucditioii  to  the  MiHniHHippi.  Father  Louitt  Hennepin,  attended 
it  aH  chaplain;  it  U  :  Fort  Crevecumr  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  February, 
K^HO.  ifeHcending  the  river  of  the  IllinoiH  to  the  MiHniHnippi.  Dacan 
amended  the  latt«r  Htream  U/  he  forty-Hixth  degree  of  northern  latitude, 
where  hit)  progrcHH  wan  »ttop|H>d  i>^  a  fall,  to  whicn  he  gave  the  name  of  8t. 
Anthony,  whicli  jt  still  r»'lrtinH.  There  tho  party  waH  attactked  and 
defeatecl  by  a  body  nf  the  Sioux,  and  led  into  captivity.  They  did  not 
experience  nuich  ill  tr^  wtnient,  and  wefc  ut  last  enable<l  to  en'ect  their 
oHcape,  by  the  aid  of  homk  French  traders  from  ('anada.  On  regaining 
their  lilicrty,  they  Hoatcd  <lown  the  river  to  the  sea,  according  to  sonio 
accounts,  and  according  to  others  to  the  river  of  Arkansas,  and  returned 
to  Fort  Crevecoiur. 

The  year  1080  is  remarkable  for  the  grant  of  Charles  the  second, 
William  Penn  of  the  territory  that  now  constitutes  the  states  of  Pennsylva 
unci  Delaware.  The  grantee,  who  was  one  of  the  peonle  called  (Quakers, 
imitating  the  exantplu  of  (iulielrn  Usseling  and  Roger  Williams,  disowned 
a  riglit  to  any  part  of  tho  country  included  within  his  charter,  till  the 
natives  voluntarily  yielded  it  on  receiving  a  fair  consideration.  There 
exists  not  any  other  example  of  so  liberal  a  conduct  towards  the  Indians 
of  North  America,  on  tho  erection  of  a  new  colony.  The  date  of  Penn's 
charter  is  the  twentieth  of  February. 

Lasalle  had  remained  in  Fort  Crevec(Eur  after  the  departure  of  his  men 
under  Dacan,  until  the  fall,  and  having  ^iven  the  command  of  its  small 
pirrison  to  the  Chevalier  do  Tonti,  left  it  for  Fort  Frontcnac  early  in 
November.  On  the  third  day  of  his  march  he  reached  the  first  village  of 
the  Illinois.  Noticing  a  beautiful  situation  in  the  neighborhood  of  several 
tribes,  the  Miamis,  Outagemis,  the  Kickapoos,  the  Ainous  and  Mas- 
ooutans,  he  determined  on  building  a  fort  on  an  eminence  which 
commanded  the  country,  as  a  means  of  keeping  the  Indians  in  awe,  and  a 
stopping  place  or  retreat  for  his  countrymen.  While  he  was  there,  two 
men  whom  he  had  sent  in  the  fall  to  Michillimachinac,  in  order  to 
procure  intelligence  of  a  barque  which  he  had  ordered  to  be  built  there, 
)oined  hini.  The v  reported  that  they  hrd  not  been  able  to  obtain  any 
information.  In  fact,  they  had  set  fire  to  her,  after  having  sold  her  lading 
to  the  Iro(|uoi8 ;  a  circumstance  which  Lasalle  strongly  suspected.  He 
sent  them  to  the  chevalier  with  a  plan  of  the  intended  fort,  and  directions 
to  come  and  execute  it.  He  now  procetcied  on  his  way  towards  Fort 
Frontenac. 

The  chevalier  liad  hardly  arrived  and  began  the  fort  before  the  officer 
he  had  left  at  the  head  of  tne  garrison  of  Fort  Crevecoeur,  sent  to  apprise 
him  that  the  two  men,  lately  come  from  Michillimachinac,  having  found 
associates  among  the  soldiers  and  pillaged  the  fort  and  fled  into  the 
woods ;  leaving  only  seven  or  eight  men  who  had  refused  to  join  them, 
This  induced  the  chevalier  to  return.  He  found  Fort  Crevecoeur  entirely 
destitute,  and  took  measures  to  conceal  this  misfortune  from  the  Indians 
and  to  make  it  known  to  Lasalle. 

A  large  party  of  the  Iroquois  fell  on  the  Illinois,  a  circumstance  which 
induced  some  of  the  latter  to  apprehend  that  there  might  be  some  truth 
in  the  report  of  an  alliance  between  their  enemy  and  the  French.    The 


'^  fillip,-' 


•; 


1' 


'A 


I 


■I'-; 


ifi 


!      1 


(Hit 


it:.!; 


n 


m¥ 


^■i 


76 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


chevalier  having  no  force  to  assist  the  Illinois,  successfully  afforded  them 
his  good  offices  as  a  mediator  with  the  aids  of  fathers  Gabriel  and 
Zenobe,  who  had  remained  with  him.  It  was  believed  in  Canada  that  the 
Iroquois  had  been  excited  by  the  English  at  Albany  and  the  enemies  of 
Lasalle. 

Charles  the  second  having  disowned  the  invasion  of  Acadie  in  1674,  and 
it  having  been  accordingly  restored  to  the  French  with  the  Fort  of 
Pentagoet,  and  that  of  the  river  St.  John,  a  small  settlement  had  been 
formed  at  Port  Royal.  The  English  had  built  a  fort  between  the  rivers 
Kennebeck  and  Pentagoet,  which  they  had  called  Penkuit.  The 
Abenaquis  claimed  the  country  on  which  it  stood  and  complained  of  its 
erection.  The  English  induced  the  Iroquois  to  fall  on  these  Indians,  who 
being  unable  at  once  to  withstand  these  white  and  red  enemies  reconciled 
themselves  to  the  former.  The  English  being  so  far  successful  invaded 
Acadie  and  took  the  forts  at  Pentagoet  and  the  river  St.  John.  Valliere, 
who  commanded  at  Port  Royal,  could  not  prevent  the  inhabitants  from 
surrendering  that  place.  Thus  were  the  French  once  more  driven  from 
the  country. 

Lasalle,  in  the  meanwhile,  arrived  at  Fort  Crevecoeur  and  placed  a 
garrison  of  fifteen  men  there,  under  a  trusty  officer,  and  proceeded  up  with 
workmen  to  finish  the  other  which  he  called  Fort  St.  Louis.  Leaving  the 
workmen  in  it,  he  hastened  to  meet  the  chevalier  at  Michillimachinac, 
which  he  reached  on  the  fifteenth  of  August.  After  having  refreshed 
himself  and  his  men  for  a  few  days,  he  set  off  with  the  chevalier  and 
father  Zenobe  for  Fort  Frontenac.  After  a  day's  sail  he  reached  a  village 
of  the  Iroquoife  where  he  traded  for  peltries,  and  leaving  his  two 
companions  there  he  proceeded  to  the  fort  from  whence  he  sent  a  barque 
loaded  with  merchandise,  provisions  and  ammunition  and  a  number  of 
recruits.  The  chevalier  and  the  father  went  in  her  to  the  neighborhood  of 
the  falls  of  Niagara,  where  taking  her  lading  over  land  to  lake  Erie,  after 
a  short  navigation  they  landed  on  the  shores  of  the  Miami.  Here  the 
chevalier  exchanged  some  goods  for  corn,  and  the  party  increased  their 
provision  of  meat  by  the  chase ;  and  were  joined  by  a  few  Frenchmen, 
and  a  number  of  Indians  of  the  Abenaquis,  Loop  and  Quickapoos. 

They  here  tarried  till  the  latter  part  of  November,  when  Lassalle  having 
joined  them,  they  ascended  the  river  to  the  mouth  of  the  Chicagou,  and 
went  up  to  a  portage  of  a  mile  that  led  them  to  the  river  of  the  Illinois. 
They  spent  the  night  near  a  large  fire,  the  cold  being  extremely  intense. 
In  the  morning,  the  water  courses  being  all  frozen,  they  proceeded  to  an 
Indian  village  in  which  they  staid  for  several  days.  After  visiting  Fort 
St.  Louis  and  Fort  Crevecoeur,  the  weather  softening,  they  floated  down 
the  river  of  the  Illinois  to  the  Mississippi,  which  they  entered  on  the 
second  of  February. 

The  party  stopped  a  while  at  the  mouth  of  the  Missouri,  and  on  the 
following  day  reached  a  village  of  the  Tamoas,  the  inhabitants  of  which 
had  left  their  houses  to  spend  the  winter  in  the  woods.  They  made  a 
short  stay  at  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio,  floating  down  to  the  Chickasaw 
bluffs,  one  of  the  party  going  into  the  woods,  lost  his  way.  This  obliged 
Lasalle  to  stop.  He  visited  the  Indians  in  the  neighborhood,  and  built  a 
fort  as  a  resting  place  for  his  countrymen  navigating  the  river.  At  the 
solicitation  of  the  Chickasaw  chiefs,  he  went  to  their  principal  village. 
attended  by  several  of  his  men.     They  were  entertained  with  much 


i'ff 


I  them 
;l  and 
lat  the 

aies  of 

74,  and 
'ort  of 
id  been 
s  rivers 
The 
1  of  its 
ns,  who 
jonciled 
invaded 
V'alliere, 
its  from 
en  from 

placed  a 

I  up  with 

iving  the 

lachinac, 

refreshed 

alier  and 

[  a  village 

his   two 

a  barque 

umber  of 

orhood  of 
Jrie,  after 
Here  the 
ised  their 
^enchmen, 

j)08. 

[lie  having 
lagou, and 
Illinois, 
intense, 
^ded  to  an 
[ting  Fort 
Ited  down 
led  on  the 

lind  on  the 
of  which 

ley  made  a 
:;hickasa\v 
his  obliged 
Ind  built  a 
.  At  the 
pal  village. 
kth  much 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


77 


cordiality,  and  the  Indians  approved  of  his  leaving  a  garrison  in  the  fort 
he  was  building.  The  Chickasaws  were  a  numerous  nation,  able  to  brine 
two  thousand  men  into  the  field.  Presents  were  reciprocally  made,  and 
the  French  and  Indians  parted  in  great  friendship.  Lasalle,  on  reaching 
his  fort,  was  much  gratified  to  find  the  man  who  was  missing.  He  left 
him  to  finish  the  fort,  and  to  command  its  small  garrison.  His  name  was 
Prudhomme ;  it  was  given  to  the  fort— and  the  bluff,  on  which  the  white 
banner  was  then  raised,  to  this  day  is  called  by  the  French  ecor  a 
Prudhomme.  This  is  the  first  act  of  formal  possession  taken  by  the 
French  nation  of  any  part  of  the  shores  of  the  Mississippi.  The  spot  was, 
how'ever,  included  within  the  limits  of  the  territory  granted  by  Charles  the 
first  to  Sir  Robert  Heath,  and  by  Charles  the  second  to  Lord  Clarendon 
and  his  associates. 

Lasalle  continued  his  route  in  the  latter  part  of  February,  and  did  not 
laud  during  the  three  first  days.  On  the  fourth  he  reached  a  village  of 
the  Cappas.  As  he  advanced  towards  the  landing,  he  heard  the  beating 
of  drums.  This  induced  him  to  seek  the  opposite  shore,  and  to  throw  up 
a  small  work  of  defence ;  soon  after  a  few  Indians  came  across ;  Lasalle 
sent  one  of  his  men  to  meet  them  with  a  calumet,  which  was  readily 
accepted.  They  offered  to  conduct  the  party  to  their  village,  promising 
them  safety  and  a  good  supply  of  provisions.  The  invitation  wa« 
accepted,  and  two  Indians  went  forward  to  announce  the  approach  of  the 
French.  A  number  of  the  chiefs  came  to  the  shore  to  meet  the  guests, 
and  lead  them  to  the  village ;  where  they  were  lodged  in  a  large  cabin, 
and  supplied  with  bear  skins  to  lie  on.  The  object  of  Lasalle's  expedition 
being  mquired  into,  he  told  his  hosts  he  and  his  men  were  subjects  of 
the  king  of  France,  who  had  sent  them  to  reconnoitre  the  country,  and 
offer  to  the  Indians  his  friendship,  alliance  and  protection.  Corn  and 
smoked  buffalo  meat  were  brought  in,  and  the  French  made  presents  of 
suitable  goods.  When  Lasalle  took  leave,  two  young  men  were  given  him 
as  guides  to  the  Arkansas. 

This  tribe  dwelt  about  twenty-five  miles  lower.  They  had  three  villages ; 
the  second  was  at  the  distance  of  twenty-five  miles  from  the  first.  They 
gave  the  French  a  friendly  reception.  In  the  last  village  many  Indians 
i^eing  assembled,  Lasalle,  with  their  assent,  took  possession  of  the  country 
for  his  sovereign,  fixing  the  arms  of  France  on  a  lofty  tree,  and  causing 
them  to  be  saluted  by  a  discharge  of  musketry.  The  awe  which  this 
unexpected  explosion  excited,  increased  the  respect  of  the  natives  for 
their  visitors,  Avhom  they  earnestly  pressed  to  tarry. 

On  the  day  after  their  departure,  the  French  saw,  for  the  first  time, 
alligators,  some  of  which  were  of  an  enormous  size. 

The  next  nation  towards  the  sea  was  the  Taensas,  who  dwelt  at  the 
distance  of  about  one  hundred  and  eighty  miles  from  the  Arkansas.  On 
approaching  their  first  village,  Lasalle  dispatched  the  Chevalier  de  Tonti 
towards  it.  It  stood  on  a  lake,  at  some  distance  from  the  river.  The 
chief  received  the  chevalier  kindly,  and  came  with  him  to  meet  Lasalle. 
The  healths  of  the  king  of  France  and  of  the  chief  of  the  Taensas  were 
drank  in  this  interview,  under  a  volley  of  musketry.  A  supply  of 
provisions  was  obtained ;  some  presents  were  made  to  the  natives,  and 
the  French  departed  and  floated  down  the  river. 

On  the  second  day,  a  pirogue  approached  from  the  shore,  apparently  to 
reconnoitre  the  party.     The  chevalier  was  sent  to  chase  her,  and  as  he 


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If. J- 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 

came  near,  about  one  hundred  Indians  appeared  on  the  shore  with  bent 
bows.  Lasalle,  on  seeing  them,  recalled  the  chevalier ;  and  the  French 
went  and  camped  on  the  opposite  shore,  presenting  their  muskets.  The 
Indians  now  laid  their  bows  on  the  ground,  and  the  chevalier  went  over 
with  a  calumet.  Lasalle  seeing  it  accepted,  came  over,  and  was  led  by  the 
Indians  to  their  village.  The  chief  expressed  much  joy  at  the  sight  of 
the  French,  and  detained  them  a  few  aays.  At  their  departure,  he  made 
his  people  carry  dried  fruit,  corn  and  venison  to  their  boats.  LasuUe  gave 
him  a  sword,  an  axe,  a  kettle  and  a  few  knives.  After  firing  a  salute,  the 
French  proceeded  to  a  village  of  the  Coroas,  twenty-five  miles  further. 

On  the  twenty-seventh  of  March,  they  encamped  at  the  mouth  of  Red 
River. 

Further  down,  they  fell  in  with  a  party  of  the  Quinipissas  who  were 
fishing,  and  who  on  perceiving  them  went  ashore,  where  a  drum  was 
beaten  and  a  number  of  men  made  their  appearance  armed  with  bows. 
Lasalle  directed  some  of  his  men  to  advance,  but  they  were  briskly 
repulsed.  Four  Indians,  whom  he  had  taken  as  guides  at  the  last  village, 
advanced  with  as  little  success,  and  no  further  attempt  to  land  was  made. 

Two  days  after,  the  French  came  to  a  village  of  the  Tangipaos.  It  was 
entirely  deserted  and  despoiled  of  everything.  Several  dead  bodies  lay  in 
heai)s.     The  scene  was  too  disgusting  to  allow  the  party  to  stop. 

After  descending  the  river  several  days,  Lasalle  took  notice  that  the 
water  of  the  Mississippi  became  brackish,  and  shortly  after  the  sea  was 
discovered.     This  was  on  the  seventh  of  April. 

Lasalle  sailed  along  the  coast  for  awhile,  and  returning  to  the  mouth  of 
the  river,  caused  a  Tc  Dcum  to  be  sung.  The  boats  were  hauled  aground, 
recaulked,  and  a  few  temporary  huts  erected.  A  cross  was  placed  on  a 
high  tree,  with  the  escutcheon  of  France,  in  token  of  the  solemn  possession 
taken  for  the  king.  Lasalle  called  the  river  St.  Louis  and  the  country 
Louisiana. 

Parties  of  the  Tangipaos  and  Quinipissas  came  on  the  next  day  to  hunt 
buffaloes,  which  were  in  abundance  in  the  neighboring  cane  brakes.  The 
Indians  were  successful  in  their  chase,  and  presented  the  French  with 
three  of  these  animals. 

After  resting  a  few  days,  the  party  set  off.  It  now  consisted  of  sixty 
persons,  white  and  red.  They  were  soon  tired  of  stemming  the  current  which 
was  now  very  strong,  and  nroceeded  along  the  shore  to  the  Quinipissas, 
As  these  Indians  had  manifested  no  hospitable  disposition,  Lasalle  deemed 
it  prudent  to  take  some  precautions.  Accordingly,  four  Indians  were  sent 
forward ;  they  returned  in  the  evening  with  as  many  Quinipissas  women, 
who  were  sent  back  in  the  morning  with  presents,  and  desired  to  inform 
their  countrymen,  the  French  requested  nothing  but  a  supply  of  provisions 
arid  their  friendship ;  and  were  willing  liberally  to  pay  for  what  they  might 
obtain.  A  few  hours  after,  four  chiefs  came  with  provisions,  and  requested 
Lasalle  to  stop  with  his  men  in  their  village.  On  their  arrival  there,  water 
fowls  nnd  fruit  were  given  them,  and  at  might  they  encamped  between  the 
village  and  the  river.  In  the  morning,  their  treacherous  hosts  attacked 
them,  but  they  did  not  find  them  asleep.  Lasalle  had  constantly  a  sentry, 
and  warmly  repelled  the  assailants.  Five  of  them  were  killed,  and  the  rest 
fled.  After  this  blow,  Lasalle  preceeded  on  without  stopping,  till  he 
reached  the  Natchez,  who  were  much  pleased  at  seeing  the  scalps  of  the 
Quinipissas  in  the  hands  of  the  Indians  accompanying  him. 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


79 


The  French,  being  invited  to  an  entertainment,  noticed  with  surprise 
that  not  a  woman  of  their  hosts  was  among  them.  A  moment  after,  a 
number  of  armed  men  appeared.  Lasalle  immediately  arose  and  ordered 
his  men  to  take  their  arms.  The  head  man  requested  him  not  to  be  alarmed, 
and  directed  the  armed  ones  of  his  nation  to  halt ;  informing  his  guests 
they  were  a  party,  who  had  been  skirmishing  with  the  Iroquois,  and 
assured  them  that  no  individual  of  his  nation  harbored  any  other  sentiment 
towards  the  French,  but  that  of  esteem  and  friendship.  Notwithstanding 
this  assurance,  the  French  set  off  in  the  belief  that  Lasalle's  quick  motion 
had  averted  a  blow. 

The  Taensas  and  Arkansas  received  the  party,  with  as  much  cordiality 
as  when  they  went  down.  The  French  left  the  latter  tribe  on  the  twelfth 
of  May,  and  stopixjd  at  Fort  Prudhomme.  Lasalle  found  himself  too  unwell 
to  proceed :  he  therefore  sent  the  Chevalier  de  Touii  forward,  with  twenty 
men,  French  and  Indians.  His  indisposition  detained  him  among  the 
Chickasaws  for  nearly  two  months,  and  he  joined  the  chevalier  at  Michill- 
imachinac,  in  the  latter  part  of  September.  They  spent  a  few  days 
together  there,  and  the  latter  went  to  take  the  command  of  Fort  St.  Louis 
of  the  Illinois,  and  the  former  continued  his  route  to  Quebec. 

The  Count  de  Frontenac  had  sailed  for  France  some  time  before  Lasalle's 
arrival.  The  relation  the  latter  gave  of  his  expedition,  excited  great  joy 
in  Canada.  He  was  impatient  to  announce  his  success  to  his  sovereign, 
and  took  shipping  for  France  in  October. 


CHAPTER   V. 

Le  Fevre  de  la  Barre,  the  successor  of  Count  de  Frontenac  in  the 
government  of  New  France,  and  de  Meules,  the  new  intendant,  landed  at 
Quebec  in  the  spring  of  1683. 

Lasalle  was  received  at  court  with  all  the  attention  due  to  a  man  who 
had  planned  and  carried  into  execution  an  enterprise  so  useful  to  the 
nation ;  and  the  Marquis  de  Seignelay,  who  had  succeeded  Colbert,  his 
father,  in  the  ministry  of  the  Marine,  gave  directions  some  time  after  for 
the  preparation  of  an  expedition,  at  la  Rochelle,  in  order  to  enable  Lasalle 
to  plant  a  French  colony  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi. 

The  vessels  destined  for  this  service  were  the  king's  ship  the  Joli,  the 
frigate  the  Aimable,  the  brig  la  Belle,  and  the  ketch  St.  Francis.  The 
command  of  them  was  given  to  Beaujeau, 

Twelve  young  gentlemen  accompanied  Lasalle  as  volunteers ;  a  company 
of  fifty  soldiers  was  given  him,  and  the  king  granted  a  free  passage,  and 
made  a  liberal  advance  in  money,  provisions  and  implements  of  husbandry 
to  twelve  families  who  consented  to  emigrate.  A  number  of  useful 
mechanics  wore  also  embarked,  with  some  other  individuals.  In  order  to 
provide  for  the  spiritual  wants  of  these  people,  five  clergymen,  one  of 
whom  was  Lasalle's  brother,  were  sent.  Thus,  besides  the  officers  and 
crews,  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  persons  accompanied  Lasalle. 

Beaujeau  did  not,  however,  weigh  anchor  till  the  fourth  of  July,  1684. 
He  shaped  his  course  for  Hispaniola ;  but  before  he  reached  it,  a  storm 
scattered  his  small  fleet.  The  Aimable  and  the  Belle  reached  together  Petit 
Goave,  where  the  Joli  had  arrived  before  them.     The  St.  Francis,  being 


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1i  !ff^^ 


80 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


a  (lull  sailer,  was  overtaken  and  captured  by  two  Spanish  privateers.  A 
severe  indisposition  detained  Lasalle  on  shore  for  several  (hiys ;  during 
which,  many  of  the  people,  yielding  to  the  incitement  of  a  warm  climate, 
favored  by  the  want  of  occupation,  became  the  victims  of  intemperance 
and  consequent  disease ;  and  several  died. 

The  fleet  set  sail  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  November,  and  was  for  many 
days  becalmed ;  on  the  ninth  of  December  it  was  before  the  Cape  de  los 
corrientes  in  the  island  of  Cuba,  and  on  the  twenty-seventh,  their 
observation  showed  them  to  be  in  the  twenty-eighth  degree  of  northern 
latitude.  Their  reckoning  announced  the  approach  of  land,  and  towards 
sun  down  they  found  bottom  in  thirty-two  fatnoms.  Lasalle  and  Beaujeu 
determined  on  sailing  W.  N.  W.,  till  the  water  shoaled  to  six  fathoms,  and 
on  the  twenty-ninth  they  saw  land  at  the  apparent  distance  of  six 
leagues. 

There  was  no  person  in  the  fleet  acquainted  with  the  coast.    Lasalle 

noticing  a  strong  current  easterly  thought  himself  near  the  Apalachcs, 

The  vessels  continued  sailing  in  the  same  direction,  and  on  new  year's 

day  the  anchor  was  cast  in  six  fathoms,  the  land  aj)pearing  distant  about 

four  leagues.    Two  boats  were  ordered  ashore.     Lasalle  went  in  one  of 

hem.     He  had  hardly  landed  when  the  wind  growing  fresher  and  fresher 

le  was  compelled  to  return ;  the  other  boat  was  behind  and  followed  him. 

)ack.    The  land  was  flat  and  woody.    He  took  an  observation  and  found 

limself  in  twenty-nine,  ten. 

The  weather  was  hazy,  and  the  wind  continued  high.  The  coast 
appeared  lined  with  battures  and  breakers.  Sailing  again  W.  N.  W.,  as 
soon  as  the  wind  abated  they  vainly  sought  for  several  days  the  mouth  of 
the  Mississippi.  On  the  thirteenth  they  sent  ashore  for  water ;  a  number 
of  Indians  came  along  the  beach  ;  the  wind  was  from  the  sea.  The  fleet 
cast  anchor  within  half  a  league  from  the  shore.  The  natives  seemed  by 
gestures  to  seek  to  induce  the  French  to  land.  They  showed  their  bows, 
then  laid  them  on  the  ground,  and  walked  composedly  along  with  arms 
akimbo.  A  white  handkerchief  was  waved  at  the  end  of  a  musket,  as  an 
invitation  to  approach.  Throwing  a  log  into  the  water  they  swam  aboard 
each  keeping  one  arm  on  the  log. 

Lasalle  attempted  in  vain  to  make  himself  understood.  The  natives 
pointed  to  hogs,  fowls  and  the  hide  of  a  cow,  apparently  desirous  to 
convey  the  idea  of  their  having  such  animals.  Small  presents  were  made 
which  seemed  to  gratify  them  much.  When  they  went  back,  the 
shallowness  of  the  water  prevented  the  close  approach  of  the  boats,  the 
Indians  swam  away.  Tne  French  thought  the  natives  gave  them  to 
understand  there  was  a  ^reat  river  near,  which  occasioned  the  battures. 

Lasalle  now  began  seriously  to  apprehend  he  had  passed  the  Mississippi. 
and  proposed  to  Beaujeu  to  sail  bacK.  The  naval  commander  was  of  a 
different  opinion  and  nothing  was  determined  on  for  several  days.  At 
last,  Lasalle  selecting  half  a  dozen  of  men,  undertook  to  seek  the  mighty 
stream  by  a  march  along  the  shore.  The  weather  was  extremely  hazy, 
the  land  low,  flat  and  sandy,  destitute  of  grass,  and  fresh  water  was  only 
to  be  found  in  stagnant  pools.  He  noticed  numerous  tracks  of  deer,  and 
saw  a  great  number  of  water  fowls ;  having  wandered  from  daybreak  till 
three  o'clock,  Lasalle  began  to  despair,  and  brought  his  men  back ;  he 
spent  several  days  in  vain  attempts  to  induce  Beaujeu  to  come  to  sonic 
determination. 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


81 


.    A 

iring 
nate, 
ance 

nany 

lie  hn 

their 

them 

wards 

;aujeu 

8,  ami 

of  six 

Lasalle 
laches. 

year's 
;  ahout 

one  of 

fresher 

/ed  him. 

d  found 

le  coast 

L  W.,  as 

aouth  of 
number 
'he  fleet 

lemed  by 
;ir  bows, 
Lth  arms 
et,  as  an 
aboard 

[e  natives 
5irous  to 
ire  made 
)ack,  tk 
loats,  the 
them  to 
tttures. 
[ssissippi- 
[was  of  a 
Lays.    At 
e  mighty 
ely  hazv, 
was  only 
deer,  and 
break  till 
back;  he 
to  sonio 


He  next  landed  one  hundred  and  twenty  men,  with  the  view  of  sending 
them  along  the  shore,  while  the  Belle  sailed  in  the  same  direction,  till 
they  reached  the  river  he  was  in  quest  of.  He  gave  the  command  of  them 
to  Joutel,  who  marched  at  their  head  on  the  fourth  of  February,  and  on 
the  eighth  came  to  a  wide  stream,  on  the  banks  of  which  he  halted  for  the 
Belle.  Tired  of  waiting,  Joutel  had  ordered  a  raft  to  be  built  to  cross  the 
stream,  when  the  Joli  and  the  Belle  hove  in  sight,  and  Lasalle  came  soon 
after  with  the  Aimable.  Beaujeu  now  ordered  out  the  boats  of  the  three 
vessels  to  sound  on  the  bar  and  in  the  channel,  which  he  directed  to  be 
staked.  Finding  there  was  a  sufficiency  of  water,  it  was  thought  best  to 
bring  the  shipping  over  the  bar.  The  Joli  and  the  Belle  accordingly  came 
in  and  anchored  in  safety,  but  the  Aimable  struck  on  the  bar,  and  soon 
after  went  ashore.  It  was  believed  that  design,  not  accident,  had  occa- 
sioned this  misfortune ;  Aigran,  who  commanded  her,  having  refused  to 
receive  on  board  a  pilot  of  the  Belle,  sent  by  Lasalle,  to  follow  the  stakes 
or  permit  an  anchor  to  be  cast,  Avhen  the  vessel  struck.  During  the  night 
the  wind  rose  and  the  waves  became  violent ;  she  went  to  pieces  with  a 
boat  of  the  Joli,  which  had  been  used  in  saving  part  of  her  lading,  and 
had  been  left  fastened  to  the  wreck.  Lasalle  had  to  lament,  with  the  loss 
of  this  vessel,  that  of  a  quantity  of  provisions,  ammunition,  and  imple- 
ments of  husbandry.  He  saved  a  few  barrels  of  flour,  wine  and  brandy, 
and  some  powder. 

A  party  of  Indians  came  to  the  camp;  he  made  them  some  trifling 
presents,  with  which  they  appeared  much  pleased.  At  their  request,  he 
visited  their  village,  consisting  of  about  fifty  cabins,  at  a  small  distance 
from  the  shore.  Other  parties  on  the  following  day  hovered  around  the 
camp,  without  venturing  to  attack  it.  They  captured  and  carried  off 
two  white  men  who  had  straggled  to  a  distance.  A  party  went  in  pursuit 
of  them,  and  compelled  the  surrender  of  the  prisoners.  The  Indians 
returned  a  few  nights  afterwards  in  great  numbers,  and,  just  at  the  dawn 
of  day,  the  camp  was  assailed  by  a  volley  of  arrows,  which  killed  two  and 
wounded  several  men  in  the  camp.  An  instant  and  rapid  flight  enabled 
the  Indians  to  avoid  pursuit. 

On  the  sixth  of  February,  1685,  on  the  demise  of  Charles  the  second  of 
England,  at  the  age  of  fifty-five,  without  issue,  his  brother,  James  the 
second,  succeeded  him. 

With  the  view  of  increasing  the  commerce  of  New  France,  and  affording 
to  the  nobility  of  Canada  the  means  of  extending  their  fortunes,  Louis  the 
fourteenth,  by  an  edict  of  the  month  of  March  of  the  same  year,  permitted 
them  to  engage  in  trade,  by  land  and  sea,  without  thereby  committing 
any  act  of  derogation. 

this  wise  measure  at  home  was  followed  by  one  of  a  different  character 
in  the  colony.  Canada  v/as  greatly  distressed  by  the  scarcity  of  a  circu- 
lating medium,  universally  felt  in  all  new  settlements,  and  Champigny 
de  Norroy,  who  succeeded  de  Meules  in  the  intendancy,  sought  relief  in 
an  emission  of  card  money,  which  was  put  into  circulation,  under  an 
ordinance  of  the  governor  and  intendant. 

Each  card  bore  the  stamp  of  the  king's  arms,  and  its  value  was  signed 
by  the  colonial  treasurer,  and  had  the  coats  of  arms  of  the  governor  and 
intendant  impressed  on  wax. 

E^eaujeu  sailed  for  France  on  the  fifteenth  of  March,  in  the  Joli,  taking 
with  him  the  captain  and  most  of  the  crew  of  the  Aimable.      He  refused 

13 


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Ilil^U^ 


''■'.'.    !    '      I-' 


82 


HISTORY   OF  LOUISIANA. 


to  land  a  number  of  cannon  balls,  which  he  had  brought  for  the  colony, 
on  the  pretence  that  they  were  in  the  bottom  of  his  ship,  and  he  could  not 
unload  her  without  risk.  He  left  twelve  pieces  of  cannon,  but  not  a  single 
ball. 

After  his  departure,  Lasalle  occupied  himself  in  building  a  fort  at  the 
western  extremity  of  the  bay,  which  now  bears  the  name  of  St.  Bernard, 
and  garrisoned  it  with  one  hundred  men.  Leaving  Morangies,  his 
nephew,  in  command  there,  he  set  off  with  a  party  of  fifty  men,  accom- 
panied by  the  abbe  de  Lasalle,  his  brother,  and  two  recollet  friars,  father 
Zenobe,  who  had  descended  the  Mississippi  with  him  a  few  years  before, 
and  father  Maxime.  His  object  was  to  seek  for  the  mouth  of  the 
Mississippi  river,  at  the  bottom  of  the  bay.  The  captain  of  the  Belle  was 
directed  to  sound  this  estuary  in  his  boats,  and  to  bring  the  vessel  as  far 
as  he  could ;  he  followed  the  coast  to  a  point  which  was  called  Point 
Hurler,  after  an  officer  who  was  left  there  with  a  few  men  to  throw  up  a 
small  work.  The  party  now  proceeded  to  the  eastern  extremity  of  the 
bay,  and  to  a  considerable  distance  beyond,  and  returned  without  finding 
the  Mississippi. 

In  the  middle  of  April,  Lasalle  established  a  new  post  sixteen  miles  up 
a  river,  which  from  the  number  of  cows  he  found  on  its  bank  he  called 
Cow  river;  it  is  believed  to  be  the  one  called  by  the  Spaniards  Rio 
Colorado  de  Texas.  A  party  of  Indians  came  to  attack  him ;  out  they  were 
repulsed. 

Towards  the  latter  part  of  the  month,  Lasalle  returned  to  the  fort  in 
which  he  had  left  Morangies.  On  Easter  Sunday,  divine  service  was 
performed  with  great  solemnity,  every  one  receiving  the  sacrament. 

This  fort  and  the  small  work  thrown  up  by  Hurier  were  now  abandoned 
and  demolished ;  all  the  colonists  removing  to  the  new  settlement,  with 
all  their  effects.  The  ground  was  prepared  for  cultivation,  and  a  number 
of  houses  were  erected  for  common  and  private  use.  A  fort  was  built,  in 
which  twelve  pieces  of  cannon  were  mounted,  and  a  large  subterraneous 
magazine  made.      The  fort  was  called  Fort  St.  Louis. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  Chevalier  de  Tonti  having  received  intelligence 
from  Canada  of  the  departure  of  a  fleet  from  France,  in  which  Lasalle 
was  bringing  colonists  to  the  Mississippi,  left  the  fort  at  the  Illinois,  in 
order  to  meet  his  former  chief.  The  Indians  everywhere  greeted  the 
chevalier,  who  reached  the  mouth  of  the  river  without  being  able  to 
receive  any  information  of  his  countrymen.  He  staid  there  several  weeks, 
and  the  boats  which  he  sent  towards  the  east  and  west  in  search  of 
Lasalle,  returned  without  any  account  of  him.  Despairing  of  being  more 
successful  if  he  staid  longer,  he  reluctantly  reascended  the  stream.  The 
tree,  on  which  Lasalle  had  two  years  before  placed  the  escutcheon  of 
France,  had  been  uprooted  in  a  storm,  and  the  chevalier  raised  another 
token  of  the  possession  taken  for  the  king,  on  the  banks  of  the  river, 
about  twenty  miles  from  the  sea.  Mortified  and  chagrined,  he  progressed 
slowly,  stopping  in  the  villages  on  the  way,  endeavoring  to  obtain  some 
account  of  the  French  colonists.  All  his  attempts  proved  fruitless,  and 
he  reached  his  fort,  among  the  Illinois,  in  the  month  of  May. 
.  During  the  fall,  most  of  the  colonists  on  Rio  Ct  'nrado  sickened  and  man ' 
died. 

The  Indians  frequently  came  near  the  fort,  and  at  times  killed  such  of 
the  French  who  strayed  into  the  woods.    Lasalle  marched  against  them, 


nri 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


83 


lony, 
d  not 
jingle 

it  the 
rnard, 
8,  his 
iccom- 
father 
before, 
of  the 
He  was 

as  far 
,  Point 
)W  up  a 

of  the 
finding 

niles  up 
e  called 
jds  Rio 
tiey  were 

le  fort  in 
vice  was 
it. 

|)andone(l 

ent,  with 

number 

built,  in 

jrraneous 


lain  some 
Itless,  and 

ind  man; 

Id  such  of 
Inst  them, 


with  a  party  whom  he  had  provided  with  a  kind  of  wooden  jackets,  that 
protected  them  against  arrows.  He  killed  several  Indians,  and  made  some 
prisoners.  A  little  girl  about  four  years  of  age,  who  was  then  taken,  was 
the  first  of  the  natives  who  received  baptism  in  the  colony. 

Disease  and  the  fatigues  of  this  kind  of  warfare,  interrupted  so  much 
the  labors  of  agriculture,  that  but  a  scanty  crop  was  made.  The  seed  grain 
having  been  brought  shelled  was  a  circumstance  that  had  its  effect,  in 
disappointing  the  hopes  of  the  sower;  wheat  seldom  coming  well  in 
virgm  ground,  when  tne  seed  has  not  been. kept  in  the  ear. 

The  captain  of  the  Belle,  having  gone  a  hunting  with  half  a  dozen  of 
his  men,  was  surprised  by  a  party  of  Indians,  who  slew  them  all.  After 
paying  the  last  duty  to  tneir  bodies,  Lasqlle  and  his  brother  attended  by 
twenty  men,  left  tne  fort  with  the  view  of  resuming  the  search  of  the 
Mississippi. 

The  bay  he  was  on  received  a  numoer  of  rivers,  none  of  which  was  of 
such  a  depth  or  width,  as  allowed  it  to  be  considered  as  a  branch  of  the 
mighty  one.  Lasalle  visited  them  all.  He  was  impeded  in  his  progress 
by  the  difficulty  of  crossing  them,  by  almost  incessant  rains,  and  the 
necessity,  at  every  stage,  to  provide  against  a  sudden  attack.  On  the 
thirteenth  of  February,  1686,  ne  came  to  so  wide  and  deep  a  stream,  that 
he  suspected  it  to  be  that  he  was  looking  for.  He  threw  up  a  light  work 
on  its  banks,  in  which  he  placed  nine  men.  Proceeding  higher  up,  he 
came  to  a  large  village  of  Indians,  where  he  was  cordially  received.  From 
the  information  he  received,  he  was  convinced  his  conjecture  was  erroneous : 
after  a  further  progress,  he  retrograded,  took  back  his  nine  men,  and 
returned  to  the  settlement  which  he  reached  on  the  last  day  of  May. 

The  Iroquois  encouraged  and  aided  by  governor  Dongan  of  New  York, 
continued  their  irruptions  on  the  frontier  settlements  of  Canada,  and  Louis 
the  fourteenth  was  induced,  at  the  pressing  solicitations  of  the  colonists, 
to  send  a  body  of  troops  to  their  succor.  Labarre  being  old  and  infirm, 
the  Marquis  de  Denonville  was  sent  to  relieve  him.  In  his  first  communi- 
cation to  the  minister,  which  is  of  the  eighth  of  May,  1686,  this  ofl&cer 
recommended  the  erection  of  a  fort,  with  a  garrison  of  four  or  five  hundred 
men  at  Niagara,  to  shut  out  the  English  from  the  lakes ;  secure  exclusively 
the  fur  trade  to  Canada,  afford  an  asylum  to  the  allied  Indians,  and 
deprive  deserters  from  the  king's  troops  ot  the  facility^  of  joining  the  English 
at  Albany ;  who  employed  them  as  guides  in  military  and  commercial 
excursions  among  the  tribes  in  alliance  with  the  French. 

The  Marquis  increased  the  garrison  of  Fort  Frontenac,  and  furnished  it 
abundantly  with  provisions  and  ammunition.  This  gave  umbrage  to 
governor  Dongan,  who  wrote  him  the  Iroquois  considered  this  reinforcement 
as  the  prelude  to  the  invasion  of  their  country ;  that  these  Indians  were 
the  allies,  nay  the  subjects  of  the  English  crown,  and  an  act  of  hostility 
against  them  could  only  be  viewed  as  an  infraction  of  the  peace  which 
existed  between  France  and  England ;  that  he  was  informed  a  fort  was 
about  to  be  erected  at  Niagara ;  a  circumstance  which  surprised  him  the 
more,  as  the  Marquis,  though  but  lately  arrived  in  America,  could  not  well 
be  supposed  ignorant  of  that  part  of  the  country  being  within  the  province 
of  New  York. 

The  Marquis  answered,  that  the  consciousness  of  the  Iroquois,  that 

ithey  deserved  chastisement,  could  alone  excite    their  apprehensions: 

however,  the  supplies  sent  to  Fort  Frontenac  ought  not  to  nave  alarmed 


III' 


1 


«#»'««?>>' 


HI 


fm 


m 


■     k    Vi 


'rfe%N&  '>"M 


^i>: 


^r  "■'■•;':  ^'Mi 


!   '   I 


rl:,    I 


Ifri'l   n.!: 

;■(■■''         ,1 

U    ;•     'f    -.IM- 

■  'iU  ■'■   i ■  > !  ■ 


"i^« 


1 1-.:? 


84 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


these  Indians,  as  there  had  always  lieen  a  large  garrison  at  that  post,  and 
the  diffieulty  of  supplying  it  rendered  it  necessary  to  improve  every 
opportunity  ;  that  the  governor  was  under  an  error  as  to  the  right  of  his 
sovereign  to  the  country  of  the  Iroquois ;  he  ought  to  have  known  that  the 
French  had  taken  possession  of  it,  long  before  any  Englishman  came  to 
New  York ;  that,  however,  as  the  kings  of  England  and  France  were  now 
at  peace,  it  did  not  behoove  their  officers  in  America  to  enter  into  any 
altercation  about  their  rights. 

Louis  the  fourteenth  having  approved  the  emission  of  card  money  made 
in  Canada  during  the  preceding  year,  another  emission  was  now  prepared 
in  Paris  in  which  pasteboard  was  used  instead  of  cards.  An  impression 
was  made  on  each  piece  of  the  coin  of  the  kingdom  of  the  corresponding 
value. 

Pasteboard  proving  inconvenient  cards  were  again  resorted  to.  Each 
had  the  flourish  which  the  intendant  usually  added  to  his  signature.  He 
signed  all  those  of  the  value  of  four  livres  and  upwards,  and  those  of  six 
livres  and  above  were  also  signed  by  the  governor. 

Once  a  jear,  at  a  fixed  period,  the  cards  were  required  to  be  brought  to 
the  colonial  treasury,  and  exchanged  for  bills  on  the  treasury-general  of 
the  marine,  or  his  deputy  at  Rochefort.  Those  which  appeared  too  ragged 
for  circulation  were  burnt,  and  the  rest  again  paid  out  of  the  treasury. 

For  awhile  the  cards  were  thus  punctually  exchanged  once  a  year ;  but 
in  course  of  time,  bills  ceased  to  be  given  for  them.  Their  value  which 
till  then  had  been  equal  to  gold,  now  began  to  diminish  ;  the  price  of  all 
commodities  rose  proportionally,  and  the  colonial  government  was 
compelled,  in  order  to  meet  the  increased  demands  on  its  treasury,  to 
resort  to  new  and  repeated  emissions ;  and  the  people  found  a  new  source 
of  distress  in  the  means  adopted  for  their  relief. 

The  English  colonies  in  America  in  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth 
and  the  first  of  the  eighteenth  century,  had  also  recourse  to  emissions  of 
paper  currency.  They  everywhere  yielded  at  first  a  momentary  relief. 
The  currency  borrowed  its  value  from  confidence ;  moderation  might  have 

5 reserved,    but    profusion    almost    universally   destroyed    it,    and   the 
epreciated  paper  proved  a  greater  evil  than  that  it  was  intended  to 
remedy. 

The  earliest  emissions  in  these  colonies,  date  in  those  of  New  England 
of  1696,  in  New  York  of  1709,  in  New  Jersey  of  1720,  in  Pennsylvania  of 
1722,  in  Delaware  of  1730,  in  North  Carolina  and  Barbadoes  of  1705,  and 
in  South  Carolina  of  1703.  If  the  colonies  of  Maryland  and  Virginia, 
during  the  period  of  their  dependence  on  the  crown,  had  no  paper 
currency  (a  circumstance  which  has  not  been  ascertained)  it  was  proDably 
owing  to  their  finding  in  tobacco,  their  staple  commodity,  the  means  of 
substituting  the  contract  of  exchange  to  that  of  sale.  Merchants  there 
kept  their  accounts  in  pounds  of  tobacco,  and  the  fees  of  the  colonial 
oflScers  were  by  law  fixed  and  made  payable  in  that  article. 

A  few  days  after  the  return  of  Lasalle  to  the  fort,  the  Belle  was  cast 
ashore  in  a  hurricane  and  bilged.  The  officer  who  commanded  her,  the 
chaplain  and  four  of  her  crew,  alone  escaped.  With  her  thirty-six  barrels 
of  flour,  some  wine  and  a  quantity  of  merchandise  were  lost.  She  was 
the  only  vessel  remaining  in  the  colony,  and  would  have  been  of  vast 
service  to  Lasalle ;  he  expected  to  have  sailed  in  her  to  Hispaniola,  in 
search  of  succor.      On.  the  loss  of  this  last  vessel  he  determined  to 


niSTORV  OF   LOUISIANA. 


85 


;,  and 
every 
if  his 
at  the 
me  to 
e  now 
,o  any 

r  made 
epared 
ression 
ending 

Each 
re.    He 

e  of  six 

light  to 
leral  of 
o  ragged 
sury. 
ear;  but 
le  which 
ice  of  all 
lent  was 
asury,  to 
'W  source 

enteenth 
ssions  of 
try  relief, 
ig'ht  have 
and  the 
ended  to 

.  England 
H  vania  of 
1 1705,  and 
Virginia, 
no  paper 
\  probably 
[means  of 
mts  there 
colonial 

was  cast 
|jd  her,  the 
^ix  barrels 
She  was 
len  of  vast 
T)aniola,  in 
brained  to 


vil 


proceed  to  Fort  St.  Louis  of  the  Illinois,  in  order  to  apprise  governnient 
<(f  his  miscarriage  and  solicit  farther  aid. 

Accompanied  by  his  brother  and  nephew,  by  father  Athanase,  fifteen 
other  Frenchmen  and  two  trustv  Indians,  who  had  followed  him  from 
Canada,  on  the  twenty-second  of  May,  mass  having  been  said  to  implore 
the  benediction  of  heaven  on  his  journey,  he  set  oft  and  travelled  north- 
easterly, taking  with  him  two  canoes  and  two  sleighs. 

He  crossed  several  streams,  and  saw  large  herds  of  buffaU)es,  among 
which  were  a  few  horses,  so  wild  that  they  could  not  be  caught  without 
great  address  and  much  difficulty.  Every  night  he  took  the  precaution 
of  surrounding  his  camp  with  poles,  to  guard  against  surprit  i.  On  the 
twenty-fifth,  towards  noon,  he  met  with  four  Indians  on  horseback,  of  a 
tribe  called  the  Quoaquis;  their  dress  was  chiefly  of  leather;  they  had 
boots,  saddles  and  a  kind  of  shield  of  the  same  material,  and  wooden 
stirrups ;  the  bits  of  their  bridles  were  of  wolf  or  boar's  teeth.  They 
uired  who  the  party  were,  and  being  informed,  invited  them  to  their 
age. 

'wo  days  after,  Lasalle  crossed  a  river  which  he  called  Riber,  from  one 
of  the  party  who  was  drowned  in  crossing  it.  Here  he  halted  for  six 
days ;  his  men  killed  a  buffalo,  and  salted  and  smoked  the  meat.  Three 
(lays  after  he  crossed  another  stream,  which  he  called  Hiens,  after  one  of 
the  party  who  sank  into  the  mud  and  was  drawn  out  with  great  difficulty. 
Lasalle  now  altered  his  course,  travelling  due  east.  After  a  march  of 
several  days,  he  came  to  a  tribe  called  the  Biscatonges,  where  he  obtained 
dressed  buffalo  skins,  of  which  his  men  made  moccasins,  a  kind  of 
covering  for  the  foot,  much  used  by  the  Indians,  and  resembling  a  mitten 
or  a  glove  without  fingers.  These  Indians  also  supplied  Lasalle  with 
canoes ;  the  two  he  had  brought  from  the  fort  being  already  so  crazy  as 
to  be  of  but  little  use. 

On  the  following  day,  as  the  French  approached  a  village,  one  of  them 
shot  a  deer;  this  so  terrified  the  Indians  that  they  all  fled.  Lasalle 
ordered  his  men  under  arms  as  they  entered  the  village.  It  consisted  of 
about  three  hundred  cabins ;  the  wife  of  one  of  the  chiefs  was  still  in  hers, 
being  so  old  that  she  could  not  move.  She  was  given  to  understand  she 
had  nothing  to  fear.  Three  of  her  sons,  who  had  remained  at  a  small 
distance,  noticing  the  peaceable  demeanor  of  the  strangers,  called  back 
her  countrymen,  who  immediately  returned.  They  offered  the  calumet 
to,  and  entertained  the  French  with  much  cordiality. 

Unwilling  to  put  too  much  confidence  in  these  friendly  appearances, 
Lasalle  encamped  at  night,  on  the  opposite  side  of  a  cane  brake  that 
encircled  the  village,  and  surrounded  himself  with  poles  as  usual.  These 
precautions  proved  timely;  for  during  the  night,  a  party  of  Indians, 
armed  with  arrows,  approached.  The  rustling  of  the  canes  warning 
Lasalle,  he  gave  them  to  understand,  without  quitting  his  entrenchment, 
that  if  they  did  not  retire,  he  would  order  his  men  to  fire.  The  night 
pasGed  without  any  further  disturbance,  and  in  the  morning  the  hosts  and 
the  guests  parted  with  apparent  marks  of  friendship. 

Eight  miles  further,  they  came  to  a  village  of  the  Chinonoas.  These 
Indians  dwelt  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Spaniards,  who  often  came 
among  and  vexed  them.  They  immediately  recognized  the  French  as 
being  of  another  nation,  by  their  language  and  mien ;  and  their  hate  of 
the  Spaniards,  inspired  them  with  the  opposite  sentiment  for  their  present 


m 


*     1         ^  ^       m 


1^     3ti 


'  ll '.  ( 


ii. 


'<    I    '  ■ 


m 


n^.il 


86 


HISTORY  OF   IX)UI8IANA. 


vinitorH,  who  were  not  long  without  letting  their  hostH  know,  they  were  at 
wur  with  the  8paniardH.  The  IndianH  prcHsed  LtiHalle  to  tarry,  and  aeeoni- 
pany  them  on  an  expedition  they  were  orojecting  againwt  their  troubleHonie 
neighhorB.  He  exeUHed  hininelf  on  tne  snuiUneHH  of  his  party,  who  were 
ill  provided  with  arms.     He  wa8  supplied  with  provisions,  anu  took  leave. 

On  the  next  day,  Rica,  the  Indian  servant  of  Lasalle,  stopped  suddenly, 
exclaiming  he  was  a  dead  man  ;  he  immediately  fell,  and  in  a  few  minutes, 
swelled  to  an  astonishing  degree.  He  had  been  bitten  by  a  rattlesnake. 
After  the  scarification  or  the  wound,  and  the  appli(!ation  of  such  herbs  as 
his  countrymen  quickly  pointed  out,  he  was  relieved.  This  accident 
detained  the  party  during  two  days. 

They  next  came  to  a  wide  river,  which  rendered  it  necessary  to  make  ii 
raft  with  canes  and  branches  covered  with  hides.  Lasalle,  his  nenhew  ami 
two  servants,  ventured  on  it  first.  When  they  reached  the  midale  of  the 
stream,  the  violence  of  the  current  carried  them  out  of  sight  of  their 
companions.  After  floating  thus  for  a  couple  of  miles,  the  raft  rested  on 
a  large  tree  which  had  fallen  into  the  river,  almost  torn  out  by  the  roots. 
By  pulling  on  its  branches,  tliey  found  the  means  of  reac^hing  the  opposite 
shore.  The  rest  of  the  party  remained  all  the  night  and  the  following  day 
in  distressing  uncertainty,  They  proceeded  along  the  river,  loudly  calling 
their  leader,  and  night  came  on  without  their  being  relieved ;  but  in  the 
morning,  the  calls  being  resumed,  were  soon  answered  by  Lasalle  from  the 
opposite  shore.  A  stronger  raft  was  made,  and  tno  rest  of  the  party 
crossed. 

They  now  reached  a  village  of  the  Cenis,  having  nvr  rtakea  an  Indian  on 
horseback,  who  was  returning  to  it.  His  wife  sat  behind  him,  and  other 
horses  followed,  with  the  produce  of  his  chase.  He  gave  part  of  it  to 
Lasalle,  and  preceded  the  party  into  the  village,  leaving  them.  Some  of 
the  chiefs  came  out  to  meet  the  French,  who  staid  several  days,  and  traded 
with  their  hosts  for  some  horses.  This  was  the  largest  settlement  Lasalle 
had  come  to.  It  extended  for  upwards  of  twenty  miles,  interspersed  with 
hamlets  of  ten  or  twelve  cabins.  These  rere  large,  often  exceeding  forty 
feet  in  length.  Dollars  were  seen  among  the  people,  and  many  articles  of 
furniture,  as  spoons,  forks,  plates,  etc.,  which  manifested  they  traded  with 
the  Spaniards.  Horses  were  in  great  plenty,  and  the  Indians  very  willing 
to  part  with  a  serviceable  one,  for  an  axe.  Lasalle  saw,  in  one  of  the 
cabins,  a  printed  copy  of  one  of  the  Pope's  Bulls,  exempting  Mexicans 
from  fast  during  the  summer.  The  natives  made  a  very  good  map  of  their 
country  on  pieces  of  bark,  and  showed  they  were  within  six  days'  march 
from  the  Spanish  settlements. 

After  staying  five  or  six  days,  Lasalle  proceeded  to  the  Nassonites,  where 
he  was  received  with  much  courtesy.  It  was  perceivable  that  the  Indians 
of  this  tribe,  had  much  intercourse  with  the  Spaniards ;  for  when  they  saw 
father  Athanase,  they  made  the  sign  of  the  cross  and  kneeled,  to  give  him 
to  understand,  they  were  acquainted  with  the  ceremonies  of  the  masH. 
Here,  four  men  of  the  party  deserted,  attracted,  as  was  believed,  by  the 
charms  of  some  of  the  Cenis  women. 

Lasalle  and  his  nephew  fell  dangerously  ill.  Two  months  elapsed 
before  they  felt  themselves  in  a  situation  to  travel.  His  ammunition  now 
was  exhausted,  and  he  was  at  the  distance  of  four  hundred  and  fifty  mile!< 
in  a  straight  line  from  his  fort.  The  party  unanimously  agreed  to  return. 
On  their  march  back,  one  of  them  attempting  to  swim  across  a  river  wan 


rr 


Iii4< 


HISTOIIY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


87 


re  at 

•oni- 

H)nit' 

were 

eave. 

only, 

lUtei*, 

iiake. 

ident 

lake  a 
\v  and 
uf  the 
;  their 
ted  on 

rooti*. 
)poBiie 
rtg  day 
calling; 

in  the 
cm  the 
)  party 

ilian  on 

id  other 

of  it  to 

lome  of 

I  traded 
Lasalle 

ed  with 

g  forty 

icles  of 

^ed  with 
willing; 
of  the 
exieans 
of  their 
'  march 

Is,  where 
llndians 
Ihey  saw 
live  him 
le  maes. 
I  by  the 

I  elapsed 

(ion  now 

ty  milei* 

return. 

tver  waH 


devoured  by  an  alligator.    Thoy  reached  the  fort  on  the  8«'venteent'>  of 
October. 

There  was  a  conniderable  tract  of  land  cleared,  and  under  cultiv  .on. 
Comfortable  houfles  had  boon  built,  and  garduuH  wore  to  bo  seen  neat  'lost 
of  them;  the  Hottlcment  was  in  a  flourishing  condition,  and  the  Inu.  ins 
in  the  innnodiato  neighborhood  wore  friendly. 

After  a  stay  of  two  months  with  the  colonists,  Lasalle  determined  on 
returning  by  the  way  of  Camida  to  Franco,  in  order  to  solicit  a  rein- 
forcement of  husbandmen  and  mechanics.  He  sot  off  in  the  beginning  of 
the  new  year,  accompanied  by  his  brother  and  nenhew,  father  Athanase 
and  seventeen  men.  He  took  the  same  route  as  oofore.  There  were  in 
the  party,  when  they  left  the  settlement,  two  brothers  of  the  name  of 
Lancelot.  The  younger,  being  weak  and  infirm,  was  unable  to  keep  up, 
and  was  sent  back  on  the  second  day ;  the  elder  was  desirous  to  return 
also ;  but  Lasalle,  thinking  the  party  too  weak,  refused  his  consent.  The 
voung  man  was  met  near  the  settlement  by  a  party  of  Indians,  who  killed 
liini.  Intelligence  of  this  misfortune  reaching  the  party,  the  surviving 
itrother,  casting  the  blame  on  Lasalle,  did  not  conceal  his  resentment ; 
Imt  vented  it  in  threats.  At  length,  it  seemed  to  have  subsided.  After  a 
march  of  about  two  months,  provisions  failing,  this  man  with  Liotot,  the 
surgeon,  Hiens  and  Duhault,  were  sent  to  Kill  bufTaloes,  and  salt  and 
smoke  the  meat.  These  persons,  displeased  with  Lasalle  and  his  nephew, 
who  commanded  this  small  detachment,  plotted  their  destruction.  In 
the  evening  of  the  seventeenth  of  March,  Liotot  dispatched  Lasalle's 
nephew,  his  servant  and  an  Indian,  with  an  axe.  His  companions 
standing  by,  ready  to  defend  him  with  their  arms,  had  any  resistance 
been  made.  Lasalle,  missing  his  nephew,  left  the  party  with  father 
Athanase,  and  retrograded.  Meeting  Lancelot,  he  inquired  whither  his 
nephew  was;  the  wretch  pointed  to  a  spot  over  which  a  number  of 
buzzards  Were  hovering ;  as  Lasalle  advanced,  he  met  with  another  of  the 
accomplices,  to  whom  he  put  the  same  question ;  but  Duhault,  who  lay 
concealed  in  high  grass,  fired  ;  the  ball  lodged  in  Lasalle's  head ;  he  fell 
and  survived  an  hour  only.  This  was  on  the  nineteenth  of  March,  1687, 
near  the  western  branch  of  Trinity  river. 

The  murderers,  joined  by  other  malcontents,  taking  possession  of  the 
provisions,  ammunition  and  everything  that  belonged  to  the  deceased, 
compelled  the  rest  of  the  party  to  continue  with  them.  In  a  quarrel 
among  themselves,  two  of  them  were  killed,  and  the  rest  sought  an  asylum 
iunong  the  Indians. 

Lasalle's  brother,  father  Athanase  and  five  others  continued  their  route 
towards  the  Illinois.  A  few  days  after,  do  Monte,  one  of  them,  bathing  in 
ii  river,  was  drowned.  In  the  latter  part  of  July,  this  small  party  reached 
the  country  of  the  Arkansas.  They  noticed  a  large  cross  fixed  in  the 
ground,  near  a  house  built  like  those  of  the  French  in  Canada.  Here 
they  found  two  of  their  countrymen,  Couture  and  Delaunay,  natives  of 
Rouen,  who  had  come  thither  from  the  fort  at  the  Illinois.  Here  the 
party  learned  that  the  Chevalier  de  Tonti,  on  his  way  to  the  mouth  of 
the  Mississippi,  to  meet  Lasalle,  had  left  six  Frenchmen  at  the  Arkansas ; 
four  of  whom  had  returned  to  the  Illinois.  After  staying  some  time  with 
Couture  and  Delaunay,  the  travellers  disposed  of  their  horses  and 
procured  canoes,  in  which  they  ascended  the  Mississippi  and  the  river  of 
the  Illinois  to  Fort  St.  Louis,  which  they  reached  on  the  fourth  of 


Jl 


•''  ~   '  ■'  '"'^       xvi 


M 


i^lln  il 


ri 


';! 


1  h 


;k  .1: 


r    , 


,'  ii 


1      K  it 


88 


IIIHTOHY   OF    l,()t'IHlANA. 


^  !'.  '^ 


St'ptotiilK'r.  TJu!  Chi'ValiiT  de  Tonti  wjih  aliHont,  nnd  Hcllefontainc,  Iiis 
licuUMiunt,  coininiinilcd.  The  truv(>ll(>rH  thought  it  itrudcnf  to  coiu'ciil  thr 
dfjith  of  liUHHllo ;  they  ntjiid  hut  a  ft'W  (hiVH  in  tlif  fi>rt,  and  procccdcil,  liy 
the  way  of  Michilliniachinac  to  (^inachi,  and  hmdcd  at  Quuhuc  on  tliV 
ninth  oV  ()ctol)ur,  and  Huon  after  took  Mhipiiing  for  France. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

DuRiNO  the  fall  of  l(i87,  a  party  of  the  Inxiuoin  fell  on  some  of  thr 
Indiana  in  alliance  with  the  French,  near  Michilliniachinac.  Father 
Lamherville,  the  nuHsionary  at  that  post,  wan  informed  that  thin  attack 
had  heen  determined  on  at  a  meeting  of  deputicH  of  Hcveral  trihcH,  the 
chiefs  of  whi<!h  had  been  hitely  convened  at  Albany,  by  the  governor  nf 
New  York,  who  had  assured  them  the  Marquis  de  DenonvilU;  meant  ti» 
wage  war  against  them  :  the  governor  advised  them  to  begin  it  themselves 
by  falling  on  the  French  or  their  allies,  whenever  they  met  them,  as,  not 
suspecting  any  attack,  they  would  be  fountl  an  easy  pri-v.  He  pn)mise«I 
that  whatever  might  be  the  cimsequences,  he  never  would  forsake  his  red 
allies. 

While  the  government  of  New  York  was  provoking  its  Indians  to 
hostilities  against  Canada,  James  the  secimd  was  apparently  pursuiiif: 
quite  a  different  line  of  c«>nduct.  The  Marquis  received  a  letter  from  the 
Minister,  informing  him  that  the  cabinet  of  St.  James  had  proposed  ti» 
the  Ambassador  of  France,  a  treaty  of  neutrality,  between  the  subjjH'ts  of 
the  two  crowns  in  North  America;  and  its  oft'ers  having  been  accepted, 
one  had  been  concluded  in  the  preceding  fall.  The  Marquis  was 
accordingly  directed  to  have  the  treaty  j)ublishcd  throughout  the  colony 
and  registered  in  the  superior  council,  and  to  see  it  faithfully  executed  by 
the  king's  subjects  in  Canada. 

By  the  fourteenth  and  fifteenth  articles,  it  was  agreed  that  the  two 
sovereigns  should  send  orders  to  their  respective  governors  and  other 
officers,  to  cause  to  be  arrested  and  prosecuted  as  pirates,  the  captains  and 
crews  of  all  vessels,  sailing  Avithout  a  commission,  and  any  of  the  subjects 
of  either  king,  sailing  under  one  from  a  prince  or  state  at  war  with  him. 

It  does  not  appear  that  the  English  had  any  other  view,  than  to  lull  tlu 
French  into  security;  for  thev  fell  on  Fort  St.  Anne,  in  Hudson's  Bay; 
but  Iberville,  who  commanded  there,  repelled  the  assailants,  took  one  nf 
their  ships  and  burnt  a  house  which  they  had  erected  on  the  sea-shore. 

Louis  the  fourteenth,  with  the  view  of  increasing  the  crews  of  his 
galleys,  and  avenging  the  ill  treatment  of  his  subjects  who  fell  into  thr 
nancis  of  the  Iroquois,  had  directed  the  Marquis'  predecessor  to  send  over 
all  those  Indians  taken  in  war,  to  be  employed  on  board  of  the  galleys  at 
Marseilles.  The  Marquis,  under  this  order,  had  the  imprudence  of 
decoying,  through  various  pretences,  a  number  of  Iroquois  chiefs,  into 
Fort  Frontenac,  where  he  had  them  put  in  irons  and  afterwards  sent  over. 
This  unfortunate  step  was  disowned  at  court,  but  the  Indians  were  not 
ordered  back.  The  disavowal  had  the  effect  of  emboldening  the  Iroquois 
who  attributed  this  act  of  justice  and  humanity  to  the  king's  apprehension 
of  exciting  the  resentment  of  their  nation.  It  attached  them  the  more  to 
the  English. 


Ill  flic 

WlIM      d('( 

\'iiii(lreu 
enciinifM' 
ciV'lil  h  II 
the  ititen 
it.     At  t 

COMIpl.'lill 
Hovere  _'ll 

that   I  ut 

|teiH'e;il)|(; 

l»y  a  num 
cariying 
cornniand 
[irisoiuTs, 
The  arm 
of  the  eiu 
;it tucked   I 
'Icstructivi 
repented   ti 
I'lit  tlie  alii 
till  the  Fr 
"arfare  wai 
The  army, 
six  men  'kil 
Mar(|iiis  nd 
the  onemv, 
hiiriit.    A'ft 
and  (lestro\ 
iiiilitiii  nniv 
of  returning 
t'lnploved  hi 
III  tiic  fall 
Fort  Fronte 
rejwllcd  in  I 
of  the  neigh 
Thev  mad 
that  their  c 
williiijriy  j^.,. 

Iiy  the  drea( 
prevailed  al 
tlifit  he  had  i 
According 
thousand  tw( 
J'lines,  att( 
people;  he  wj 
''ef'Te,  had  1( 
"f  Orange,  thi 
n^illiam  lai 
f<'rrified,  abdi 
supported  his 
sovereigns  of 
1.1 


lai 


niSTOHY   OF    LOHIHIANA. 


m 


1)1  till  HiuiinuT,  these  ludiaiiH  Itecntiiiii^  more  uiul  more  troiiMesome,  it 
was  <lfeme(l  iU'<'eHHnrv  to  march  iijifainHt  tliem.  The  ChevaMer  (h( 
Vaiulreuil,  wlio  hail  heen  Httnt  to  eommuml  the  troops  took  the  Held.  He 
(.iuiiiii|'"il  on  the  ishtiwl  of  St.  Helen,  opposite  that  of  Montreal,  with 
cirjlit  li  iM(Ire<l  regulars  and  one  thonsan(i  militia,  ("hamni^ny  de  Norroy. 
tlu'  intendant,  prtcerh'd  the  army  to  Fort  Krontenae  ;  the  iSlanjuis  follo\V(Ml 
it.  .\t  the  fort,  he  received  a  letter  from  tin'  j^overnor  of  New  York, 
coiiiphiininn  hitterly  of  the  French  making?  war  against  the  allies  of  his 
.m»V('rc.-'«».  At  tile  same  time  u  piece  of  information  was  received,  showing 
tliiit  li»t  little  reliance  was  to  he  placed  on  the  writer's  apparently 
|i('iii'cjilde  (lisposition.  A  party  of  si.xty  whit<'  men  from  .\lhany,  attende<l 
dy  a  numher  of  Indians,  and  jinided  hy  a  French  deserter,  were  surprised 
currying  goods  and  annminition  to  Michillimaehinac.  The  oMicer 
cotiinmnding  tliere,  seixed  the  goods  and  ammunition,  made  the  Knglish 
prisoners,  and  sent  the  deserter  to  the  Mar(piis,  who  had  him  shot. 

The  army  now  moved  to  the  river  (/f«  Snhlcn,  and  mareluMl  into  the  country 
of  the  enemy.  After  having  safely  pass(>d  through  two  defiles,  it  was 
iittackod  hy  a  party  of  al»out  eight  hundnul  Iroquois,  who,  nouring  a 
It'structive  lire  on  its  van,  ran  to  attack  its  rear,  while  anotlier  party 
npcated  the  charge  in  front.  This  threw  the  army  in  some  (Mtnfusion ; 
hut  the  allied  Indians,  hetter  used  to  tight  in  the  woods,  stood  together, 
till  the  French  rallied  to  them.  The  regulars,  to  whom  this  kind  of 
warfare  was  quite  novel,  were  not  so  useful  in  this  instance  as  t}»e  militia. 
Tilt'  army,  now  collected,  dispersed  the  Indians.  The  French  had  only 
six  men  killed  :  the  Iroquois  forty-five  killed  and  sixty  wounded.  The 
Manpiis  now  marched  to  and  encamped  in  one  of  the  largest  villages  of 
the  enemy,  which  was  found  (juite  deserted,  and  every  house  in  it  was 
l)uriit.  After  raml)ling  for  ten  days,  and  laying  waste  every  settlement 
ami  destroying  every  plantation,  the  Manpiis,  finding  his  regulars  and 
militia  nuieh  weakenetl  hy  fatigue  and  disease,  and  his  Indians  impatient 
of  returning,  gave  up  the  pursuit  and  returned  to  Niagara,  where  he 
employed  his  men  in  building  a  fort. 

In  tiie  fall  an  ej»idemic  disease  ravaged  the  colony.  Fort  Chanibly  and 
Fort  Frontenae  were  attacked  in  November ;  although  the  Indians  were 
repelled  in  both  places,  they  committed  great  ravages  on  the  plantation.s 
of  the  neighborhood,  and  burnt  several  houses. 

They  made  proposals  of  peace,  in  1088,  the  following  year,  on  condition 
that  tiieir  chiefs  in  Marseilles  should  be  brought  back.  The  Marquis 
willingly  accepted  these  offers.  The  frontier  settlers  had  been  prevented, 
l)y  the  dread  of  new  irruptions,  from  cultivating  their  fields.  Dearth 
prevailed  all  over  the  colony,  and  the  enemy  was  the  more  to  be  feared, 
that  he  had  a  powerful  aid  in  the  English  at  New  York. 

According  to  a  census  of  this  year,  Canada  had  a  population  of  eleven 
thousand  two  hundred  and  forty-nine  persons. 

James,  attempting  to  establish  poperv,  had  become  obnoxious  to  the 
:>eople ;  he  was  cruel  and  oppressive,  and  his  subjects,  who,  half  a  century 
tefore,  had  led  his  father  to  the  scaflfold,  offered  his  crown  to  the  prince 
of  Orange,  the  husband  of  his  eldest  daughter. 

William  landed  in  England,  on  the  fourth  of  November,  1688.  James, 
terrified,  abdicated  his  crown  and  fled  to  France.  The  Irish  for  awhile 
supported  his  cause ;  but  William  and  Mary  were  soon  after  recognised  as 
sovereigns  of  the  three  kingdoms. 

13 


.nl 


f'\ 


'miM^'^ 


90 


HISTORY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


I'  'I -' ' 


1 


t ''■  -i  '  ■■' 


The  p(ioi)le  left  I^y  Lasallc  in  Fort  St.  Louis,  not  receiving  any  succor 
from  France,  and  their  stock  of  ammunition  heing  exhausted,  were  unable 
to  defend  themselves  against  the  neighboring  Indians.  Disease  made 
great  havoc  among  them ;  in  the  meanwhile,  the  Viceroy  of  Mexico,  in 
compliance  with  a  standing  article  of  his  instructions,  by  Philip  the 
second,  enjoining  the  extermination  of  all  foreigners  who  might  penetrate 
into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  directed  an  expedition  to  be  formed  at  Cohaguilla, 
unders  the  orders  of  Don  Alonzo  de  Leon,  to  scour  the  country  and  hunt 
out  the  French  colonists,  if  any  were  still  remaining.  This  officer,  with  a 
small  force,  arrived  on  the  twenty-second  of  April,  1G89,  at  Fort  St.  Louis, 
and  on  the  twenty-fourth,  at  the  entrance  of  the  bay,  where  he  found  the 
hull  of  the  French  vessel  that  had  been  wrecked.  He  saw  no  white  man 
at  either  place.  Having  heard,  on  his  march,  that  some  of  Lasalle's 
companions  were  still  wandering  about  the  country,  or  had  taken  refuge 
among  the  Indians,  he  shaped  his  course  towards  the  Assinais,  but  found 
no  trace  of  those  he  was  in  quest  of.  It  is  said  that  Don  Alonzo  was 
courteously  received  by  the  Assinais,  and  gave  these  Indians  the  appellation 
of  Texas  or  friends.  A  few  years  after,  the  Spaniards  sent  missionaries 
into  this  part  of  the  country,  and  afterwards  established  military  posts  or 
jirc/iidios  among  these  Indians.  These  missions  or  posts  were  the  beginning 
of  the  Spanish  settlemen  :s  in  the  province  of  Texas. 

The  Count  de  Frontenac  was  now  appointed  governor  general  of  New 
France.  In  his  instructions,  which  bear  date  of  the  seventh  of  June,  1689, 
it  is  stated  that  the  reciprocal  and  repeated  attacks  of  the  French  and 
English  in  Acadie  and  Hudson's  Bay,  had  induced  the  appointment  of 
commissioners,  on  the  part  of  the  two  crowns,  to  report  on  their  respective 
pretensions ;  but,  as  the  facts  alleged  by  either  party  were  not  admitted 
by  the  other,  the  conferences  had  been  suspended"  till  they  could  be 
verified.  In  the  meanwhile,  the  late  revolution  in  England  had  put,  at 
least  for  the  present,  an  end  to  these  negotiations.  The  count  was, 
therefore,  instructed  to  aid  the  company  trading  to  these  places,  and  drive 
the  English  from  the  ground  they  had  usurped.  He  was  informed  that, 
with  regard  to  Acadie,  the  English  commissioners  had  recognized  the 
rights  of  France  on  the  territory,  as  far  as  Pentagoet ;  and  the  attack  of 
the  forts  on  that  river  by  the  people  of  Boston,  had  been  disavowed ;  and 
he  was  instructed  to  take,  in  concert  with  Monneval,  governor  of  Acadie, 
the  measures  necessary  to  prevent  the  repetition  of  a  like  outrage.  It 
was  announced  that  the  king,  informed  that  the  English  of  New  York 
continued  their  intrigues  with  the  Iroquois,  inducing  them  to  wage  war 
against  his  Canadian  subjects  and  his  Indian  allies,  whom  they  supplied 
with  arms  and  ammunition,  had  determined  on  carrying  into  execution, 
a  plan  projected  by  Callieres,  the  governor  of  Montreal,  for  taking 
possession  of  the  city  and  province  of  New  York,  and  had  directed  La 
Caffiniere  to  proceed  with  a  naval  force  to  Acadie  and  follow  the  count's 
directions. 

On  his  arrival  in  Acadie,  with  this  naval  commander,  while  the 
governor  general  was  concci'ting  with  him  the  plans  of  simultaneous 
attacks  by  the  navy  on  the  city  of  New  York,  and  the  land  forces  on 
Albany,  the  intelligence  he  received  from  Canada  was  such  as  to  induce 
him  to  forego  everv  plan  of  offensive  operation  against  the  English. 

Fifteen  hundred  Iroquois  made  an  irruption  in  the  island  of  Montreal, 
on  the  twenty-fifth  of  Au'^ust.     This  overpowering  force  struck  every  one 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


91 


.iccor 

liable 

made 

CO,  in 

p  the 

etrate 

Tuilla, 

hunt 
with  a 
Louis, 
nd  the 
;e  man 
isallc's 

refuge 
t  found 
izo  was 
ellation 
onaries 
posts  or 
ginning 

of  New 

ne,U*)89, 

ich  and 

,ment  of 

jspective 

idmitted 

!Ould  be 

d  put,  at 

int  was, 

nd  drive 

led  that, 

ized  the 

ittack  of 

red;  and 

Acadie, 

age.     It 

w  York 

,vago  war 

supplied 

Ixecution, 

r   taking 

ected  La 

e  count's 

rhile  the 
iltaneous 
I  forces  on 
1,0  induce 

Ish. 
Montreal, 

■every  one 


on  the  island  with  consternation  ;  no  resistance  was  made.  The  Indians 
laid  the  plantations  waste,  burnt  the  houses  and  massacred  the  male 
inhabitants  that  fell  into  their  hands.  The  females  were  made  i)risoiu'rs ; 
but  even  all  their  lives  were  not  spared.  The  bellies  of  pregnant  women 
were  ripped  open,  and  the  fruit  torn  out  of  the  womb.  Sniall  children 
wore  put  on  the  spit,  and  the  mother  compelled  to  turn  it.  Two  hundred 
persons  were  killed  in  the  small  settlement  of  La  Chine,  the  first  they 
attacked.  As  they  advanced  towards  the  town  of  Montreal,  destruction, 
lire  and  smoke  marked  their  way.  They  made  themselves  masters  of 
the  fort,  notwithstanding  the  vigorous  and  resolute  resistance  of  Robeyre, 
who  commanded  there.  Thus  they  were  in  possession  of  the  whole  island ; 
they  kept  it  till  October. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  Count  de  Frontenac  at  tiuebec,  the  Iroquois 
retreated  for  awhile,  in  order  to  provide  the  means  of  returning  soon,  in  a 
situation  to  pursue  their  irruptions  as  far  as  the  capital,  where  they 
intended  to  co-operate  with  an  English  fleet,  which  they  expected  to  meet 
before  it.  They  boasted  that  before  the  spring,  there  should  not  be  one 
Frenchman  alive  in  Canada. 

In  the  meanwhile,  war  had  been  declared  in  France  against  England,  on 
the  twenty-fifth  of  June.  The  winter  w'as  spent  in  Canada,  in  making 
arrangements  for  the  campaign  of  the  folloAving  year.  The  chiefs  lost  not 
in  their  attention  to  the  measures  which  the  defense  of  the  colony 
demanded,  the  view  of  the  offensive  ones,  recommended  by  the  king 
against  New  York  and  Albany — considering  the  reduction  of  the  English 
colony,  as  the  only  means  of  protecting  that  committed  to  their  care  :  but 
the  spring  vessels  brought  the  king's  orders  to  abandon  the  projected 
attack  on  the  city  of  New  York  by  sea,  the  immense  armaments,  which 
circumstances  retjuired  in  Europe,  disabling  the  minister  of  the  navy  from 
sparing  any  ships  for  that  purpose. 

Three  large  detachments  of  the  army  advanced  in  the  spring  on  the 
northern  frontier  of  New  York,  and  had  considerable  success.  They  took 
Corlaer,  Sermantel  and  Kaskebe. 

Afterwards,  a  party  of  the  Iroquois  came  to  the  mouth  of  the  river 
Sorel,  and  carried  off  a  number  of  lads  who  were  pasturing  cattle.  The 
Iroquois  were  pursued  and  the  lads  brought  back,  except  one,  whom  they 
had  killed,  because  he  could  not  keep  up  with  them. 

Another  party,  who  came  to  the  island  of  Orleans,  was  attacked  by  a 
farmer,  of  the  name  of  Columbet,  who  collected  twenty-five  of  liis 
neighbors.  He  was  killed  with  a  few  of  his  followers ;  but  the  Iroquois 
were  repelled  and  left  twenty-five  of  their  men  on  the  field  of  battle. 

A  third  made  about  thirty  prisoners,  men,  women  and  children :  they 
were  followed,  but  the  pursuit  proved  a  fatal  one  to  them,  as  the  Indians, 
unable  to  escape  with  their  captives,  massacred  them  all. 

The  French  had  no  naval  force  in  North  America.  The  English 
colonies  supplied  the  mother  country  with  one ;  and  Sir  William  Phipps, 
sailing  from  Boston  with  a  small  fleet,  on  the  twenty-second  of  May,  took 
Port  Royal,  in  Acadie,  and  soon  after  the  other  ports  of  that  colony. 
Thence  he  proceeded  to  the  island  of  New  Foundland,  where  he  pillaged 
the  port  of  Plaisance. 

On  the  sixteenth  of  June,  his  fleet,  now  consisting  of  thirty-four  sail, 
cast  anchor  below  Quebec,  and  he  summoned  the  Count  de  Frontenac  to 
surrender.     On  receiving  a  resolute  answer,  Sir  William  approached  the 


4  j^y^it^ti^ '*jj 


i^mm^f 


\l 


V  i 


*;> 


■  \  t 


U  !,1' 


iiB;hh^-*i 


.  -ru 


:  I'll  I  ■!  ■  ■ 


l:*i^ 


92 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


city,  and  tlie  fort  began  a  fierce  cannonade  :  the  flag-staff  of  liis  ship  was 
broken  by  a  shot,  and  a  Canadian  boldly  committed  liimself  to  the  waves 
to  take  it :  he  succeeded,  notwithstanding  the  brisk  fire  of  the  musketry, 
and  the  flag  was  triumphantly  carried  to  the  cathedral,  where  it  was 
deposited  as  a  trophy.  On  the  eighteenth,  fifteen  hundred  men  landed, 
and  Avere  repulsed  with  the  loss  of  three  hundred.  On  the  next  day,  the 
shipping  drew  near  and  cannonaded  the  lower  town  ;  but  the  fire  from  the 
castle  soon  compelled  them  to  retire  in  some  confusion.  On  the  twentieth 
a  larger  l)ody  was  landed  than  before,  at  some  distance  below  the  city; 
they  boldly  advanced  towards  it;  but  the  count  sallied  forth,  with  all  llis 
force,  and  repulsed  them.  They  retreated  to  the  ]>lace  of  their  landing, 
where  the  vicinity  of  the  shipping  prevented  him  from  following  them. 
During  the  night,  five  pieces  oi  artillerv  were  landed,  and  in  the  morning 
the  enemy  advanced  with  these ;  but  the  count  coming  out,  with  a  larger 
force  than  the  preceding  day,  the  English  retreated  at  first  in  tolerably 
good  order ;  but  the  galling  fire  of  the  French  on  the  rear,  and  of  their 
Indians  on  the  land  side,  soon  threw  them  in  great  confusion  :  those  who 
reached  the  boats,  embarking  and  pushing  off"  in  much  haste,  left  their 
comj)anions  and  cannon  behind ;  many  of  those  were  killed  and  the  rest 
taken. 

The  fleet  now  weighed  anchor  and  drifted  down.  They  stopped  out  of 
the  reach  of  the  guns  of  the  French,  till  an  exchange  of  prisoners  was 
made — Sir  William  having  several  on  board  of  his  fleet,  taken  in  Acadie, 
New  Foundland,  and  along  the  St.  Lawrence  as  he  ascended  it. 

He  had  expected  that  while  he  was  attacking  Quebec,  a  number  of 
Iroquois,  swelled  and  directed  by  some  of  his  countrymen  from  Albany, 
would  enter  the  island  of  Montreal  and  fall  on  the  town  :  thus  creating  a 
necessity  for  the  division  of  the  forces  of  the  colony,  which  would  ensure 
the  fall  of  Quebec,  and  finally  enable  him  to  make  himself  master  of  the 
whole  province.  But  the  English  did  not  find  among  the  Iroquois  all  the 
warriors  they  expected  to  join.  The  garrison  of  the  upper  fort  had  been 
reinforced  and  well  supplied  with  arms  and  ammunition,  and  an  attack 
being  expected  above,  rather  than  below,  the  militia  were  able  to  disperse 
the  parties  of  the  Iroquois  who  approached. 

Louis  the  fourteenth  caused  a  medal  to  be  struck  in  commemoration  of 
this  negative  victorj^ ;  which  is  believed  to  be  the  first  event,  in  the  history 
of  America,  of  which  there  is  a  numismatic  record.  The  inscription  on 
the  medal  is,  Francia  in  novo  orbe  victrix. 

In  the  fall,  the  scarcity  of  provisions  was  extreme.  The  alarm,  in  which 
the  country  had  been  the  spring  and  the  beginning  of  the  summer,  had 
drawn  most  of  the  people  from  their  farms  during  see<i  time ;  and  although 
a  small  fleet  of  merchant  vessels,  which  entered  the  river  while  the  English 
were  attacking  Quebec,  found  a  shelter,  till  after  their  depjirture,  up  the 
Saguenay,  the  supply  they  brought  in  afforded  but  a  temporary  relief  anil 
was  soon  exhausted.  The  famine  was  most  severely  felt  in  the  capital: 
the  troops  were  sent  in  small  detachments  in  every  parish,  and  the  men 
scatterea  among  such  farmers,  as  could  best  afford  them  subsistence. 
They  were  all  very  cheerfully  received. 

The  Iroquois  came  down  in  great  numbers  the  following  spring.  A  body 
of  upwards  of  one  thousand  encamped  near  the  island  of  Montreal: a 
detachment  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  was  sent  northerly,  and  one  of  two 
hundred  southerly.  The  first  fell  on  the  settlements  of  the  Poivte  auxtrcvihb, 


HISTORY   OF    LOUISIANA. 


93 


ip  was 

wave? 
sketry, 

it  was 
landed, 
lay,  the 
■oni  the 
rentioth 
be  city ; 

all  his 
landing, 
g  them, 
morning 

a  larger 
;olerai)ly 

of  their 
lose  who 
left  their 
1  the  rest 

ed  out  of 
)ner8  was 
.n  Acadie, 

umber  of 
111  Albany, 
creating  a 
aid  ensure 
ster  of  tho 
lois  all  the 
t  had  been 
an  attack 
to  disperse 

loration  of 
he  history 
ription  on 

Jn,  in  which 
Immer,  had 
Id  although 
llie  EngUsh 
lure,  up  the 
ly  relief  aiul 
I'he  capital: 
id  the  men 
subsistence. 

ig.    A  body 

"  lontreal :  a 

one  of  two 

lauxtreinbh 


where  they  burnt  upwards  of  thirty  houses  and  made  several  prisoners, 
whom  they  treated  with  extreme  cruelty.  The  other,  among  whom  were 
jibout  twenty  Englishmen,  went  towards  Chambly,  where  they  laid  all  the 
pUintations  waste,  capturing  men,  Avonien  and  children.  Several  other 
parties  went  in  various  directions :  all  carrying  desolation  before  them. 
Tlie  colonists  could  not  keep  anj'  large  force  together,  owing  to  the 
improbability  of  finding  subsistence.  Small  bodies,  however,  kept  the 
Held,  and  scoured  the  country  with  so  much  success,  that  the  foe  was 
(ouipelled  to  retreat. 

A  victualling  convoy,  which  arrived  during  the  summer,  enabled*  the 
Canadians  to  wait  for  the  season  of  reaping. 

The  Chevalier  de  Villebon,  appointed  governor  of  Acadie,  arrived  at 
Port  Royal  in  November :  finding  no  English  force  thei-e,  he  called  the 
inhabitants  together  and  hoisting  the  white  flag,  took  quiet  and  formal 
possession  of  the  country. 

Canada  was  greatly  disturbed  in  the  following  year  by  the  Iroquois  ; 
the  French  had  several  skirmishes  with  large  parties  of  these  Indians ; 
hut  no  decisive  action  took  place. 

In  the  latter  part,  a  French  fleet  under  the  orders  of  Du  Palais,  came 
on  the  Canadian  sea.  The  English  attacked  Plaisance,  in  the  island  of 
New  Foundland  without  success :  and  the  government  of  Massacihusetts 
was  equally  unfortunate  in  an  attempt  against  Villebon  in  Acadie. 

In  1693,  king  William  determined  to  indulge  the  people  of  New 
England  and  New  York,  with  a  second  effort  to  reduce  Quebec — the 
frontier  settlements  of  these  provinces  being  incessantly  harrassed  by 
irruptions  of  the  Indians  allied  with  France,  often  directed  by  the  white 
people ;  but  an  attack  on  Martinique  was  the  previous  object  of  ti.e  naval 
and^  land  forces  destined  against  Canada.  A  contagious  fever  broke  out 
in  the  fleet,  while  it  was  in  the  West  Indies,  and  by  the  time  the  ships 
reached  North  America,  had  swept  away  upwards  of  three  thousand 
soldiers  and  sailors.  This  disaster  prevented  any  hostility  against  Canada 
or  Acadie.  Fort  St.  Anne,  in  the  bay  of  Hudson,  was  taken  by  the 
English. 

Iberville  was,  in  the  following  year,  sent  thither  with  two  ships,  and  a 
small  hmd  force.  The  English  had  a  garrison  of  fifty  men  only  in  Fort 
Nelson.  There  was  no  military  officer  commanding  there ;  but,  they  were 
under  the  orders  of  a  factor  of  the  companv ;  he  made  no  resistance.  On 
its  being  reduced,  its  name  was  changed  to  Fort  Bourbon;  Iberville 
wintered  there.  The  scurvy  made  a  great  havoc  among  his  people.  In 
the  summer  he  left  the  command  to  Lasaut,  to  whom  he  gave  Marigny,  as 
his  lieutenant,  with  a  garrison  of  sixty  Canadians  and  some  Indians.  He 
brought  away  a  very  considerable  quantity  of  furs  and  peltries,  collected 
from  the  natives. 

In  Canada,  the  Count  de  Frontenac,  contrary  to  the  representations  of 
the  intendant,  the  advice  of  his  military  officers,  and  the  directions  of  the 
Minister,  took  upon  himself  to  rebuild  the  fort  at  Catarocoui.  He  went 
up  with  seven  hundred  men  for  this  purpose.  It  was  in  vain  objec  od  to 
him,  that  this  force,  and  the  funds  that  were  thus  to  be  employed,  n  "orht 
l)e  more  usefully  used  in  an  offensive  expedition  against  the  Iroquois,  ^.  !'0 
continued  to  annoy  the  distant  settlements.  He  left  in  it  a  garrison  o 
fif^y-eight  men. 

In  the  fall,  the  count  and  the  intendant  recommended  to  the  minister 


'^u 


f  lii  '.  >! 


"%- 


Ji 

wwl 

'l 

■"J 

^^1 

1 

r^«i^H 

'^'.ti-^w^ 

_  j_  ,      J   1  VJi«| 

,  <^iv^  .  4 

'.i^ 

^t^4 


i\. 


94 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


'H  lif: 


n.  !;m- 


r.f^ 


to  send  ten  or  twelve  ships  of  the  line  ag.iinst  an  English  lieet  that  was 
expected  in  the  Canadian  sea,  and  to  attempt  the  reduction  of  Boston. 
They  represented  that  town  as  carrying  on  a  considerahle  trade,  and 
assured  him  its  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  French  would  insure  the 
fisheries  exclusively  to  them.  The  king's  council,  however,  determined 
on  confining  the  operations  of  the  next  cami)aign  in  America,  to  driving 
the  English  from  the  places  they  occupied  in  New  Foundland,  and  the 
fort  of  Penkuit,  from  wliich  they  continued  to  harrass  the  settlements  in 
Acadie,  and  which,  being  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the 
Abenaquis,  gave  the  people  of  New  England,  a  great  oj)p()rtunity  of 
subduing  these  Indians,  or  at  least  of  seducing  them  from  their  alliance 
with  and  dependence  on  the  French  crown. 

Accordingly,  in  the  next  summer,  Iberville  arrived  with  two  ships  on 
the  coast  of  Acadie,  and  on  the  third  of  July,  met  with  three  ships  of 
war  of  the  enemy ;  one  of  which,  the  Newport,  of  sixty  guns,  he  captured : 
a  heavy  ft>g  that  rose  during  the  engagement,  favored  the  escape  of  the 
other  two.  Having  taken  fifty  Indians  on  board  at  Beaubassin,  he 
proceeded  to  Pentagoet,  where  the  Baron  of  St.  Castin  had  marched  with 
twenty-five  soldiers  and  two  hundred  and  fifty  Indians.  On  the  fifteenth, 
the  Baron,  having  raised  two  batteries,  sent  a  summons  to  the  Com- 
mandant, representing  the  land  and  naval  forces  ready  to  co-operate 
against  him,  as  too  large  to  admit  of  a  successful  resistance.  The 
Englishman  replied,  that  if  the  sea  was  covered  with  French  ships,  and 
the  country  around  with  French  soldiers,  he  would  not  think  of 
surrendering  the  fort  as  long  as  he  had  a  gun  to  fire.  On  this,  a  cannonade 
began  from  the  batteries  and  shipping.  Iberville  landed  during  the  night 
and  erected  a  bomb  battery.  On  the  next  day,  fire  bombs,  thrown  into 
the  fort,  appeared  to  create  confusion :  the  bart)n  now  sent  word  that  if 
the  besieged  waited  for  the  assault,  they  would  have  his  Indians  to  deal 
with,  whom  it  might  possibly  be  out  of  his  power  to  control.  This  threat 
had  its  effect,  and  the  fort  capitulated. 

Iberville,  after  this,  sailed  for  New  Foundland.  An  English  fleet  still 
hovered  on  the  coast  of  Acadie :  its  commander,  having  landed  four  or 
five  hundred  men  at  Beaubassin,  was  shown  by  the  inhabitants  an 
instrument  of  writing,  left  with  them  by  Sir  William  Phipps,  declaring 
that  as  they  had  submitted  to  the  forces  of  William  and  Mary,  he  had 
taken  them  under  his  sovereign's  protection.  They  were  answered  they 
should  in  no  manner  be  injured.  Orders  were  accordingly  given  to  the 
soldiers,  who  were  prohibited  from  taking  anything,  except  such  cattle  as 
might  be  needed  for  the  fleet ;  for  which,  payment  was  promised.  The 
commodore  walked  with  the  inhabitants  who  had  waited  on  him,  to  the 
house  of  one  Bourgeois,  where  he  and  his  officers  were  entertained,  and 
where  the  most  respectable  inhabitants  came  to  visit  him.  The  soldiers, 
however,  went  about  pillaging,  and  treating  the  Acadians  as  a  conquered 
people,  and  when  complaints  were  made  to  the  chief,  he  did  not  restrain  them. 
Walking  out  accidentally  towards  the  church,  he  noticed  a  paper  stuck  on 
the  d'ior,  subscribed  by  Count  de  Frontenac.  It  contained  regulation? 
res  cting  the  traffic  with  the  Indians.  Pretending  to  be  much  irritated 
at  I  his  discovery,  he  charged  the  inhabitants  with  a  breach  of  their  sworn 
rc'utrality,  ordered  the  church  to  be  set  on  fire,  and  authorized  his  soldiers 
to  continue  the  pillage.      The  plantations  were  laid  waste,  and  most  of 


HISTORY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


95 


the  houses  l>urnt.      The  forces  being  re-embarked,  the  fleet  went  to  the 
river  St.  Jt)hn,  where  tin  unsuccessful  attack  was  made  on  the  fort. 

In  the  meanwhile,  Iberville  went  to  New  Foundland,  where  he  had 
considerable  success,  and  took  the  Fort  of  St.  John.  He  Avas  preparing  to 
drive  the  English  from  the  two  only  places  which  they  held  in  that  island, 
when  he  received  orders  to  sail  for  the  bay  of  Hudson  with  four  ships 
which  arrived  from  France.  The  English  had  captured  Fort  Bourbon,  in 
that  bay.  He  lost  one  of  his  tihips  in  the  ice,  and  a  storm  separated  two 
of  the  others  from  him.  The  ship  he  was  in  was  drove  ashore  in  another 
gale :  but  the  two  who  had  disappeared,  joining  the  one  he  had  left,  he 
gave  battle  to  some  English  ships  which  he  found  in  the  bay.  He  sunk 
one  of  them  and  took  another;  the  third  escaped — and  toAvards  the 
middle  of  Scpteml)er  he  recaptured  Fort  Bourbon. 

The  peace  of  Riswick,  in  the  meanwhile,  put  an  end  to  hostilities.  On 
the  twentieth  of  Seiitember,  Louis  the  fourteenth  acknowledged  William 
the  third,  king  of  England,  and  the  two  monjirchs  agreed  mutually  to 
restore  to  each  other  all  conquests  made  during  the  war,  and  to  appoint 
commissioners  to  examine  and  determine  the  rights  and  pretensions  of 
each  to  the  places  situated  in  Hudson's  Bay. 

In  the  following  year.  Count  de  Frontenac  died,  and  was  succeeded,  in 
the  government-general  of  New  France,  by  the  Chevalier  de  Callieres. 

At  this  period,  the  population  of  New  France  did  not  exceed  sixteen 
thousand ;  that  of  Canada  being  thirteen,  and  that  of  Acadie  three  thousand. 
We  have  seen  that,  before  the  accession  of  the  Bourbons  and  the  StuaKs, 
in  the  early  part  of  the  seventeenth  century,  all  the  efforts  of  France  and 
England,  towards  colonization  in  the  western  hemisphere  had  proved 
abortive.  The  progress  of  these  nations,  under  the  princes  of  those  nouses, 
were  simultaneous,  but  unequal,  both  in  the  means  employed  and  the 
result.  Vast  were  those  of  France :  exiguous  those  of  England.  Yet  the 
population  of  the  colonies  of  the  latter  was  sixteen  times  that  of  those  of 
the  former :  it  exceeded  two  hundred  and  sixty  thousand. 

Judge  Marshal  has  shown,  in  his  history  oi  the  colonies  planted  by  the 
English  in  North  America,  how  immense  and  rapid  are  the  advances  of  a 
community,  allowed  to  manage  its  own  concerns,  unaided,  and  even 
checked  at  times,  by  a  distant  administration.  Sequar,  sed  hand  paasibus 
(quis.  Mine  shall  be  the  humble  task  to  show  how  small  and  tardy  are 
those  advances  in  a  colony,  absolutely  guided  by  the  mother  country, 
notwithstanding  the  great  assistance  the  latter  may  afford  to  the  former. 
About  three-fourths  of  a  century,  after  Henry  the  fourth  laid  the 
foundation  of  Quel)ec,  William  Penn,  an  individual  of  the  English  nation, 
cut  down  the  first  tree,  on  the  spot  which  Philadelphia  now  covers,  and  in 
about  twelve  years  after,  the  qualcer,  by  his  unaided  exertions,  had  collected 
twenty  thousand  persons  around  his  city ;  one-fourth  more  than  the  efforts 
of  three  successive  monarchs  of  France,  commanding  the  resources  of  that 
mighty  kingdom,  and  employing  several  ships  of  the  royal  navy  in  the 
transportation  of  the  soldiers  and  colonists,  had  been  able  to  unite  in 
i  New  France. 


Mm 


■m 


't\ 


1  *  P  *^ 


ll 


«>!.V  i 


^V':   !'''!(  '^! 


iff^^^!'.: 


i1 


l!i|||;§ 


CHAPTER    VII. 

Louis  the  fourteenth  seemed  to  have  lost  sight  of  Louisiana,  in  tlu- 
prosecution  of  the  war  which  the  treaty  of  Riswiek  terminated.  Wu  have 
seen  that  Lasalle  had  lost  his  life  in  the  attempt  to  plant  a  French 
colony  on  the  Mississippi. 

Iberville,  on  his  return  from  Hudson's  Bay,  flattering  himself  with  the 
hope  of  better  success,  ottered  to  prosecute  Lasalle's  plan,  and  was 
patronized  by  the  Count  de  Pontchartrain,  the  Minister  of  the  Marine,  wIk. 
ordered  an  expedition  to  be  prcjjared  at  la  Rochelle. 

Two  frigates  of  thirty  guns  each,  and  two  smaller  vessels  were  employed 
in  this  service.  The  command  of  one  of  the  frigates  and  of  the  armaniViit 
was  given  to  Iberville,  and  that  of  the  other  to  the  Count  de  Sugeres.  A 
company  of  marines  and  about  two  hundred  settlers,  including  a  few 
women  and  children,  embarked,  Most  of  the  men  were  Canadians,  wIk* 
had  enlisted  in  the  troops  sent  over  from  France  during  the  war,  and  were 
disbanded  at  the  peace. 

This  small  fleet  sailed  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  September,  1698,  foi 
cape  Francois,  in  the  island  of  St.  Domingo,  where  it  arrived  after  ;i 
passage  of  seventy-two  days.  Here  it  was  joined  by  a  fifty  gun  ship 
commanded  bv  Chateaumorant.  Leaving  the  cape  on  new  year's  day.  the 
ships  cast  anchor  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  January  before  the  island  whidi 
now  bears  the  name  of  St.  Rose. 

Iberville  sent  a  boat  to  the  main,  where  Don  Andres  de  la  Riolle  had  a 
short  time  before  led  three  hundred  Spaniards,  on  the  spot  on  which,  in 
the  time  of  Soto,  lay  the  Indian  town  of  Anchusi,  ancl  now  stands  th( 
town  of  Pensacola.  Two  ships  of  his  nation  were  at  anchor  under  tlic 
protection  of  a  battery  that  had  just  been  erected. 

Don  Andres  received  the  officer  in  the  boat  with  civility ;  but  as  his 
naval  force  was  much  inferior  to  that  of  tho  French,  declined  permitting 
Iberville  to  bring  in  his  ships.  They  proceeded  northerly  to  anothor 
island,  not  very  distant,  to  which,  from  a  heap  of  human  bones  near  thf 
beach,  the  name  of  Massacre  Island  was  given.  It  is  now  known  as 
Dauphine  Island. 

Sailing  afterwards  farther  on,  they  entered  a  pass  between  two  island". 
which  received  the  names  of  Horn  and  Ship  Islands;  but  being  stoiipdi 
by  the  shallowness  of  the  water,  thev  came  out,  and  shaping  their  coursf 
southwesterly,  reached  two  other  islands,  now  known  as  those  of  tin 
Chandeleur,  either  from  the  circumstance  of  their  having  been  tiM 
approached  on  the  second  of  February,  Candlemas  day,  or  from  their 
being  covered  with  the  myrtle  shrub,  from  the  wax  of  the  berries  of  whidi 
the  first  colonists  made  their  candles.  The  anchor  was  cast  here,  and  tln' 
pass  between  Ship  Island,  and  another  called  Cat  Island,  (from  a  immbCT 
of  these  animals  found  on  it)  was  sounded,  and  the  smaller  vessels  enterid 
through  it.  The  fifty  gun  ship  now  returned  to  St.  Domingo ;  and  tin 
two  frigates  remained  before  one  of  the  Chandeleur  islands. 

Iberville  went  with  most  of  his  people  to  Ship  Island,  where  they  began 
to  erect  huts.  He  sent  two  boats  to  the  main.  They  entered  the  bay  ol 
Pascagoula,  where  they  discovered  a  number  of  Indians  who  fled  at  their 
approach,  and  were  pursued  in  vain.  On  the  next  day  a  boat  was  again 
sent  on  shore.      On  the  landing  of  the  French,  the  natives  ran  away  af 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


97 


in  tlu' 
i  hiivi' 
I'rench 

th  thf 

le,  who 

iiiimcnt 
res.  A 
2;  a  few 
ns,  who 
,nd  wove 


698,  tor 
,  after  11 
;un  shiy 
day,  the 
id  whu'h 

)lle  hud  ii 
which,  in 
tands  thf 
mder  the 

»ut  as  his 

lermittinii 

p  another 

near  thf 

known  as 

[o  ish\n(l>'. 

Htoppci 

i'eir  course 
[)se  of  the 
been  tir';! 
from  their 
L  of  whieli 
\o,  and  thf 
a  number 
3ls  entere"! 
and  the 

ihev  begaii 
[the  bay  (^t 

bd  at  their 
was  again 

in  away  a^ 


before;  but  a  woman,  lagging  behind,  was  caught,  <in(l  was  so  much 
pleased  at  the  behavior  of  the  strangers,  that  she  went  and  induee(4  her 
countrymen  to  meet  them.  Four  ot  these  Indians  were  persuaded  to  go 
on  board;  Bienville,  a  brother  of  Iberville,  who  commanded  the  boat, 
remaining,  in  the  meanwhile,  as  an  hostage  with  the  rest.  After  spending 
some  time  in  the  vessel,  they  returned,  much  gratified  with  their  courteous 
reception,  and  a  few  presents  that  were  made  them.  For  want  of  an 
interpreter  no  other  information  could  be  obtained  from  them,  except  that 
they  were  of  the  Biloxi  tribe. 

On  the  following  day,  another  party  of  Indians  passed  by.  The  same 
circumstance  prevented  any  knowledge  being  obtained  from  them,  except 
that  they  were  Bayagoulas,  that  their  tribe  dwelt  on  the  bank  of  a  very 
large  river,  a  little  to  the  west,  and  that  they  were  out  on  a  war  expe- 
dition against  the  Mobilians,  who  dwelt  on  a  smaller  stream,  not  far  to 
the  east. 

On  the  twenty-seventh  of  February,  Iberville  and  Bienville,  each  in  a 
barge  well  manned,  went  in  quest  of  the  Mississippi.  They  were  attended 
by  father  Athanase,  a  recollet  monk,  who  nad  accompanied  the 
unfortunate  Lasalle,  both  in  his  descent  of  that  river,  and  on  his  last 
voyage  from  France.  The  third  dav  they  entered  a  wide  stream,  which, 
from  the  turbidness  of  its  waters,  the  friar  justly  concluded  was  the  mighty 
river. 

Having  ascended  it,  according  to  their  reckoning  about  one  hundred 
and  twenty  miles,  on  the  fifth  day  after  they  entered  it,  they  discovered  a 
party  of  Indians,  who,  on  perceiving  the  barges,  sought  their  safety  in 
flight.  One  of  them,  however,  soon  turned  and  fearlessly  awaited  the 
approach  of  the  strangers.  His  good  will  having  been  secured  by  a 
present,  he  went  and  brought  back  his  companions.  It  was  understood 
from  them,  that  they  were  of  the  Bayagoula  tribe.  One  of  them  was 
easily  prevailed  upon  to  get  into  Iberville's  barge  and  accompany  the 
French. 
A  few  days  after,  the  French  overtook  at  the  fork  of  the  Chetimachas,  a 
f>rty  of  tne  Washitas,  and  two  days  after  reached  a  village  of  the 
ayagoulas. 

Here  they  were  shown  some  capots,  or  great  coats,  made  of  blankets, 
left  there  by  some  of  Lasalle's  companions.  They  were  treated  with  great 
hospitality.  The  Indians  supplied  their  guests  with  a  few  fowls,  giving 
them  to  understand  they  proceeded  from  others,  which  they  had  received 
from  a  tribe  of  Indians  (the  Attakapas)  dwelling  northerly,  near  the  sea; 
a  vessel  having  been  cast  ashore  there,  from  which  a  few  of  these  animals 
came  out. 

Iberville  was  still  apprehensive  that  father  Athanase  was  mistaken,  and 
the  river  he  was  on  was  not  the  Mississippi,  until  the  natives  produced  a 
prayer  book,  in  which  the  name  of  one  of  Lasalle's  men  was  written,  and 
at  fast,  a  letter  from  the  Chevalier  de  Tonti,  bearing  date  from  the  village 
of  the  Quinipissas,  the  twentieth  of  April,  1685.  The  chevalier  lamented 
his  king  obliged  to  return,  without  having  met  his  chief,  whose 
departure  from  France  with  the  intention  of  settling  a  French  colony  on 
the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  he  had  learned  from  Canada.  He  observed 
he  had  descended  the  stream,  as  far  as  the  sea,  \^'ith  twenty  Canadians 
and  thirty  Indians.  Iberville  was  also  shown  a  coat  of  mail,  with  double 
meshes  of  wire.    From  the  accounts  the  Indians  gave  of  the  length  of 

14 


g 


■I  -J 


!!•*' 


i'M 


m-m^ 


mm 

'i.i-f:    1-    i 


n\}j- 


h'[i 


98 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


time  this  piece  of  armor  hud  been  among  them,  Iberville  guessed  it  to 
have  belonged  to  one  of  the  Spaniards  who  accompanied  Soto. 

Havin(^  left  another  fork  of  the  Mississippi,  (now  known  as  the  bayou 
Plaquemines)  on  the  left  hand,  they  soon  came  to  another  outlet  of  tlie 
river,  on  its  opposite  side,  whicn  separated  the  land  of  the  Bayagoulus, 
from  that  of  the  Oumas.     It  is  now  called  bayou  Manchac. 

Several  days  afterwards,  they  came  to  a  place  where  the  river  made  a 
considerable  bend.  Iberville,  perceiving  a  large  outlet,  caused  a  number 
of  trees  that  obstructed  it  to  be  cut  down,  and  the  barges  were  drawn 
through.  The  Mississippi  afterwards  so  widened  the  outlet,  that  in  time, 
the  former  bed  of  the  river  being  much  obstructed  by  trees,  the  stream 
altered  its  course,,  and  the  outlet  became  its  bed.  The  place  was  hence 
called  Point  Coupee. 

They  afterwards  came  to  another  considerable  ben4  through  which  the 
natives  made  a  portage  and  had  cut  a  road — the  isthmus  was  but  a  fev, 
yards  in  width ;  the  French  gave  it  the  name  of  the  Portage  de  la  Croix, 
irom  the  circumstance  of  their  having  erected  there  a  cross  in  token  of 
having  proceeded  so  far  up  the  river,  and  of  having  taken  possession  of  it. 
It  is  believed  that  this  is  the  great  bend  of  the  Mississippi  opposite  the 
mouth  of  Red  river.  The  Oumas  Indians  had  a  considerable  village  near 
this  spot.    The  French  repaired  to  it  and  were  hospitably  received. 

Iberville  now  retrograded,  and  the  barges  having  floated  back  as  far  as 
bayou  Manchac,  Bienville  proceeded  down  the  river  to  the  sea,  and 
Iberville  entered  the  small  stream  and  proceeded  through  two  lakes,  to 
which  he  gave  the  names  of  J'aurepas  and  Pontchartrain,  to  a  bay  which 
he  called  St.  Louis,  and  reached  his  shipping.  Bienville  arrived  shortly 
afterwards. 

It  was  now  determined  to  fix  the  principal  establishment  of  the  colony 
at  the  eastern  extremity  of  a  bay  which,  from  the  Indians  dwelling  near 
it,  was  called  the  bay  of  Biloxi ;  it  lies  between  the  bay  of  Pencagonda 
and  that  of  St.  Louis.  A  fort  with  four  bastions  was  immediately  begun, 
and  completed  on  the  first  of  May.  Twelve  pieces  of  cannon  were  placed 
in  it,  and  the  command  given  to  SauvoUe,  a  brother  of  Iberville ;  and 
Bienville,  their  younger  brother,  was  appointed  his  lieutenant.  The 
colonists  settled  around  it,  and  Iberville  and  the  Count  de  Sugeres  sailed 
for  France  in  the  frigates,  on  the  ninth,  leaving  the  two  small  vessels  for 
the  service  of  the  colony. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  Scotch  had  made  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to 

Elant  a  colony  near  the  isthmus  of  Panama.  King  William  had  given 
is  assent  to  an  act  of  the  parliament  of  Scotland,  incorporating  a  company 
to  carry  on  trade  in  Africa  and  the  Indies ;  and  the  association  equipped 
three  ships  and  two  tenders,  on  which  were  embarked  one  thousand 
colonists. 

This  fleet  cast  anchor  near  cape  Tiberon,  in  latitude  8.  40.  N.  on  the 
second  of  November  of  the  preceding  year;  the  Indians  received  the 
adventurers  with  cordiality^,  and  led  their  ships  to  a  bay  within  Golden 
Island,  about  five  miles  wide  and  very  deep.  The  Scotch,  having  sounded 
along  the  shore,  found  a  lagoon  on  the  southeast  side  of  the  bay,  running 
up  within  the  land  for  about  two  miles  and  a  half,  and  selected  a  spot, 
wnich  nature  had  rendered  easily  defensible,  for  the  chief  place  for  the 
colony.    They  called  it  New  Edinburgh,  and  the  harbor  before  it  Caledonia 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


99 


ich  the 
it  a  fev, 
Croix, 
oken  of 
on  of  it. 
asite  the 
age  near 
d. 

as  far  as    | 
sea,  and 
lakes,  to 
ay  which 
i  shortly 

^e  colony 
ling  near 
ncagonda 
ly  begun, 
!re  placed 
rille;  and 
int.  The 
res  sailed 
essela  for 


harbor.    They  erected  a  platform,  on  which  they  placed  sixteen  guns,  and 
(iignified  it  with  the  name  of  Fort  St.  Andrews. 

The  Indians  continued  friendly ;  the  colony  was  visited  l)y  small  vessels 
from  Jamaica  and  St.  Domingo.  It  was  several  times'  harrassed  by 
irruptions  of  Spaniards  from  the  neighboring  colonies,  whom  they  always 
suecessfullv  repelled.  In  the  spring,  however,  the  cabinet  of  Madrid  malle 
loud  complaints  of  this  invasion  of  the  territory  of  Spain,  and  William, 
being  averse  to  a  rupture  with  that  nation,  immeaiately  after  the  conclusion 
of  the  war,  disowned  the  Scotch  colony,  and  the  governors  of  Jamaica, 
Barbadoes,  New  York  and  Massachusetts  issued  proclamations,  command- 
ing  the  king's  subjects,  in  their  respective  governments,  to  forbear  holding 
any  correspondence  with,  or  giving  any  aid  to  the  Scotch  colony.  William 
was  deaf  to  the  representations  of  the  company,  and  the  colonists,  unable 
to  repel  the  Spaniards,  and  to  sustain  themselves  without  aid  from  home, 
dispersed  soon  after. 

Sauvolle,  after  the  departure  of  the  two  frigates,  dispatched  one  of  his 
two  vessels  to  St.  Domingo  for  provisions.  Nothing  now  appeared  to  him 
of  greater  importance  than  to  secure  a  good  understanding  with  the  Indian 
tribes  near  the  fort.  For  this  purpose,  in  the  beginning  of  June,  he  sent 
his  young  brother  with  a  few  Canadians,  and  a  Bayagoula  chief  as  a  guide, 
towards  the  Colapissas,  who  dwelt  on  the  northern  bank  of  lake  I'ontchar- 
train.  This  tribe  had  three  hundred  warriors.  On  seeing  Bienville 
approach,  the  Colapissas  rangc<l  themselves  in  battle  array.  He  stopped 
ana  sent  his  guide  to  inquire  into  the  cause  of  this  hostile  appearance. 
The  Colapissas  replied,  that  three  days  before,  two  white  men,  whom  they 
took  to  DC  English  from  Carolina,  came  at  the  head  of  two  hundred 
Chickasaws,  attacked  their  village  and  carried  away  some  of  their  people 
into  captivity,  and  they  had  at  first  considered  Bienville  and  his  white 
companions  as  Englishmen.  The  Bayagoula  chief  undeceived  them,  and 
told  them,  that  those  who  came  to  visit  them  were  French,  and  enemies 
of  the  English — that  their  object,  in  coming  to  the  village,  was  to  solicit 
the  friendship  and  alliance  of  its  inhabitants.  The  Colapissas  laid  down 
their  arms  and  received  and  entertained  the  French  with  great  cordiality. 
Bienville  made  them  a  few  presents,  and  exchanged  with  them  promises 
of  reciprocal  friendship,  alliance  and  support. 

On  his  return  to  tne  fort  he  spent  there  but  a  few  days,  and  set  off 
easterly  on  a  like  errand ;  he  ascended  the  Pascagoula  river,  on  the  banks 
of  which  the  nation  who  gave  it  its  name,  the  Biloxis  and  the  Moetobies 
had  villages — and  he  proceeded  as  far  as  the  Mobilians.  Having  been  as 
successful  with  these  tribes  as  with  the  Colapissas,  and  equally  anxious  to 
live  on  good  terms  with  his  white  as  his  red  neighbors,  he  paid  a  visit  to 
Don  Andres  at  Pensacola. 

Ever  since  the  discovery  of  the  Mississippi  by  Lasalle,  Canadian 
huntsmen,  or  coureurs  de  hois,  strayed  at  times  to  the  banks  of  that  river, 
and  missionaries  from  that  colony  had  been  led  by  their  zeal  to  locate 
themselves  among  the  Indians  on  the  Wabash,  the  Illinois  and  other 
streams  that  pay  the  tribute  of  their  waters  to  the  Mississippi,  and  of  late 
among  several  tribes  on  the  very  banks  of  that  river ;  and  on  the  first  of 
July,  Sauvolle  had  the  pleasure,  which  he  little  expected,  of  receiving  the 
visits  of  two  of  these  missionaries,  who  resided  with  the  Tensas  and 
Yazou  Indians. 
The  holy  men,  coming  to  preach  among  the  Oumas,  had  heard  of  a 


li 


i  'I    ^  ii 


•>^'*^^^.\ 


-*' 


100 


HISTOHY  OF   LoriSIANA. 


m 


r  1  I 


■(,11 


French  Hcttlemont  on  the  8ea  whore;  tliey  flouted  down  the  MisHisHij)!)!  to 
visit  it,  and  reached  the  fort  through  the  hikew.  Their  names  were 
Montegiiv  and  Uavion ;  the  hitter  resided  on  an  eminence,  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Mississippi,  hetween  the  present  towns  of  St.  Francisville  an<l 
Natchez,  which  the  French  called  after  him  La  Roche  n  Davum.      While 


the  Enf^lish  held  this  part  of  the  country,  the  spot  was  called  Loftu«' 
heights.  From  a  foxt,  huilt  under  the  presidency  of  John  Adams,  it  hears 
now  the  name  of  Fort  Adams.  These  clergymen  spent  a  few  days  with 
their  countrymen,  and  returned  to  their  respective  missions. 

Parties  from  the  Mobile  and  Thome  Indians  visited  their  French 
neighbors  in  the  month  of  August,  and  the  vessel  dispatched  to  St. 
Domingo  on  the  departure  of  Iberville,  returned  with  an  ample  supply  of 
provisions,  which  began  to  be  much  needed.    . 

Iberville,  on  ascending  the  Mississipjn,  had  noticed  three  outlets ;  one 
on  the  eastern  side,  and  two  on  the  western,  now  called  the  fork  of  the 
Chetimachas,  and  bayou  Plaquemines.  lie  had  descended  through  the 
first,  and  had  instructed  Sauvolle  to  have  the  two  others  ex^)l()re(l. 
Perfect  tranquillity  reigning  in  the  settlement,  Bienville  was  sent,  with  ten 
Canadians  in  two  pirogues,  on  this  service. 

They  crossed  lakes  Pontchartrain  and  Maurei)as,  and  ascending  through 
bayou  Manchac,  reached  the  Mississippi  and  floated  down  to  the  fork. 
Taking  always  the  western  prong,  whenever  the  stream  forked,  Bienville 
fell  into  a  bayou  in  which  the  water  failed ;  visiting  several  villages  of 
Indians  on  tHe  way,  he  returned  to  the  Mississippi,  which  he  descended, 
and  on  the  sixteenth  of  September,  met  an  English  ship  of  sixteen  guns. 
Captain  Bar,  who  commanded  her,  informed  Bienville  he  had  left  below 
another  ship  of  his  nation  of  the  same  force ;  these  ships  were  sent  by  Daniel 
Coxe  of  New  Jersey,  who  then  was  the  proprietor  of  the  immense  grant 
of  land  from  Charles  I.  of  England  to  Sir  Robert  Heath,  in  1627.  The 
object  of  captain  Bar  and  his  companion  was  to  sound  the  passes  of  the 
Mississippi.  They  were  afterwards  to  return  and  convoy  four  smaller 
vessels,  bringing  several  families,  intended  as  the  beginning  of  an  English 
colony,  on  the  banks  of  the  river.  Capt.  Bar  was  uncertain  whether  the 
stream  he  was  exploring  was  the  Mississippi  or  not. 

Bienville  told  him  it  was  further  west,  that  the  country  they  were  in 
was  a  dependence  of  the  French  colony  of  Canada,  and  the  French  had  a 
strong  fort  and  some  settlements  higher  up,  which  induced  Bar  to  retrograde. 
The  part  of  the  river,  in  which  Bienville  met  him,  was  the  beginning  of  a 
large  bend,  where  the  ship  was  detained ;  the  wind  which  brought  her  up 
ceasing,  from  the  very  great  turn  of  the  river,  to  be  favorable.  From  thi,« 
circumstance,  the  place  was  called  the  English  Turn ;  an  appellation  which 
it  still  retains. 

While  Bienville  was  on  board,  a  French  engineer,  named  Secon,  handed 
him  a  memorial  to  be  forwarded  to  the  court  of  France.  It  stated,  that 
the  memorialist,  and  four  hundred  protestant  families  who  had  emigrated 
from  France  to  Carolina,  in  consequence  of  the  revocation  of  the  edict  of 
Nantz,  in  1684,  were  anxious  to  come  and  live  under  the  French  government 
in  Louisiana,  provided  liberty  of  conscience  was  promised  them.  This 
paper  was  accordingly  forwarded ;  but  the  Count  de  Pontchartrain  answered, 
that  his  sovereign  had  not  driven  these  protestants  from  his  kingdom  to 
make  a  republic  of  them  in  America.  Religious  intolerance  had  greatly 
thinned  the  population  of  France,  and  was  now  to  check  that  of  her 


IIIHTOHY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


101 


jen  guns. 
eft  below 
by  Daniel 
ise  grant 
i27.    The 
les  of  the 
ir  smaller 
n  English 
lether  the 

(y  were  in 
nch  had  a 
•etrograde. 
ining  of  a 
rht  her  up 
From  this 
tion  which 


colonies.  Itn  dire  evilw  wore  not  conHned  to  Catholic  oountricH  nor  to  the 
old  world — th(\v  have  heon  felt  evon  in  "tho  hind  of  tho  froo."  About 
nixty  yearH  before,  the  general  court  of  MaHsachuscttH  excluded  from  the 
(■moynient  of  political  rights,  those  who  had  not  been  received  into  the 
cliurch  as  members ;  and  even  at  this  day,  the  constitution  of  North 
Carolina  withholds  some  of  them  from  those  who  deny  the  truth  of  the 
protestant  religion. 

Bienville,  after  the  departure  of  the  English  ships,  descended  the  river 
to  the  sea,  and  sounded  its  western  pass ;  he  found  eleven  feet  of  water  on 
its  bar. 

Returning,  he  reached  the  village  of  the  Bayagoulas  on  the  first  of 
Octoher.  These  Indians  were  in  the  greatest  consternation ;  having  been 
lately  surprised  by  the  Oumas,  who  made  several  of  their  people 
jirisoners.  The  war  that  hud  broke  out  between  these  two  tribes  was 
occasioned  by  a  dispute  about  their  limits.  Bienville,  on  leaving  them, 
promised  to  the  Bayagoulas,  that  he  would  soon  return  with  some  of  his 
men,  and  compel  the  Oumas  to  make  peace  with  them. 

On  his  way  down,  he  was  guided  to  a  portage  or  crossing  place ;  his 
pirogues  were  carried  over  to  bayou  Tigouyou,  through  which  he  reached 
lake  Pontchartrain,  and  in  four  days  arrived  at  the  fort  of  Biloxi. 

Several  guns  fired  at  sea,  attracted  the  attention  of  the  colonists 
on  the  seventh  of  December.  Sauvolle  sent  out  a  light  boat,  which  soon 
came  back  with  the  pleasing  intelligence  of  the  approach  of  a  French  fleet. 
It  consisted  of  a  fifty  and  a  forty  gun  ship,  commanded  by  Iberville  and 
the  Count  de  Sugeres ;  Sauvolle  naa  been  appointed  governor,  Bienville 
lieutenant-governor  of  Louisiana ;  and  Boisbriant  major  of  the  fort.  This 
officer,  with  two  others,  St.  Denys  and  Maton,  came  in  the  ships  with 
sixty  Canadians ;  they  were  accompanied  by  Lesueur,  a  geologist,  who  was 
sent  to  examine  a  greenish  earth  or  ochre,  which  some  of  the  men,  who 
had  accompanied  Dacan  up  the  Mississippi,  had  noticed  on  its  banks. 

Iberville,  finding  from  Bienville's  report  that  the  English  meditated 
an  establishment  on  the  Mississippi,  determined  on  effecting  one 
immediately.  He  departed  for  that  purpose  in  the  smallest  vessel,  with 
fifty  Canadians,  on  the  seventeenth  of  January,  having  sent  Bienville  by 
the  lakes  to  the  Bayagoulas  to  procure  guides  to  some  spot  in  the  lower 
part  of  the  river,  secure  from  the  inundation.  They  led  him  to  an  elevated 
one,  at  the  distance  of  fifty-four  miles  from  the  sea,  where  Iberville  met 
them  soon  after,  and  the  building  of  a  fort  was  immediately  begun. 

Towards  the  middle  of  February,  they  were  met  by  the  Chevalier  de 
Tonti  from  the  Illinois  with  seven  men ;  he  had  left  others,  who  had 
accompanied  him,  at  the  Bayagoulas.  The  object  of  his  journey  was  to 
ascertain  the  truth  of  a  report  which  had  reached  him  of  the  establish- 
ment of  a  French  colony. 

Three  days  after,  Ibervilhs  and  Bienville  set  off  with  the  chevalier  and 
a  small  party  for  the  upper  part  of  the  Mississippi.  They  stopped  at  the 
Bayagoulas,  with  whom  they  remained  till  tne  first  of  March,  and 
proceeded  to  the  Oumas,  with  the  view  of  inducing  or  compelling  them  to 
release  the  prisoners  they  had  taken  from  the  Bayagoulas.  On  approaching 
the  village  of  the  Oumas,  Iberville  went  forward  with  a  few  Bayagoula 
chiefs ;  as  he  approached  their  village,  the  Oumas  met  and  received  him 
ivith  much  respect.  He  was  successful  in  his  endeavors ;  peace  was  made 
between  the  two  tribes,  and  the  Bayagoula  prisoners  were  liberated. 


MM 


4,  |'«?*^|f?i 


102 


HISTORY  OP   LOUISIANA, • 


I'^lk' 


k'-'^  it 


i; 


% ' 


m 


•)i'  -i 


^1  :.;.S! 


From  the  OumaH,  the  French  proceeded  to  the  Natchez ;  thiw  nuti(»n 
had  been  lately  reduced  by  warH  t<j  twelve  hundred  warriorn.  A  iniHwionary 
named  8t.  Come  had  arrived  Home  time  before  from  Caiuida,  and  fixed  Iuk 
reuidence  among  them.  The  king,  or  (Jreat  Sun  of  the  nation,  on  hearing 
of  the  apuroach  of  the  French,  came  forward  on  the  nhoulderH  of  Home  of 
his  people,  attended  bv  a  large  retinue,  and  welcomed  Iberville;  thonr 
IndiaUH  appeared  much  more  civilized  than  the  othern.  They  prcBorvcd 
in  a  temple  a  perpetual  fire,  kept  up  by  a  priest,  and  ottered  to  it  the 
first  fruits  of  the  chase. 

The  TensaB,  a  neighboring  nation,  were  in  alliance  with  the  Natchez, 
and  much  resembled  them  in  their  manners  and  religion. 

While  Iberville  remained  there,  one  of  the  temples  was  struck  and  not 
on  fire  by  lightning.  The  keeper  of  the  fane  solicited  the  squaws  to  throw 
their  little  ones  into  the  fire,  to  ap  )eaHe  the  divinity ;  four  infants  were 
thus  sacrificed  before  the  French  cou  d  prevail  on  the  women  to  desist. 

On  the  twenty-second  of  March,  Iberville  returned  to  the  fort  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  and  from  thence  to  that  at  the  Biloxi.  He  wac 
much  pleased  with  the  country  of  the  Natchez,  and  considered  it  as  the 
most  suitable  part  of  the  province  for  its  principal  establishment;  he 
selected  a  high  spot  which  he  laid  out  for  a  town,  and  called  it  Rosalie, 
in  honor  of  the  Countess  of  Pontchartrain,  who  had  received  that  name  at 
the  baptismal  fount. 

On  the  day  that  Iberville  left  the  Natchez,  Bienville  and  St.  Denys, 
attended  by  a  few  Canadians  and  a  number  of  Indians,  set  off  for  the 
country  of  the  Yatassees,  in  the  western  part  of  Louisiana. 

Iberville,  on  his  arrival  at  the  fort  of  Biloxi,  was  informed  that  the 
governor  of  Pensacola  had  come  to  Ship  Island  with  a  thirty  gun  ship, 
and  one  hundred  and  forty  men,  with  tne  view  of  drivinjj  the  French 
away.  He  found  there  a  superior  force,  and  contented  himself  with  a 
solemn  protest  against  what  he  called  the  usurpation  of  a  countrv  which 
he  considered  as  part  of  the  government  of  Mexico.  He  furnished  the 
Count  de  Sugeres  with  a  copy  of  this  instrument,  which  the  latter,  sailing 
for  France  a  few  davs  afterwards,  carried  thither. 

Lesueur,  with  a  detachment  of  twenty  men,  set  off  for  the  country  of 
the  Sioux,  in  the  latter  part  of  April. 

In  the  meanwhile,  Bienville  and  St,  Denys  returned  to  Biloxi ;  they 
had  found  the  country  through  which  they  intended  to  pass,  entirely 
covered  with  water,  ana  had  proceeded  to  the  village  of  the  Washitas,  in 
which  they  found  but  five  huts ;  the  Indians  having  mostly  removed  to 
the  Natchitoches.  They  crossed  Red  river,  and  met  six  of  the  latter 
Indians  who  were  carrying  salt  to  the  Coroas,  u  tribe  who  dwelt  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  Yazou  river.  On  the  seventh  of  April  they  reached  the 
village  of  the  Ouitchouis,  in  which  were  about  fifty  warriors ;  here  they 
were  supplied  with  provisions,  and  one  of  the  Indians  accompanied  them 
as  a  guide  to  the  Yatassees,  whose  village  was  very  large,  as  they  had 
two  hundred  warriors.  The  information  the  travellers  obtained  of  the 
country  to  the  west  was  imperfect.  They  did  not  hear  of  any  Spanish 
settlement^  in  the  vicinity. 

On  their  way  down  the  Mississippi,  they  stopped  at  the  Bayagoulae. 
whose  village  was  almost  entirely  destroyed  by  the  Mongoulachas,  a  tribe 
who  dwelt  near  them. 

Iberville  returned  to  France  towards  the  last  of  May.    He  left  Bien\'ille 


m^^ 


lilHTOUY   OF    LOUISIANA. 


las 


.  that  the 
igun  ship, 
e  French 
slf  with  a 
try  which 
ished  the 
er,  saiUng 


in  command,  in  tlin  fort  on  thu  MiHHiHHlppi,  and  sent  St.  DonyH,  with 
twelvi'  (!unadiant«  and  a  number  of  IndianH,  to  proHocuto  the  diHcovories 
he  liad  hoKiin  on  Red  river. 

Altliouji^h  the  French  had  now  been  upwards  of  two  years  in  LouiHiana, 
they  do  not  ap|>car  to  have  reHortod  to  the  (culture  of  the  earth  for 
HiiltViHtente ;  the}^  depended  entirely  on  Hunplies  from  France  or  St. 
Domingo.  Fishing  and  hunting  afforded  tne  et)h)ny  fresh  meat,  and 
the  )»eopU!  carrie(i  on  a  small  trade  with  the  Indian  tribes  on  the  sea 
count,  (fovernment,  instead  of  concentrating  the  population,  seemed 
more  intent  cm  making  new  discoveries  where  other  settlements  might  be 
inade,  and  to  seek  in  the  bowels  of  the  earth  for  metals  and  ochres.  The 
attention  of  the  colonial  othcers  had  been  directed  to  a  search  for  pearls. 
The  wool  of  buffaloes  was  pointed  out  to  them  as  the  future  staple 
commodity  of  the  country,  and  they  were  directed  to  have  a  number  of 
these  animals  penned  and  tamed.  Nay,  thoughts  were  entertained  of 
pliipping  some  of  the  young  to  France,  in  order  to  propagate  the  species 

there. 

Charles  the  second,  the  fifth  and  last  monarch  of  Spain  of  the  house  of 
Austria,  died  cm  the  tenth  of  November,  1700,  in  the  thirty-ninth  year  of 
ins  age,  and  without  issue.  His  will  called  to  the  throne  he  was  leaving 
Philip,  Duke  of  Anjou,  a  (grandson  of  Louis  the  fourteenth.  Although  the 
new  king  was  received  with  acclamations  in  Madrid,  his  elevation  was 
powerfully  opposed  by  the  Archduke  Charles,  who  was  supported  by  his 
rather,  and  by  England,  Holland,  Savoy,  Prussia  and  Portugal.  Thus,  the 
flames  of  war  began  to  rage  in  Europe  in  that  contest,  which  is  called  the 
war  of  the  Spanish  succession. 

St.  Denys  returned  in  the  fall,  after  a  very  tiresome  journey  of  upwards 
of  six  months,  without  any  material  information  respecting  the  Indians 
in  the  upper  part  of  Red  river. 

Lesueur  had  ascended  the  Mississippi,  as  high  as  the  falls,  to  which 
Dacan  and  Hennepin  had  given  the  name  of  St.  Anthony,  proceeded  up 
St.  Peters'  river  upwards  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles,  and  entered  a 
stream,  which  he  called  Green  river,  from  the  hue  imparted  to  its  water,  by 
a  greenish  ochre,  which  covered  the  land  around  a  copper  mine,  and  was 
intermixed  with  the  ore  on  the  surface.  The  ice  prevented  his  advance 
more  than  three  miles,  although  it  was  now  the  latter  part  of  September. 
He  employed  his  detachment  in  building  a  small  fort,  in  which  they 
wintered.  It  was  called  Fort  Thuillier,  in  compliment  to  a  farmer-general 
of  that  name,  one  of  Lesueur's  patrons.  In  the  spring,  the  party  proceeded 
to  the  mine,  at  the  foot  of  a  mountain,  which  the  Indians  said  was  thirty 
miles  in  length.  It  was  very  near  the  oank  of  the  river :  thirteen  thousand 
weight  of  a  mixture  of  ochre  and  ore  were  gathered,  brought  to  Biloxi,  and 
shipped  to  France.  From  the  circumstance  of  the  mine  having  been 
ahandoned,  it  is  concluded  that  no  value  was  attached  to  the  shipment. 
Lesueur  had  left  the  greatest  part  of  his  men  in  the  fort,  to  keep  possession 
of  the  country. 

A  frigate  arrived  from  Prance  on  the  thirtieth  of  May,  under  the  orders 
of  Delaronde.  Government,  always  under  the  impression  that  wealth  was 
to  he  sought  in  the  bowels  of  the  earth,  in  Louisiana,  rather  than  gathered 
from  its  surface,  by  the  dull  and  steady  process  of  tillage,  and  listening 
with  unabated  credulity  to  the  tales  of  every  impostor,  who  came  from 
America,  a  Canadian,  of  the  name  of  Mathew  Sagan,  who  had  furnished 


&^  f 


I  ■  '  HI 


i^lftl! 


mm: 


ii'i  ; 


I-  :■ 


Wi 


104 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


the  Count  de  Pontchartrain  with  feigned  memoirs,  in  which  he  protended 
to  have  ascended  the  Missouri  and  discovered  mines  of  gold,  arrived  in 
this  vessel.  The  minister,  yielding  to  the  illusion  which  Sagan's  memoirs 
produced,  had  ordered  his  services  to  be  secured  at  a  great  expense,  and 
instructed  SauvoUe  to  have  twenty-four  pirogues  built  and  one  hundred 
Canadians  placed  with  them,  under  the  orders  of  his  man,  to  enable  him 
to  proceed  to  the  Missouri  and  work  the  mines.  He  was  well  known  to 
most  of  the  Canadians  in  Louisiana,  who  were  conscious  he  never  had 
been  on  the  Missouri.  Sauvolle,  informed  of  the  character  of  the  man, 
did  not  hurry  the  intended  expedition,  although,  in  obedience  to  his 
instructions,  he  gave  orders  for  the  building  of  the  pirogues.  The  frigate 
staid  but  a  few  days  in  Louisiana. 

Sauvolle  dying,  on  the  twenty-second  of  Jul^,  Bienville  succeeded  him, 
in  the  chief  command  and  removed  from  the  Mississippi  to  Biloxi.  Parties 
of  the  Choctaws  and  Mobile  Indians  came  a  few  days  after  his  arrival,  to 
visit  him.  Their  object  was  to  solicit  the  aid  of  the  French  against  the 
Chickasaws,  who  harrassed  them  by  frequent  irruptions  in  their  villages. 
The  French  chief,  considering  that  his  colony  was  too  weak  to  be  embroiled 
in  the  quarrels  of  the  Indian  tribes  near  it,  declined  giving  his  visitors 
any  offensive  aid,  but  sent  an  officer,  accompanied  by  a  few  Canadians,  to 
afford  the  Choctaws  his  good  offices  as  mediator. 

A  party  of  the  Alibamons  visited  the  fort,  about  the  same  time. 

The  utter  neglect  of  agriculture,  and  the  failure  of  the  supplies  which 
had  been  relied  on  from  France,  St.  Domingo  and  Vera  Cruz,  reduced  the 
colony  to  great  distress  during  the  summer ;  the  people  having  nothing 
to  subsist  on,  but  a  few  baskets  of  corn,  occasionally  brought  in  by  the 
natives,  and  what  could  be  obtained  by  the  chase  or  drawn  from  the  water, 
by  the  net  or  line.  In  the  fall,  disease  added  its  horrors  to  those  of  famine. 
Most  of  the  colonists  sickened  and  many  died ;  their  number  was  reduced 
to  one  hundred  and  fiftv.      They  were  not  relieved  till  late  in  December, 

Iberville  now  arrived  with  two  ships  of  the  line  and  a  brig,  bringing  a 
reinforcement  of  troops. 

In  pursuance  of  the  king's  instructions,  Bienville  left  twenty  men 
under  the  orders  of  Boisbriant,  at  the  fort  of  Biloxi,  and  moved  his  head- 
quarters to  the  western  bank  of  the  river  Mobile. 

The  officer  who  had  accompanied  the  Choctaws  and  Mobilians  now 
returned.  He  had  been  successful  in  his  mediation,  and  a  peace  had  heeii 
concluded  between  these  Indians  and  the  Chickasaws. 

A  supply  of  provisions  from  Vera  Cruz,  where  Bienville  had  sent  a  light 
vessel,  added  to  a  large  one  by  the  fleet,  restored  abundance  in  the  colony. 
and  enabled  him  to  afford  relief  to  the  garrison  of  Pensacola,  which  was 
reduced  to  great  distress. 
,  Besides  the  new  settlement  on  Mobile  river,  another  was  now  begun  on 
V  Massacre  Island,  the  ominous  name  of  which  was  changed  to  Dauphine 
Island.  Its  fine  port  affording  a  much  more  convenient  place  to  land 
goods  than  Ship  Island,  the  coast  of  Biloxi  or  Mobile  river.  Barracks  and 
stores  were  built,  with  a  number  of  houses,  and  a  fort  was  erected  to 
a£(brd  them  protection. 

Iberville  returned  to  France  in  the  fleet. 

William  the  third  of  England  died  on  the  sixteenth  of  March,  in 
consequence  of  a  fall  from  his  horse,  in  the  fifty-third  year  of  his  age. 


HISTORY  OP   LOUISIANA. 


10.') 


tended 
ved  in 
emoirs 
ge,  and 
Qndred 
)le  him 
lown  to 
irer  had 
\e  man, 
(  to  hii< 
e  frigate 

led  him, 

Parties 
rrival,  to 
ainst  the 

villages. 
Mnbroiled 
iS  visitors 
adians,  to 

e. 

lies  which 
jduced  the 
ig  nothing 
,  in  by  the 
the  water, 
of  famine, 
as  reduced 
December, 
bringing  a 

Wenty  men 
Id  his  heacl- 

jilians  now 
le  had  been 

IsentaligW 
the  colony. 
which  Nviis 

L  begun  on 
L  Dauphme 
llace  to  lane 
larracks  m 
Ig  erected  to 


If  March,  i" 
of  his  age. 


Mary,  his  queen,  liud  died  in  1604.     Neither  left  issue.     Anne,  her  sister, 
succeeded  him. 
The  new  queen  de(dare(l  war  against  France  and  Spain  on  the  second 

of  May. 

There  were  other  causes  of  irritation  between  England  and  France  than 
the  late  increase  of  power  and  influence  France  had  acquired  in  conse- 
quence of  the  occupation  of  the  throne  of  Spain  by  a  granilson  of  Louis 
the  fourteenth.  The  late  treaty  of  peace  in  1096  had  left  the  boundary 
line  between  the  dominions  of  France  and  England  unascertained.  The 
(lueen  clniisi  '^'  *he  whole  country  to  the  west  of  the  river  of  St.  (>'roix,  as 
part  of  the  ;:cc;»ince  of  Massachusetts  ;  while  the  king  sought  to  exclude 
her  subjects  from  the  fislieries  on  the  coast,  and  from  all  the  country  east 
of  the  Kennebec  river.  De  Callieres,  Governor  of  Canada,  proposed  to 
Ctovernor  Dudley,  of  Massachusetts,  that  the  colonics  should  forbear 
taking  part  in  the  war  between  the  mother  countries ;  but  the  offer  was 
not  acceded  to,  and  hostilities  began  immediately,  by  irruptions  of  the 
French  of  Canada  and  their  Indian  allies,  on  the  frontier  settlements  of 
Massachusetts  and  New  Hani))shire.  Governor  Moore,  of  South  Carolina, 
on  the  first  rumor  of  the  declaration  of  war,  proposed  to  the  Legislature  to 
furnish  him  the  means  of  making  an  excursion  into  Florida.  A  war  with 
Spain  was  already  a  popular  measure  in  all  the  English  American 
[)rovinces.  The  colonists  considered  it  as  the  readiest  means  they  had 
of  acquiring  specie,  of  which  there  was  generally  a  great  scarcity  among 
them.  The  application  of  Moore  was  successful,  and  he  soon  proceeded 
to  the  attack  of  St.  Augustine. 

This  alarmed  the  Spaniards  at  Pensacola,  and  they  solicited  Bienville's 
aid.  At  the  same  time,  an  officer  from  the  garrison  of  St.  Augustine 
reached  Mol)ile  on  a  like  errand.  The  French  chief  afforded  to  the 
governor  of  Pensacola  arms  and  anmiunition,  and  sent  one  hundred  men, 
Canadians,  Europeans  and  Indians,  to  St.  Augustine.  At  the  same  time 
be  dispatched  a  light  vessel  to  Vera  Cruz,  to  convey  information  to  the 
viceroy,  of  the  danger  of  the  possessions  of  his  sovereign,  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Louisiana  and  Carolina. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  English  of  Carolina  had  induced  the  Chickasaws 
to  send  emissaries  among  the  Indians,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  settlements  of 
the  French  on  the  gulf,  to  induce  them  to  take  part  in  the  war;  and  in 
the  fall,  father  Davion  and  father  Limo'ges,  who  dwelt  among  the  Natchez, 
cunie  to  Mobile  and  informed  Bienville,  the  Coroas  had  killed  Foucault 
their  c(dleague,  and  three  other  Frencdimen.  The  conunandant  of  the 
fort  at  Albany  had  also  prevailed  on  the  Iroquois  to  attack  the  frontier 
settlers  in  Canada.  The  Indians  fell  also  on  detached  plantations,  which 
the  French  had,  to  the  south  of  the  lakes,  as  far  as  the  Wabash.  Juchereau, 
a  relation  of  St.  Denys,  had  led  thither  a  number  of  Canadians,  who 
suecessfully  employed  themselves  in  collecting  furs  and  peltries.  Driven 
from  this  place,  he  bad  led  his  party  westerly ;  and  a  pirogue  with  some 
of  his  men  reached  Mobile  on  the  third  of  February.  Their  object  was  to 
solicit  the  assistance  of  the  government  of  Louisiana :  Bienville  had  been 
instructed  to  afford  it.  But  the  relief  he  had  lately  yielded  to  the 
(Spaniards,  the  length  of  time  he  had  been  without  succor  from  France, 
and  the  wants  of  his  colony,  limited  the  aid  he  gave  Juchereau,  to  one 
barrel  of  powder. 
In  the  summer,  information  reached  Mobile  of  the  death  of  the  Chevalier 

15 


I 


1!llt 


106 


HISTORY   OK    LOUISIANA. 


I 


^(]ii':l 


m:i. 


^.l 


Ik 


\]t^': 


fi 


3!^ 


M      ft. 


t:.| 


lia«'fr|!:i 


ii^i 


(le  Callieres,   governor-general   of  New  France,   of    which    government 
Louisiana  made  a  part.     He  was  succeeded  l)y  tlie  Mar<|uiH  de  Vaudreuil. 

The  men  sent  by  Bienville  to  the  relief  of  8t.  Augustine,  found,  on  their 
arrival  there,  a  naval  force  from  the  island  of  Cuba,  on  the  approach  of 
which,  the  troops  of  Carolina  and  their  red  allies  had  retreated.  Becancourt 
who  had  gone  to  Vera  Cruz  to  give  information  of  the  danger  to  St. 
Augustine,  returned  with  a  letter  from  the  Duke  of  Albuquerque,  viceroy 
of  Mexico,  in  which  that  nobleman  communicated  to  Bienville,  the  orders 
he  had  from  his  sovereign,  to  admit  vessels  from  Louisiana  in  the  ports  of 
his  government,  and  to  jlUow  them  to  export  provisions. 

The  men,  whom  Lesueur  had  left  at  Fort  Tnuillier  among  the  Sioux,  for 
awhile  thought  that  the  Mississippi  was  a  sufficient  barrier  between  them 
and  the  Indians,  under  the  influence  of  the  English ;  but  they  now  found 
themselves  so  vigorously  attacked,  that  they  could  no  longer  retain  their 
position.  They  descended  the  Mississippi,  and  reached  Mobile  on  the 
third  of  March,  1704. 

The  government  of  South  Carolina,  after  the  forced  retreat  of  its  troops. 
from  St.  Augustine,  had  employed  a  i)art  of  them  against  the  Indians,  in 
its  neighborhood,  under  the  protection  of  Spain.  Large  parties  of  the 
Cherokees,  Cohuntas,  Talapooses  and  Alibamons,  swelled  by  a  number  of 
negroes  and  headed  by  Englishmen,  invaded  the  country  of  the  Apalaches, 
An  officer  of  the  garrison  of  St.  Marks,  came  to  Mobile  to  inform  Bienville 
that  the  Apalache  Indians  had  applied  to  the  commandant  of  that  fort,  for 
a  supply  of  arms  and  ammunition,  which  it  had  not  been  thought  prudent 
to  grant.  In  consequence  of  this,  two  thousand  of  these  Indians  had  been 
compelled  to  remove  towards  Carolina.  Two  of  their  villages,  the  inhabitants 
of  which  were  catholics,  had  remained  faithful  to  the  Spaniards ;  their 
warriors  had  fought  bravely,  and  two  hundred  of  them  had  been  killed. 
The  enemy  had  committed  much  waste  in  the  neighborhood,  principally 
in  the  removal  or  destruction  of  cattle.  Bienville  was  solicited  to  send  a 
few  soldiers  to  St.  Marks ;  but  he  thought  his  garrison  too  weak  to  h 
divided,  and  supplied  the  Spaniards  with  military  stores  only. 

At  the  same  time,  a  number  of  Englishmen  came  among  the  Alibamons 
with  the  vieAV  of  inducing  them  to  fall  on  the  French.  These  Indians 
resisted  their  solicitations,  and  sent  word  to  Bienville  to  be  on  his  guard, 
offering  to  furnish  him  with  corn,  of  which,  they  said,  they  had  great 
abundance.  The  garrison  being  ill  supplied  with  this  article,  Dubreuil 
was  sent  with  a  few  soldiers  to  effect  a  purchase.  One  of  these  returned 
soon  after,  with  a  broken  arm.  He  related  that  the  party  had  been 
met  by  twelve  of  these  Indians,  at  the  distance  of  two  days'  journey  from 
their  village,  with  the  calumet  of  j)eace;  but,  at  night,  the  Indians 
treacherouslv  rose  on  them,  and  murdered  his  companions.  He  succeeded 
in  making  his  escape  by  throwing  himself  into  the  river,  after  havinjj 
received  the  stroke  of  an  axe  on  his  arm.  The  Indians  fired  several 
times  at  him  while  he  was  swimming. 

A  small  fleet,  composed  of  a  French  frigate,  under  the  orders  of  Lcfevn 
de  la  Barre,  a  son  of  the  late  governor  of  New  France,  and  four  Spanish 
sloops,  made  this  year  an  unsucciessful  attack  on  Charleston,  in  South 
Carolina.  Sir  Nathaniel  Johnson,  governor  of  that  province,  having  had 
timely  information  of  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  made  a  ])owerful  and 
successful  resistance. 

Louisiana  now  suffered  greatly  from  the  scarcity  of  provisions.    But 


ment 
reuil. 
their 
ch  of 
icourt 
to  St. 
iceroy 
orclerK 
orts  of 

ux,  for 
\  them 
'  found 
their 
the 


n 
on 


i  troops. 
ians,  in 
i  of  the 
mber  of 
)alaches. 
Bienville 
t  fort,  for 
b  prudent 
had  been 
habitantj^ 
rd8;  their 
gn  killed. 
riu(!ipaUy 
to  send  a 
eak  to  be 

klibamou!- 
ifle  Indians 
[his  guard, 

had  great 
L  Dubrcuil 
[e  returned 
had  been 

irney  fro"' 

Hi   Indian;' 
succeeded 
Ifter  havini! 

red  several 

of  Lcfevrt 
\nv  Spanisl^ 
n,  in  Soutli 
having  Iwfi 

wcrful  aivl 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


lo-j 


ipions. 


Bui 


the  governor  ol  Pensacohi,  returning  from  a  visit  to  Mexico,  brought  a  very 
ample  supply  for  his  garrison,  and  cheerfully  relieved  his  neighbors. 
They  had  been  obliged  to  separate  in  small  parties,  along  the  coast,  in 
order  to  seek  a  precarious  subsistence  out  of  the  water.  Shortly 
afterwards,  the  return  of  Becancourt,  who  had  been  sent  to  V^era  Cruz, 
restored  abundance.  Bienville  received  by  him  the  thanks  of  the  viceroy, 
for  the  aid  afiorded  to  the  garrisons  of  St.  Marks  and  Pensacola,  with 
assurance  of  his  readiness  to  supply  the  French  at  Louisiana  with 
anything  they  might  need. 

TThe  arrival,  soon  after,  of  a  ship  from  France  (under  Chateaugue,  a 
l)rother  of  Bienville)  loaded  with  provisions  and  military  stores,  removed 
for  awhile  the  apprehension  of  famine.  Seventeen  new  colonists  came  in 
her,  and  brought  implements  of  husbandry. 

The  satisfaction  which  the  restoration  of  plenty  created  was  marred  by 
the  arrival  of  a  party  of  Chickasaws,  who  reported  that  five  Frenchmen 
had  been  killed  by  the  Tagouiaco  Indians,  who  dwelt  on  one  of  the 
streams  which  flow  into  the  Wabash.  These  Indians  had  been  excited  to 
this  aggression  by  some  English  traders  who  had  lately  arrived  among 
them  from  Virginia. 

These  repeated  and  unprovoked  outrages  from  the  Indians  induced 
Bienville  to  march  against  the  Alibainons,  whose  treacherous  conduct 
towards  the  men  he  had  sent,  on  their  invitation,  to  purchase  corn  in  their 
village,  remained  unpunished.  He  left  the  fort  about  Christmas,  with 
forty  chosen  men,  attended  by  a  few  Chickasaws.  He  did  not  meet  any 
of  the  enemy  until  after  a  march  of  several  days,  towards  night,  and  was 
advised  by  his  officers  to  delay  the  attack  till  daylight.  The  Alibamons 
occupied  an  eminence  of  difficult  access,  which  the  French  approached. 
Tho  night  was  dark  and  the  ground  covered  with  rushes,  and  the  noise, 
necessarily  made  by  the  French  in  their  progress,  enabled  the  foe  to  pour 
in  a  destructive  fire.  Two  men  were  killed,  and  one  was  dangerously 
wounded.  The  Indians  now  dispersed,  and  Bienville  was  compelled  to 
return  without  inflicting  any  other  injury  than  the  capture  of  five 
pirogues  laden  with  provisions.  The  Chickasaws  pursued  the  Alibamons, 
and  afterwards  returned  to  the  fort  with  five  scalps,  for  which  they  were 
liberally  rewanled. 

The  garrison  received  during  the  summer  an  addition  of  seventy-five 
soldiers,  who  arrived  in  a  fifty  gun  ship,  commanded  by  Decoudray.  Tjvo 
(Jrey  Sisters  came  in  the  same  ship  to  attend  the  hospital,  and  aig>»  five 
priests  of  the  foreign  missions  (sent  by  the  bishop  of  Quebec,  of  whose 
diocese  Louisiana  made  a  part,^  Besides  the  military  and  spiritual 
supplies,  an  ample  stock  of  provisions  was  brought.  Neither  were  other 
wants  of  the  colonists  forgotten :  twenty-three  poor  girls  now  landed,  and 
immediately  found  as  many  husbands. 

A  vessel,  in  which  Becancourt  had  been  sent  to  Vera  Cruz  to  obtain 
provisions,  returned  early  in  the  fall ;  but  he  had  died  on  the  return 
voyage. 

Ample  as  the  stock  of  provisions  in  the  colony  was  now,  compared  with 
that  of  former  years,  an  accident  happened  in  Pensacola,  which  rendered 
an  early  attention  to  future  supplies  necessary.  The  fort  was  consumed 
by  fire,  and  the  garrison  lost  its  winter  stock  of  provisions.  They  did  not 
seek  relief  among  their  neighbors  in  vain. 
A  party  of  Choctaws  brought  to  Mobile  the  scalps  of  five  Alibamons. 


1« 


b' 


V  r^  ■vi 


fcLii!"  S'J 


»•(>  * 


imammmmmimin 


hMM] 


If 


HH 


\:     'i   '■] 


Vft.. 


108 


HISTOHY   OF   LoriSIANA. 


From  them  and  a  i>iirty  of  Chickasaws,  Bienville  leanuHl  that  a  numherof 
p]ngHshmen  were  Imsiiy  emjjloyed  in  their  viUages,  in  their  en<leav(»r8  to 
estrange  these  Indians  from  their  allianeo  with  the  French. 

Disease  made  this  year  eonsiderahle  havoc  in  the  colony,  and   small  as 
its  ponulation  was,  it  (>ounted  thirty-five  <leaths  in  the  fall. 

h  ather  Davion,  one  of  the  missionaries  who  had  lately  descended  the 
Mississippi,  was  still  in  the  fort,  and  it  had  heen  thonght  hazardous  U> 
})ermit  him  to  return.  His  ilock  greatly  lamented  the  ))rotracted  ahsencc 
of  their  })astor.  In  Novemher,  two  Tunica  chiefs  came  to  escort  him  hack. 
Bienville  told  them  he  could  not  consent  to  the  return  of  the  priest  anion}; 
them  till  they  had  avenged  the  death  of  father  Foucaidt,  his  colleague, 
murdered  hy  the  Coroas,  at  the  instigation  of  the  English,  and  he  expected 
they  would  seize  the  traders  of  that  nation  among  them,  and  hring  them 
prisoners  to  Mohile,  with  their  goods ;  he  offered  to  supply  them  with 
ammunition  ;  his  proj)osition  was  accei)ted,  and  St.  Denys  proposed  to  gd 
with  them,  accompanied  hy  twelve  Canadians.  The  party  was  to  ho 
supported  hy  another  Canadian  of  the  name  of  Lamhert,  who  was 
returning  to  the  Wahash  with  forty  of  liis  neighbors.  Tin;  Tunica  chiefs 
set  off,  having  })romised  to  meet  8t.  Denys  at  the  Natchez.  Bienville  gave 
orders  for  l>uilding  i)irogues ;  hut  before  they  were  finished,  accounts 
reached  Mobile  of  the  total  destruction  of  the  French  settlements  on  the 
Wabash,  by  the  Indian  allies  of  the  British.  Lambert  gave  up  his 
intended  journev,  and  it  l)eing  thought  dangerous  for  St.  Denys  and  his 
party  to  proceed  without  the  escort  which  had  been  anticipated,  the  project 
was  abandoned.  Juchereau  sent  down  to  Mobile  fifteen  thousand  hides, 
which  he  and  his  companions  had  collected  on  the  Wabash. 

The  Indians  near    the    French    were    not    always    in    j)eace    among 
themselves.     In  the  sj)ring,  the  Chickasaws  made  an   irruption  into  the 
country  of  the  Choctaws,  captured  a  number  of  their  people,  carried  them 
to  South  Carolina,  and  sold  them  as  slaves.     There  were  about  forty  of 
the  former,  men,  Avoiuen  and  children,  around  the  fort  of  Mobile.    These 
j>eople  solicited  an  escort  from  Bienville,  as  they  could  not  return  home 
without  crossing  the  country  of  the  latter.     He  detached  St.  Denys  with 
twenty  Canadians  on  this  service.     As  they  aj>j)roached  the  first  Choctaw 
village,  he  went  in  alone  to  beseech  the  chiefs  to  allow  the  Indians  he 
escorted  to  pass.     In  granting  this  request,  the  chiefs  stipulated  that  their 
head  man,  should  be  allowed  to  reproach  the  Chickasaws,  in  the  presence 
of  the  French,  for  the  treachery  of  their  people.    They  were  brought  into 
an  open  field  for  this  purpose,  with  their  guns  cocked  and  their  knives  in 
their  hands.     The  Choctaw  chiefs  were  surrounded  by  three  hundred 
warriors.     Their  head  man,  holding  a  calumet,  began  by  upbraidino;  the 
Chickasaws,  with  the  perfidy  of  their  nation.      He  assured  them  that,  if 
the  French  took  any  interest  in   their  safety,  it  was  from   a  want  of 
knowledge  of  their  baseness,  and  it  was  just  that  they  should  expiate  h\ 
their  deaths  the  crimes  of  their  people.     He  lowered  the  plumage  of  the 
calumet,  and  at  this  i>reconcerted  signal,  the  Choctaws  taking  a  correct 
aim,  fired.     The  Chickasaw  women  and  children  alone  escaped.    This  was 
not,  however,  effected  without  the  destruction  of  some  of  the  ChoctaAvs.  St, 
Denys,  attemnting  to  interfere,  was  himself  wounded.     The  Choctaw  chief? 
brought  him  back  to  the  fort  and  a  great  number  of  their  warriors  followed 
in  mournful  procession. 

During  the  next  month,  a  number  of  C]iickasaw'  chiefs  went  to  tlie 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


109 


Tunicas,  and  embarking,  at  their  village,  descended  the  Mississippi  and 
hivvou  Mancihac.  Thov  crossed  the  hikes  and  came  to  Mobile,  to  solicit 
Bienville's  mediation,  in  effecting  a  reconciliation  with  the  Choctaws.  Six 
other  chiefs  came,  in  another  direction,  on  the  same  errand.  He  sent  an 
(itticer,  attended  by  three  Canadians  and  a  number  of  Thome  Indians,  to 
RMiuest  some  of  the  Choctaw  chiefs  to  pay  him  a  visit.  They  came 
accordingly,  and  peace  was  concluded  between  the  Choctaws  and 
C'hickasaws,  and  the  Thome  and  Mobile  tribes. 

The  Choctaw  chiefs  had  scarcely  returned  home,  when  their  country 
was  invaded  by  twt)  thousand  Cherokees,  commanded  by  an  English 
otHcer  from  Carolina.  Several  of  their  villages  were  destroyed  and  three 
liundred  of  their  women  and  children  were  led  away  into  slavery. 

At  the  time  the  intelligence  of  this  irruption  reached  Mobile,  father 
Gratiot,  a  Jesuit  missionary  at  the  Illinois,  reached  the  fort  and  reported 
that  a  party  of  white  men  t'rom  Virginia  had  come  among  these  Indians, 
and  instigated  them  to  rise  against  the  French,  a  number  of  whom  had 
lieen  killed.  The  holy  man  had  with  much  difficulty  effected  his  escape, 
hut  not  without  receiving  a  wound,  which  was  still  deemed  dangerous. 

A  party  of  Choctaws  brought  the  scalps  of  nine  Alibamons  to  Bienville. 
These  Indians  were  incessantly  committing  hostilities  against  the  French 
and  their  allies.  Boisbriant  was  sent  with  twelve  Canadians  and  the 
Choctaws,  to  chastise  them ;  but  this  expedition  had  but  little  success. 
Two  scalps  of  the  Alibamons  were  brought  by  the  Choctaws. 

The  peace,  which  through  the  mediation  of  Bienville,  the  Choctaws  and 
» Chickasaws  had  concluded,  in  the  fort  of  Mobile,  was  but  of  short  duration. 
Towards  the  end  of  March,  the  latter  made  an  unprovoked  invasion  of  the 
of  the  country  of  the  former,  and  brought  away  one  hundred  .and  fifty 
persons.  The  French  chief  could  not  forget  that  the  Choctaws  had  yielded 
to  his  representations  in  burying  the  hatchet ;  and  he  thought  it  his  duty 
to  assist  them  against  the  violators  of  the  treaty.  He  sent  them  a 
lonsiderable  supply  of  powder  and  lead. 

Hostilities  among  the  Indian  nations  were  not  confined  to  the  neighbor- 
liood  of  Mobile  and  Carolina ;  but  extended  across  the  country  to  the  banks 
of  the  Mississippi.  The  Tensas,  compelled  by  the  Yazous  to  abandon 
their  villages  near  the  Natchez,  had  come  down  to  the  Bayagoulas,  who 
received  them  with  great  cordiality.  The  treacherous  guests,  regardless 
of  the  laws  of  hospitality,  rose,  in  the  night,  on  their  unsuspecting  hosts 
and  slaughtered  the  greater  part  of  them.  Fearful  afterwards  that  the 
Oumas  and  Colapissas,  the  allies  of  the  Bayagoulas,  might  be  induced,  by 
those  who  escaped,  to  avenge  the  death  of  their  countrymen,  the  Tunicas 
sent  four  warriors  of  the  Chetimachas  and  Yachimic^as,  to  join  them. 
The  houses  and  fields  of  the  Bayagoulas  were  destroyed  and  ravaged.  The 
Tensas  now  turned  their  arms  against  their  allies,  made  several  prisoners 
and  carried  them  into  slavery. 

The  misfortune  of  the  Bayagoulas  excited  no  sympathy  among  the 
French.  It  was  considered  as  a  just  retaliation  tor  their  treachery  in 
destroying  their  former  friends  and  neighbors,  the  Mongoulachas. 

In  the  fall,  a  party  of  the  Hurons,  from  Detroit,  came  down  against  the 
Arkansas ;  who  being  accidentally  apprised  of  their  approach,  went  forward, 
met,  and  destroyed  most  of  them.  A  few  of  the  invaders  were  made 
prisoners  and  brought  to  the  village  of  the  victors,  where  they  were  put  to 
death  with  excruciating  tortures. 


,1  .i+t**«i^'*'*^^Jl 


;|p#^' 


no 


HISTORY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


im 


i;;:'-  ::; 


fffl 


Pi>:  ■.:••! 


!>' -5^4 


The  colonists  learned,  with  much  regret,  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  tho 
death  of  Iberville.  He  had  sailed  from  France,  with  a  large  fleet,  for  tlie 
attack  of  Jamaica :  but,  learning  that  the  English,  conscious  of  their 
danger,  had  made  such  preparations  as  would  probably  prevent  his  succuss, 
he  proceeded  to  the  islands  of  St.  Kitts  and  Nevis,  on  which  he  raised 
large  contributions.  He  then  proceeded  to  St.  Domingo,  where  he  intended 
taking  one  thousand  troops  for  an  expedition  against  Charleston.  The 
yellow  fever  made  a  gn^at  havoc  in  his  fleet.  He  fell  a  victim  to  the  dire 
disease ;  and  the  expedition  was  abandoned. 

An  Englishman,  trading  among  the  Tunicas,  was  despoiled  of  his  goods : 
he  returned  to  Carolina  and  prevailed  on  some  of  the  Chickasaws, 
Alibamons  and  other  tribes  in  alliance  with  his  nation,  to  accompany  and 
assist  him  in  taking  revenge.  The  Tunicas,  finding  themselves  too  weak 
to  resist  this  invasion,  sought  refuge  among  the  Ounias;  and,  like  the 
Tensas,  rewariled  the  hospitality  they  received,  by  rising  in  the 
unsuspecting  hour  of  rest  on  this  party,  and  murdering  or  making  prisoners 
of  most  of  them.  Some  of  the  Oumas,  who  escaped,  removed  to  a  stream, 
now  known  as  the  bayou  St.  John,  not  very  distant  from  the  spot  on 
Avhich  the  city  of  New  Orleans  was  afterwards  built. 

On  new  year's  day,  Bourgoing,  appointed  by  the  bishop  of  Quebec 
his  vicar-general  in  Louisiana,  arrived  at  Mobile  by  the  way  of  the 
Mississippi.  He  brought  accounts  of  the  death  of  St.  Cosme,  a  missionary 
and  three  other  Frenchmen,  by  the  Chetimachas.  Bienville  sent  presents 
to  his  allies  on  the  Mississippi,  to  induce  them  to  declare  war  against 
these  Indians.  He  was  not  able  to  raise  more  than  eighty  warriors.  8t. 
Denys  joined  them  with  seven  Canadians,  and  led  this  little  band  into  the 
country  of  the  Chetimachas,  destroyed  their  villages,  ravaged  their  fields 
and  i.ispersed  the  inhabitants. 

During  the  summer. an  unsuccessful  attempt  was  made  on  Acadie,  from 
New  England. 

Two  hundred  Indians,  headed  by  a  few  Englishmen,  came  to  Pensaeola, 
set  fire  to  the  houses  near  the  fort,  killed  ten  Spaniards  and  a  Frenchman. 
and  made  twelve  Apalache  or  Choctaw  Indians  prisoners. 

A  party  of  Touacnas  came  to  Mobile  with  two  scalps  and  a  slave  of  the 
Abikas  in  the  beginning  of  November ;  they  reported  the  Alibamons  were 
in  daily  expectation  of  English  troops  from  Charleston,  with  whom  they 
were  prei)aring  to  march  to  a  second  attack  on  Pensacola.  Accordingly. 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  month,  Bienville  was  informed  that  the  place  was 
actually  besieged.  At  the  head  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  Canadian" 
and  as  many  Indians,  he  marched  to  its  relief.  He  reached  it  on  the 
eighth  of  December;  the  besiegers  had  withdrawn  on  hearing  of  the 
approach  of  the  French.  Their  force  consisted  onlv  of  three  hundred  ami 
fifty  Indians,  and  thirteen  white  men,  commanded  by  one  Cheney,  com- 
missioned by  Sir  Nathaniel  Johnson,  governor  of  South  Carolina.  The 
French,  after  staying  three  days  in  Pensacola,  were  ordered,  on  account 
of  the  scarcity  of  provisions,  to  return. 

A  vessel  from  Havana,  laden  with  provisions,  brandy  and  tobaeee, 
came  early  in  January  to  trade  with  the  colonv.  This  was  the  fiM 
instance,  ten  years  after  the  arrival  of  the  French  in  Louisiana,  of  a  vessel 
coming  to  trade  with  them. 

The  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil,  governor  of  Canada,  had  planned  ;i 
considerable  expedition  against  New  England.    His  allied  Indians  kept 


:--.vH  -nii 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


Ill 


the  frontier  settlers  of  that  country  in  constant  alarm.  He  was,  however, 
(liHni)pointed  in  his  expectation  of  raising  the  force  he  had  contemplated. 
A  strong  party  of  ('anadians  and  Indians,  nevertheless,  entered  the 
province  of  Massachusetts,  and  destroyed  a  part  of  the  town  of  Haverhill, 
killed  one  hundred  of  its  inhabitants,  and  carried  off  seventy  prisoners. 
In  the  pursuit,  however,  a  number  of  the  prisoners  were  retaken,  and  a 
tVw  of  the  French  killed. 

In  the  following  year,  the  British  cabinet  determined  on  vigorous  and 
simultaneous  attacks  on  Montreal  and  Quebec. 

The  first  was  to  be  conducted  by  General  Nicholson,  successivelv 
lieutenant-governor  of  New  York  and  Virginia ;  he  was  to  proceed  through 
the  Champlain.  He  led  his  force  to  Wood  creek,  where  he  was  to  wait 
the  arrival  of  a  British  fleet  at  Boston,  at  which  place  it  was  to  receive  the 
troops  destined  to  act  against  Quebec.  The  New  England  provinces,  and 
that  of  New  York  had  very  cheerfully  raised  the  men  required  for  this 
service.  The  expectations  which  this  armament  had  excited  in  the 
British  T>rovinces  were  disappointed,  in  consequence  of  the  fleet,  which 
was  to  proceed  to  Boston,  being  ordered  on  another  service  in  Portugal. 

The  success  of  the  settlement  attempted  in  Louisiana  not  having 
answered  the  hopes  of  the  court  of  France,  it  was  determined  to  make  a 
considerable  change  in  the  government  of  the  colony.  With  this  view,  de 
Miiys,  an  officer  who  had  served  with  distinction  in  Canada  during  the 
preceding  and  present  war,  was  appointed  governor-general  of  Louisiana : 
the  great  distance  from  that  colony  to  Quebec,  the  seat  of  the  governor- 
general  of  New  France,  of  which  it  was  a  dependence,  had  induced  the 
l)elief  that  the  former  ought  to  be  independent  of  the  latter.  Diron 
d'Artaguette  was  sent  as  commissary  ordonnateur,  with  instructions  to 
inquire  into  the  conduct  of  the  former  administrators  of  the  colony, 
against  whom  complaints  had  been  made,  to  which  the  ill  success  of  tne 
establishment  seemed  to  give  consequence.  The  frigate  in  which  these 
gentlemen  had  embarked,  arrived  at  Ship  Island  in  the  beginning  of  the 
new  year.    The  governor-general  had  died  during  the  passage. 

D'Artaguette  found  Louisiana  in  comparative  tranquillity.  Vessels 
from  St.  Domingo,  Martinique  and  la  Rochelle  now  came  to  trade  with 
the  colonists. 

Early  in  September,  a  privateer  from  Jamaica  landed  his  men  on 
Dauphine  Island,  where  they  committed  considerable  depredations.  Tliis 
is  the  first  instance  of  hostility  of  white  people  against  the  colon)'. 

On  the  twenty-fourth,  General  Nicholson,  with  a  corps  of  marines,  and 
four  regiments  of  infantry,  arrived  from  Boston,  before  Port  Royal  in 
Acatlie.  He  immediately  invested  the  town,  which  soon  after  surren- 
dered. Its  name,  in  compliment  to  the  British  queen,  was  changed  to 
that  of  Annapolis.     Colonel  Vetche  was  left  there  in  command. 

The  settlement  near  the  fort  at  Mobile  suffered  much  in  the  spring  from 
the  overflowing  of  the  river ;  in  consequence  of  which,  at  the  recommen- 
dation of  D'Artaguette,  the  spot  was  abandoned,  and  a  new  fort  built 
higher  up.  It  was  the  one  which,  till  very  lately,  stood  immediately  below 
the  present  city  of  Mobile. 

The  government  of  South  Carolina  prevailed  again  on  the  Chickasaws 
to  attack  the  Choctaws,  who  were  always  the  steadfast  allies  of  the  French. 
When  intelligence  of  this  reached  Mobile,  there  were  about  thirty 
Chickasaw  chiefs  around    the  fort.      Bienville,  at  their  request,  sent 


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112 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


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Chateaugiio  with  thirty  men  to  escort  them  home.  Tliis  service  wjts 
successfully  performed,  notwithstanding  the  Choctaws  made  great  etforts 
to  intercept  these  Indians. 

The  government  of  France  from  this  period  ceased  furnishing  supi)li(  .s 
to  Louisiana,  and  trusted  to  the  industry  of  i)rivate  adventurers,  to  whom, 
however,  it  afforded  some  aid.  A  frigate  arrived  in  the  month  of 
September,  laden  with  provisions  by  individuals ;  the  king  furnished  th*- 
ship  only.  I)'Artag".ette  returned  in  her,  much  regretted  by  the  (!olonii<ts ; 
observations,  during  his  stay  in  Louisiana,  perfectly  convinced  him  thiit 
its  slow  progress  could  not  be  accelerated  by  Bienville,  with  the  feeble 
means  of  which  he  had  the  command. 

In  the  summer,  (teneral  Hill,  at  the  head  of  six  thousand  five  huiidrcMl 
European  and  Provincial  troops,  sailed  from  Boston  for  the  attack  of 
Quebec.  On  the  twenty-third  of  August,  a  violent  storm  cast  eight  of  his 
transports  on  shore  near  Egg  Island.  One  thousand  of  his  men  perished, 
the  snips  were  greatly  injured,  and  this  disaster  induced  him  to  return, 
In  the  meanwhile,  General  Nicholson  had  led  four  th(»usand  men,  destineil 
to  the  siege  of  Montreal,  to  Albany.  The  return  of  the  fleet  having 
enabled  the  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil  to  support  Montreal  with  all  his  force, 
Nicholson  retrograded. 

A  ship  of  twenty-six  guns,  under  the  orders  of  Laville  Voisin,  came  to 
Ship  Island  in  the  beginning  of  the  next  year.  This  gentleman  had 
made  a  fruitless  attempt  to  sell  her  cargo  to  the  Spaniards  at  Tounpe. 
He  had  brought  to  the  viceroy  letters,  which  he  supposed  would  hiivo 
insured  his  admission  into  the  ports  of  Mexico;  but  through  some 
mismanagement  his  scheme  failed ;  not,  however,  without  his  selling  liis 
cargo  to  some  Spanish  merchants,  who  engaged  to  receive  it  at  Ship 
Island.  He  grew  impatient  of  waiting  for  them,  and  went  on  a  short 
cruise  towards  St.  Antonio.  The  merchants  arrived  with  their  casli, 
waited  awhile,  and  went  away  without  seeing  him. 

On  the  arrival  of  d'Artaguettc  in  France,  and  the  report  he  made  of  the 
state  of  liie  colony,  the  king's  council  despairing  of  realizing  the  advantages 
which  had  been  anticipated  from  it,  as  long  as  it  remained  on  its  fornu  r 
footing,  and  determined  to  grant  the  exclusive  commerce  of  Louisiann, 
with  great  privileges,  to  Antony  Crozat,  an  eminent  merchant. 

The  war  was  terminated  by  the  treaty  of  Utrecht  on  the  thirtieth  nf 
March,  of  the  following  year :  by  its  twelfth  article,  France  ceded  to  Gmit 
Britain,  "  Nova  Scotia  or  Acadie,  with  its  ancient  boundaries,  as  also  thi' 
city  of  Port  Royal,  now  called  Annapolis,  and  all  other  things,  in  the  sai'l 
parts,  which  depends  on  these  lands." 

There  were  at  this  period  in  Louisiana  two  companies  of  infantry  of 
fifty  men  each,  and  seventy-five  Canadian  volunteers  in  the  king's  pay. 
The  rest  of  the  population  consisted  of  twenty-eight  families ;  one  half  (if 
whom  were  engaged,  not  in  agriculture,  but  in  horticulture  :  the  lieads  of 
the  others  were  shop  and  tavern  keepers,  or  employed  in  mechanicii! 
occupations.  A  number  of  individuals  derived  their  support  by  ministering 
to  the  wants  of  the  troops.  There  were  but  twenty  negroes  in  the  colony : 
adding  to  these  the  king's  officers  and  clergy,  the  aggregate  amount  of  thi' 
population  was  three  hundred  and  eighty  persons.  A  few  female  Indians 
and  children  were  domesticated  in  the  nouses  of  the  white  people,  and 
groups  of  the  males  were  incessantly  sauntering,  or  encamped  around 
them. 


,  ciinie  to 
man  had 
t  Tou?pe. 
luld  havi; 
igh  some 
lelling  his 
i  at  Ship 
[\  a  short 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


113 


The  collection  of  all  these  individuals,  on  one  compact  spot,  could  have 
claiinod  no  higher  appellation  than  that  of  a  hamlet;  yet  thev  wore 
dispersed  through  a  vast  extent  of  country,  the  parts  of  which  were 
separated  by  the  sea,  by  lakes  and  wide  rivers.  Five  forts,  or  large 
hattories,  had  been  erected  for  their  protection  at  Mobile,  Biloxi,  on  the 
Mississippi,  and  at  Ship  and  Dauphine  Islands. 

Lumber,  hides  and  peltries,  constituted  the  objects  of  exportation,  which 
the  colony  presented  to  commerce.  A  number  of  woodsmen,  or  courrurs  de 
hm  from  Canada,  had  followed  the  missionaries  who  had  been  sent  among 
the  nations  of  Indians,  between  that  province  and  Louisiana.  These  men 
plied  within  a  circle,  of  a  radius  of  several  hundred  miles,  of  which  the 
lather's  chapel  was  the  centre,  in  search  of  furs,  peltries  and  hides.  When 
tliey  deemed  they  had  gathered  a  sufficient  quantity  of  these  articles,  they 
tloatod  down  the  Mississippi,  and  brought  them  to  Mobile  where  they 
exchanged  them  for  European  goods,  with  which  they  returned.  The 
natives  nearer  to  the  fort,  carried  on  the  same  trade.  Lumber  was  easily 
obtained  around  the  settlement :  of  late,  vessels  from  St.  Domingo  and 
Martinique  brought  sugar,  molasses  and  rum  to  Lt)ui8iana,  and  took  its 
peltries,  hides  and  lumber  in  exchange.  The  colonists  procured  some 
specie  from  the  garrison  of  Pensacola,  whom  they  supplied  with  vegetables 
and  fowls.  Those  who  followed  this  sort  of  trade,  by  furnishing  also  the 
officers  and  troops,  obtained  flour  and  salt  provisions  from  the  king's 
stores,  which  were  abundantly  supplied  from  France  and  Vera  Cruz. 
Trifling,  but  successful  essays  had  shown,  that  indigo,  tobacco  and  cotton 
could  be  cultivated  to  great  advantage :  but  hands  were  wanting.  Experi- 
ence had  shown,  that  the  frequent  and  heavy  mists  and  fogs  were 
unfavorable  to  the  culture  of  wheat,  by  causing  it  to  rust. 

The  French  had  been  unfortunate  in  the  selection  of  the  places  they 
had  occupied.  The  sandv  coast  of  Biloxi  is  as  sterile  as  the  deserts  of 
Arabia.  The  stunted  shruDs  of  Ship  and  Dauphine  Islands  announce  the 
poverty  of  the  soil  by  which  they  are  nurtured.  In  the  contracted  spot, 
on  which  Sau voile  had  located  his  brother  on  the  Mississippi,  the  few 
soldiers  under  him,  insulated  during  part  of  the  year,  had  the  mighty 
stream  to  combat.  The  buz  and  sting  of  the  musquitoes,  the  hissing  of 
the  snakes,  the  croakings  of  the  frogs,  and  the  cries  of  the  alligators, 
incessantly  asserted  that  the  lease  the  God  of  nature  had  given  these 
reptiles  of  this  part  of  the  country,  had  still  a  few  centuries  to  run.  In  the 
barrens  around  the  new  fort  of  Mobile,  the  continual  suyh  of  the  needle- 
leaved  tree  seemed  to  warn  d'Artaguette  his  people  must  recede  farther 
from  the  sea,  before  they  came  to  good  land. 

It  is  true,  during  the  last  ten  years,  war  had  in  some  degree  checked  the 
prosperity  of  the  colony,  although  during  the  whole  of  its  continuance, 
except  the  descent  of  the  crew  of  a  privateer  from  Jamaica,  no  act  of  hostility 
was  committed  by  an  enemy  within  the  colony ;  but  the  incessant  irruptions 
on  the  land  of  the  Indians,  under  the  protection  of  Louisiana,  by  those  in 
alHance  with  Carolina,  prevented  the  extension  of  the  commerce  and 
settlements  of  the  French  towards  the  north.  Yet  all  these  difficulties 
would  have  been  promptly  overcome,  if  agriculture  had  been  attended  to. 
The  coast  of  the  sea  abounded  with  shell  and  other  fish ;  the  lagoons  near 
Mobile  river  were  covered  with  water  fowls ;  the  forests  teemed  with  deer ; 
the  prairies  with  buffaloes,  and  the  air  with  wild  turkeys.  By  cutting 
down  the  lofty  pine  trees  around  the  fort,  the  colonists  would  have 

16 


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I'if'f 


¥i'. 


i' .M: 


114 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


uncovored  a  soil  aliun<lantly  producing  corn  and  peas.  By  abandoning 
the  poistH  on  the  MinsiHsipjn,  Ship  and  Dauphine  Ishmds,  and  at  the 
Biloxi,  the  neccHsary  nnhtary  duties  would  have  left  a  consideral)lt' 
number  of  individuals  to  the  labors  of  tillaj?e;  especially  if  prudence  had 
spared  frequent  divisions  of  them  to  travel  for  thousands  of  miles  in  (lucst 
of  ochres  and  minerals,  or  in  the  discovery  of  distant  land,  while  that 
which  was  occupied,  was  suffered  to  remain  unproductive.  Thus,  in  the 
concerns  of  connnunities,  as  in  those  of  individuals,  immediate,  real  uiul 
secure  advantages  are  foregont;  for  distant,  dul)ious  and  often  visionary 
ones. 

According  to  a  return  made  bv  the  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil  to  the 
minister,  there  were,  at  this  period  m  New  France,  including  Acadie,  four 
thousand  four  hundred  and  eighty  persons  capable  of  bearing  arms,  which 
suj)poses  a  population  of  about  twenty-tive  thousand. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

Crozat's  (dnirter  bears  date  the  twenty-sixth  of  September,  1712. 

Its  preamble  states,  that  the  attention  the  king  has  always  given  to  the 
interests  and  commerce  of  his  subjects,  induced  him,  notwithstanding  the 
almost  continual  wars  he  was  obliged  to  sustain,  since  the  beginning  of 
his  reign,  to  seek  every  opportunit}'  of  increasing  and  extending  the  trade 
of  his  colonies  in  America ;  that  accordingly,  he  had  in  1683,  given  orders 
for  exploring  the  territory  on  the  northern  continent,  between  New  France 
and  New  Mexico ;  and  Lasalle,  who  had  been  employed  in  this  service, 
had  succeeded  so  far,  as  to  leave  no  doubt  of  the  facility  of  opening  a 
communication  between  Canada  and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  through  the  large 
rivers  that  flow  in  the  intermediate  space ;  which  had  induced  the  king. 
immediately  after  the  peace  of  Riswick,  to  send  thither  a  colony  and 
maintain  a  garrison,  to  keep  up  the  possession  taken  in  1683,  of  the 
territory  on  the  gulf,  between  Carolina  on  the  east,  and  old  and  new  Mexico 
on  the  west.  But,  war  having  broke  out  soon  after  in  Europe,  he  had  not 
been  able  to  draw  from  this  colony  the  advantages  he  had  anticipated, 
because  the  merchants  of  the  kingdom  engaged  in  maritime  commerce. 
had  relations  and  concerns  in  the  other  French  colonies,  which  they  could 
not  relinquish. 

The  king  declares  that,  on  the  report  made  to  him  of  the  situation  of 
the  territory,  now  known  as  the  province  of  Louisiana,  he  has  determined 
to  establish  there  a  commerce,  which  will  be  very  beneficial  to  France;  it 
being  now  necessary  to  seek  in  foreign  countries  many  articles  of  commerce, 
which  may  be  obtained  there,  for  merchandise  of  the  growth  or  manufacture 
of  the  kingdom. 

He  accordingly  grants  to  Crozat  the  exclusive  commerce  of  all  the  territor)' 
possessed  by  the  crown,  between  old  and  new  Mexico,  and  Carolina, 
and  all  the  settlements,  ports,  roads  and  rivers  therein — principally  the 
port  and  road  of  Dauphine  Island,  before  called  Massacre  Island,  the  river 
Si.  Louis,  previously  called  the  Mississippi,  from  the  ^a  to  the  Illinois, 
the  river  St.  Philip,  before  called  Missouri,  the  river  St.  Jerome,  before 
called  the  Wabash,  with  all  the  land,  lakes  and  rivers  mediately  or 
immediately  flowing  into  any  part  of  the  river  St.  Louis  or  Mississippi. 


en  to  the 
iding  the 
lining  of 
the  trade 
en  orders 
;w  France 
is  service, 
Dpening  a 
ho  large 
the  king, 
onv  and 
^3,  of  the 
AV  Mexico 
e  had  not 
iticipated, 
ommerce. 
ley  could 


IIIBTORY  OF   LOri8IANA. 


115 


The  territory,  thuH  described,  is  to  he  and  remain  included,  under  the 
style  of  the  government  of  Louisiana,  an<l  to  he  a  dependence  of  the 
government  of  New  France,  to  which  it  is  to  he  suhordinate.  The  king's 
territory,  beyond  the  Illinois,  is  to  he  and  iHHitinue  [>art  of  the  goverment 
of  New  France,  to  which  it  is  annexed ;  and  he  reserves  to  himself  the 
faculty  of  enlarging  that  of  Louisiana. 

The  right  is  given  to  the  grantee,  to  export  from  France  into  liouisiana 
all  kinds  of  goods,  wares  and  merchandise,  during  fifteen  years,  and  to  carry 
on  there  such  a  commerce  as  he  may  think  fit.  All  persons,  natural  or 
corporate,  are  inhibited  from  trading  there,  under  pain  of  the  confiscation 
of  their  goods,  wares,  mercihandise  and  vessels :  and  the  officers  of  the 
king  are  commanded  to  assist  the  grantee,  his  agents  and  factors,  in  seizing 
them. 

Permission  is  given  to  open  and  work  mines,  and  to  export  the  ore  to 
France  during  fifteen  years.  The  property  of  all  the  mines  he  may 
discover  and  work,  is  given  him :  yielding  to  the  king  the  fourth  part  of 
the  gold  and  silver,  to  be  delivered  in  France,  at  the  cost  of  the  grantee, 
hut  at  the  risk  of  the  king,  and  the  tenth  part  of  all  other  metals.  He  may 
search  for  precious  stones  and  pearls,  yielding  to  the  king  one-fifth  of  them, 
in  the  same  manner  as  gold  and  silver.  Provision  is  made  for  the  re-union 
of  the  king's  domain  of  such  mines  as  may  cease  during  three  years  to  be 
worked. 

Liberty  is  given  to  the  grantee,  to  sell  to  the  French  and  Indians  of 
Louisiana,  such  goods,  wares  and  merchandise  as  he  may  import,  to  the 
exclusion  of  all  others,  without  his  express  and  written  order.  He  is 
allowed  to  purchase  and  export  to  France,  hides,  skins  and  peltries.  But, 
to  favor  the  trade  of  Canada,  he  is  forbidden  to  purchase  beaver  skins,  or 
to  export  them  to  France  or  elsewhere. 

The  absolute  property,  in  fee  simple,  is  vested  in  him  of  all  the 
establishments  and  manufactures  he  may  make  in  silk,  indigo,  wool  and 
leather,  and  all  the  land  he  may  cultivate,  with  all  buildings,  etc. ;  he  taking 
from  the  governor  and  intendant  grants,  w^hich  are  to  become  void,  on  the 
land  ceasing  to  be  improved. 

The  laws,  edicts  and  ordinances  of  the  realm,  and  the  custom  of  Paris 
are  extended  to  Louisiana, 

The  obligation  is  imposed  on  the  grantee  to  send  yearly  two  vessels  from 
France  to  Louisiana,  in  each  of  which  he  is  to  transport  two  boys  or  girls, 
and  the  king  may  ship  free  from  freight  twenty-five  tons  of  provisions, 
ammunition,  etc.,  for  the  use  of  the  colony,  and  more,  paying  freight ;  and 
passage  is  to  be  afforded  to  the  king's  officers  and  soldiers  for  a  fixed 
compensation. 

One  hundred  quintals  of  powder  are  to  be  furnished  annually  to  the 
grantee,  out  of  the  king's  stores,  at  cost. 

An  exemption  from  duties  on  the  grantee's  goods,  wares  and  merchandise, 
imported  to,  or  exported  from  Louisiana,  is  allowed. 

The  king  promises  to  permit,  if  he  thinks  it  proper,  the  importation  of 
foreign  goods  to  Louisiana,  on  the  application  of  the  grantee,  and  the 
I  production  of  his  invoices,  etc. 

j  The  use  is  given  him  of  the  boats,  pirogues  and  canoes,  belonging  to  the 
king,  for  loading  and  unloading :  he  keeping  and  returning  them,  in  good 
order,  at  the  expiration  of  his  grant. 


■'r  ■  j^H 


^\ 


116 


IIIHTOHY   OF    LOIIIHIANA. 


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Tlu!  fticulty  in  allowed  him  to  wnd  uiuuially  a  vessel  to  (iuiiiea,  for 
iu!(;i'oeH,  whom  he  may  Hell  in  LouiHiana,  to  the  exelunion  of  all  others. 

After  the  expiration  of  nine  ycarH,  the  grantee  iw  to  pay  the  field  otliccrH 
ami  ji^arriHon  kept  in  LouiHiana,  and  on  the  oo('urren<'e  of  vacancies, 
eomnuHHionrt  an;  to  be  granted  to  offii^ern  prencnted  by  the  grantee,  if 
approved. 

A  fifty  gun  nhip,  comnumded  by  the  Marquis  dc  la  Jonquere,  landed  af 
Dauphine  Island,  on  the  Heventeenth  of  May,  1711^,  the  oflieern  who  were  to 
adnunister  the  government  of  the  eolony  under  the  new  Hynteni. 

The  principal  of  these  were,  Laniotte  Cadillac,  an  officer  who  had  served 
with  distiiHition  in  Canada,  during  the  preceding  war,  who  was  anpointed 
governor;  Ducios,  commissary  oraonnateur;  Lebas,  comptroller ;  I)irig()in, 
the  principal  ilinjctor  of  Crozat's  concerns  in  Louisiana,  and  Laloire  (los 
L'rsins,  who  was  to  attend  to  them  on  the  Mississippi. 

The  ship  lirought  a  very  large  stock  of  provisions  and  goods. 

The  governor  and  commissary  ordonnatcur,  by  an  edict  of  the  eighteentli 
of  December,  of  the  preceding  year,  had  been  couHtituted  a  superior 
eouncil,  vested  with  the  same  powers  as  the  councils  of  St.  Domingo  and 
Martinico ;  but  the  existence  of  this  tribunal  was  limited  to  three  years 
from  the  day  of  itis  meeting. 

The  expen.sert  of  the  king  for  the  salaries  of  his  officers  in  Louisiana,  were 
fixed  at  an  annual  sum  of  ten  thousand  dollars.  It  was  to  be  paid  to 
Crozat  in  France,  and  the  drafts  of  the  commissary  ordonnateur,  were  to 
be  paid  in  Crozat's  stores,  in  cash,  or  in  goods,  with  an  advance  of  fifty 
per  cent.  Sales  in  all  other  eases  were  to  be  made,  in  these  stores,  at  un 
advance  of  one  hundred  per  cent. 

Commerce  was  Crozat's  principal  object,  and  he  contemplated  carrying 
it  on  chiefly  with  the  Spaniards.  His  plan  was  to  have  large  warehouses 
on  Dauphine  Island,  and  to  keep  small  vessels  plying  with  goods  to 
Pensacola,  Tampico,  Tousj 
were  however 

tance  to  French  vessels  in  those  ports,  on  the  solicitation  of  the  British,  tn 
whom  the  king  had  granted  privdege  by  the  treaty  of  the  Assiento. 

He  had  recommended  to  Lamotte  Cadillac,  to  whom  he  had  given  an 
interest  in  his  concerns  in  Louisiana,  to  send  a  strong  detachment  to  the 
Illinois,  and  towards  the  Spanish  settlements  in  the  west,  to  be  employed 
in  the  search  of  mines  and  the  protection  of  his  commerce. 

The  benefits,  which  the  French  government  had  anticipated  from  a 
change  of  administrators  in  Louisiana,  were  not  realized.  An  unfortunate 
misunderstanding  took  place  between  the  new  governor  and  Bienville- 
the  former  being  jealous  of  the  affection  which  the  soldiers  and  Indians 
manifested  to  the  latter. 

La  Louisiane,  a  ship  belonging  to  Crozat,  arrived  in  the  summer  with  a 
large  supply  of  provisions  and  goods,  and  brought  a  considerable  number 
of  passengers. 

In  the  course  of  the  winter,  deputations  from  most  of  the  neighboring 
nations  of  Indians  came  to  visit  and  solicit  the  protection  of  the  new 
chief  of  the  colony. 

Canada  was  so  overwhelmed  by  repeated  emissions  of  card  money,  and 
the  consequent  ruin  and  distress  was  so  great  that  the  planter?  and 
merchants  united  in  a  petition  to  the  king,  for  the  redemption  of  the  cards 
at  one  half  of  their  nominal  value,  offering  to  lose  the  other. 


impico,  Touspe,  Campeachy  and  Vera  Cruz.     His  design)' 
frustrated ;  the  Spaniards,  after  the  peace,  refusing  admit- 


mi 


IIIHTOUY   OK   LOUISIANA. 


117 


Tlu'  liritislj  of  ('urolimi,  after  the  peuco  of  Utrm-ht,  f?ave  n  f^nmi 
(xti'iiHiou  to  their  ronnucrce  with  the  In<lianH  iHuir  the  haek  HettleiiientH 
of  the  |)rovitH'e.  Their  traders  had  en'eted  HtorehoiiHen  aiuoiin  the  trihen 
ill  alliann!  with  the  French,  an  fnr  aw  the  Natchez  and  the  Ya/ous.  The 
(lioctawH  were  ho  attacdied  to  the  Fn-uch,  that  they  had  iieretoforc  refuHed 
to  allt>w  the  liritiwh  to  trade  anionfi(  tlieni.  In  the  soring,  however,  a 
iiurty  of  tlie  BritiHh,  hea<ling  two  thounand  Indianw  ot  the  AlihanionH. 
Taliipoucheri  and  ChiekaHawn,  canu'  among  the  (!hoctawH ;  they  were 
received  in  thirty  of  the  villageH :  two  only  refuning  to  admit  them. 
Violence  heing  threatened  against  the  minority,  the  ("hoctaws  «>f  these 
two  villagi's  built  a  fort,  in  which  they  collected,  bidding  defiance  to  their 
countrymen,  the  British  and  their  allit's.  They  held  out  for  a  consid- 
erable time :  at  last,  on  the  eve  of  being  <»verwhelmed,  they  escaped 
(luring  the  night,  and  made  their  way  to  the  French  fort  at  Mobile,  where 
tlu'V  were  corclially  greeted. 

\Vhile  the  bulk  of  the  Choctaws  were  thus  diverted  to  tlie  British,  the 
Alibamons  testified  their  attachment  to  the  Frencih  by  aiding  them  to 
l»uild  a  fortress  on  their  river.     It  was  called  Fort  Toulouse. 

Lamotte  Cadillac  being  disappointed  in  his  hope  of  trading  with  th(^ 
Spanish  ports  on  the  gulf,  made  in  the  summer  an  attempt  to  find  a  vent 
for  Crozat's  goods,  in  the  interior  parts  of  Mexico.  His  ooject  also  was  to 
oliock  the  progress  of  the  Spaniaras,  whom  he  understood,  were  preparing 
to  advance  their  settlements  in  the  province  of  Texas,  to  the  neignborhood 
of  Natchitoches.  St.  Denys  was  tnerefore  sent  with  a  large  quantity  of 
jjoods,  attended  by  thirty  Canadians  and  some  Indians,  on  this  service. 

In  the  month  of  August,  Queen  Anne,  of  Great  Britain,  died  at  the  age 
of  fifty,  without  issue,  although  she  had  given  birth  to  nineteen  children. 
She  was  the  sixth  and  last  sovereign  of  the  house  of  Stuart.  The  crown, 
uccording  to  a  statute  for  the  exclusion  of  the  children  of  James  the 
second,  passed  to  George,  elector  of  Hannover,  a  grandson  of  princess 
Sophia,  granddaughter  of  James  the  first. 

The  discovery  of  mines  of  the  precious  metals  was  a  darling  object  with 
Lamotte  Cadillac,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  the  winter  his  credulity  was 
powerfully  acted  upon.  A  man  named  Dutigne,  came  from  Canada, 
bringing  from  the  Illinois  two  pieces  of  ore,  which  he  assorted  had  been 
(lug  up  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Kaskaskias.  The  governor  had  them 
assayed,  and  they  were  found  to  contain  a  great  proportion  of  silver. 
Elated  at  the  discovery,  and  eager  to  secure  what  he  considered  as  a  rich 
mine,  he  set  off  for  the  Illinois  without  disclosing  the  cause  of  his  sudden 
departure,  and  had  the  mortification  to  learn  on  his  arrival,  that  the 
nieces  of  ore  which  Dutigne  had  brought  down  came  from  Mexico,  and 
had  been  left  as  curiosities,  by  a  Spaniard,  with  a  gentleman  at  the 
Illinois,  from  whom  Dutigne  had  received  them.  Disappointed  in  his 
hope  of  the  silver  mine,  he  visited  mines  of  lead  on  the  western  side  of 
the  Mississippi,  and  returned  to  Mobile  without  boasting  of  the  object  of 
his  errand. 

The  British  in  the  meanwhile,  were  progressing  fast  in  their  plan  of 
establishing  truckhouses  among  the  Choctaws,  Natchez,  Yazous  and 
other  nations  on  the  Mississippi.  Bienville  had  sent  for  the  principal 
chiefs  of  the  Choctaws ;  he  upbraided  them  for  their  treachery ;  urging 
that  the  French  were  the  only  people,  from  whom  they  could  conveniently 
get  the  goods  they  wanted,  as  the  British  were  at  a  comparative  great 


»—  f 


.i^^^f^M 


-^^^ 


118 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


Its 


n-m 


m 


J   ) 


distance  from  their  villages.  He  prevailed  on  them  to  draw  off  a!I 
communication  with  them  and  the  Indians  in  their  alliance.  The 
Choctaws  kept  their  word,  and  on  their  return  drove  off  every  British 
trader  from  their  villages. 

An  officer  of  the  name  of  Young,  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  who  wus 
then  with  the  Choctaws,  made  his  way  to  the  Natchez,  and  descended  the 
Mississippi  with  the  view  of  inducing  the  Oumas,  Pascagoulas,  Chouachus 
and  Colapissas,  to  enter  into  an  alliance  with  his  nation.  Laloire  (les; 
Ursins,  Crozat's  principal  agent  on  the  river,  went  up  in  a  pirogue  to  meet 
the  intruder.  He  found  him  near  bayou  Manchac,  arrested  and  sent  him 
a  prisoner  to  Mobile.  Bienville  allowed  him  to  proceed  to  Pensacoja, 
whence  he  attempted  to  reach  Carolina  by  land,  but  was  killed  by  some  of 
the  Thome  Indians. 

While  Bienville  was  thus  successful  in  preserving  the  attachment  of  the 
Choctaws  and  the  natives  on  the  Mississippi,  he  had  the  pleasure  of 
learning  that  the  Indians  bordering  on  Carolina,  imitating  the  Choctaws, 
had  turned  against  the  British,  and  invaded  the  frontier  settlements  of 
that  province.  The  Yamassees,  the  Creeks  and  Apalachians  spread 
desolation  and  slaughter  in  the  south ;  while  the  Cherokces,  Congarets 
and  Catawbas,  ravaged  the  northern  part.  It  was  computed  the  enemy 
were  between  seven  and  eight  thousand  strong.  Indeed,  every  tribe  from 
Florida  to  Cape  Fear,  had  engaged  in  the  war.  The  security  of  Charleston 
was  doubted.  It  had  not  more  than  twelve  hundred  men  fit  to  bear  arms ; 
but  there  were  several  forts  near  it,  which  offered  places  of  refuge.  Governor 
Craven  marched  with  his  small  force  against  the  enemy,  who  had 
advanced  as  far  as  Stono,  where  they  burnt  the  church,  as  they  did  every 
house  on  their  way.  The  governor  advanced  slowly  and  with  caution,  and 
as  he  proceeded,  the  straggling  parties  fled  before  him,  till  he  reached  the 
Sultketchers,  where  the  Indians  had  pitched  their  great  camp.  Here  a 
sharp  battle  ensued.  The  Indians  were  repulsed  and  the  governor 
pursued  them  over  the  Savannah  river.  It  is  said  the  province  lost,  in 
in  this  war,  upwards  of  eight  hundred  men,  women  and  children.  The 
Yamassees  were  driven  from  the  land  they  had  heretofore  occupied, 
behind  Port  Royal  Island,  on  the  northeast  side  of  the  Savannah  river. 
They  settled  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Spaniards,  by  whom  the  British 
alleged  they  had  been  instigated. 

An  officer  of  the  garrison  of  Mobile,  called  St.  Helen,  who  happened  to 
be  in  a  village  of  the  Chickasaws,  in  which  were  fifteen  British  traders, 
was  protected  by  a  Choctaw  chief,  while  these  men  were  killed,  but,  being 
mistaken  for  one  of  them,  by  a  young  Indian  who  entered  the  cabin  ho 
was  in,  while  he  stooped  to  light  a  cigar,  he  was  slain. 

Bienville  forwarded  presents  to  the  Indians,  who  had  seceded  from  the 
British  alliance,  and  directed  his  messengers  to  induce  them  to  send  to 
Mobile  some  of  their  head  men,  with  whom  a  treaty  might  be  made. 

The  Indians  of  the  two  villages  of  the  Choctaws,  who  had  remained 
steadfast  in  their  friendship  for  the  French,  were  still  in  the  very  neigh- 
borhood of  Mobile.  Bienville  sent  word  to  the  chiefs  of  the  other  villages, 
he  would  not  confide  in  them  as  friends,  but  cease  to  have  any  communi- 
cation with  them,  if  they  persisted  in  refusing  to  receive  their  countrymen. 
He  required  them  to  send  him  the  head  of  Ousachouti  (the  brother  of 
the  pnncipal  chief)  who  had  been  most  active  in  introducing  the  British 


HISTORY   OF    LOUISIANA. 


119 


traders,  and  fomenting  the  civil  war.    The  Choctaws,  after  some  debate, 
slew  the  obnoxious  chief,  and  sent  for  their  countrymen  of  the  two  villages. 

In  the  summer,  the  garrison  was  reinforced  by  two  companies  of 
infantry,  commanded  by  Marigny  de  Mandeville  and  Bagot.  With  them 
came  Rouzeau,  sent  to  succeed  Dirigoin,  as  principal  director  of  Crozat's 
ooncerns  in  Louisiana. 

At  the  same  time,  Bienville  received  the  commission  of  commander- 
general  of  all  the  establishments  on  the  Mississippi,  and  the  rivers  flowing 
into  it. 

A  ship  from  la  Rochelle  and  another  from  Martinico,  came  to  Dauphine 
Island  to  trade.  They  were  not  permitted  to  land  any  goods  as  this 
would  have  been  a  violation  of  Crozat's  privilege. 

Louis  the  fourteenth  died  on  the  first  of  September,  in  his  seventy- 
seventh  year,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  grandson,  Louis  the  fifteenth. 
The  new  monarch  being  in  his  sixth  year  only,  his  uncle,  the  Duke  of 
Orleans,  governed  the  kingdom  during  the  minority. 

The  Cherokees  fell  in  the  beginning  of  the  next  year  on  the  French 
settlements  on  the  Wabash,  and  killed  two  men,  named  Ramsay  and 
Longeuil.  The  father  of  the  latter  who  was  the  king's  lieutenant  at 
Montreal,  induced  the  Iroquois  to  declare  war  against  the  Cherokees.  It 
was  prosecuted  with  much  vigor  for  a  considerable  time,  and  ended  in 
the  rout  of  the  latter. 

Ill  execution  of  the  king's  order,  Bienville  assumed  the  command  of 
the  establishments  on  the  Mississippi.  A  few  French  stragglers  had 
settled  among  the  Tunicas,  Natchez,  Yazous  and  Bayagoulas,  and  we  have 
seen  that  clergymen  from  Canada  visited,  at  times,  these  tribes  as 
missionaries,  and  some  of  them  had  located  themselves  among  these 
Indians :  but  there  was  as  yet  but  one  small  fort  on  the  mighty  stream, 
not  far  from  the  sea.  He  was  instructed  to  erect  two  others — one  among 
the  Natchez  and  the  other  on  the  Wabash.  The  connection  of  Louisiana 
with  Canada  was  a  favorite  object  at  court,  and  it  had  been  very  strongly 
recommended  to  both  the  colonial  governments.  There  was  already  a 
considerable  population  on  that  river,  with  whom  the  Canadians  kept  a 
regular  intercourse  by  their  huntsmen  or  coureurs  de  bois;  this  rising 
settlement  afforded  also  a  commodious  resting  place  to  emigrants  from 
Canada  to  Louisiana. 

Laloire  des  Ursins,  who  lived  in  the  fort  on  the  Mississippi,  as  director 
of  Crozat's  concerns  on  the  river,  had  built  six  large  pirogues  for  the 
intended  expedition,  and  Bienville  having  reached  the  fort  with  a 
detachment,  ordered  his  men  to  proceed  to  the  landing  of  the  Tunicas. 
These  Indians  had  lately  removed  to  the  banks  of  a  lake,  which  empties 
in  the  Mississippi  through  a  bayou  to  which  they  gave  their  name  which 
it  still  retains. 

Bienville  spent  a  few  days  with  Laloire  des  Ursins,  in  order  to  have  a 
conference  with  the  head  men  of  the  Chouachas,  a  tribe  who  lived  a  little 
l)elow  the  spot  on  which  the  city  of  New  Orleans  is  built ;  on  reaching  his 
detachment  he  was  informed  the  Natchez  had  lately  killed  two  Frenchmen, 
and  stopped  and  robbed  nine  Canadians  who  were  descending  the  river. 
They  had  sent  a  messenger  to  solicit  their  aid  in  resisting  the  French.  He 
sent  an  interpreter  to  the  Natchez,  directing  him  to  conceal  from  them 

Bienville's  knowledge  of  the  murder — and  to  request  them  to  meet  him 
on  friendly  terms  at  their  landing.     In  the  hope  tliat  a  show  of  confidence 


*                       V  i"i 

^^iiii 

uHPHp^Hn^ 

yig 

II 

120 


HISTORY  iW  LOUISIANA. 


I     i 


;  I 


might  induce  him  to  overlook  what  had  happened  when  he  was  informed 
of  it,  nineteen  of  these  Indians  attended  with  thd  nine  Canadians.  Among 
the  former  were  five  suns  and  seven  village  chiefs. 

Bienville  had  pitched  his  tent  on  the  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  and  the 
Indians,  as  they  approached,  were  told  they  could  not  be  received  as* 
friends  till  the  deatn  of  his  countrymen  was  expiated.  The  head  of  tho 
deputation,  turning  towards  the  sun,  addressed  that  luminary  in  an  invo- 
cation which  he  seemed  to  think  would  appease  Bienville,  to  whom  he 
tendered  the  calumet  of  peace.  He  was  told  no  reconciliation  could  ho 
expected  till  the  head  of  the  chief,  at  whose  instigation  the  French  had 
been  killed,  was  brought  to  the  camp.  Ho  replied  that  chief  was  a  great 
warrior  and  a  sun.  On  this,  Bienville  had  him  and  some  of  his  com- 
panions arrested  and  put  under  guard  and  in  irons. 

On  the  next  day,  the  captives  sent  a  messenger  to  the  village  for  the 
desired  hoad.  He  returned  with  that  of  an  Indian  who  had  consented  to 
die  for  his  chief:  but  Bienville,  having  been  apprised  of  the  deception, 
refused  the  proffered  head.  With  as  little  success,  the  same  imposition 
was  attempted  the  following  day. 

The  Canadians  having  informed  Bienville  that  six  pirogues  were  on 
their  way  from  the  Illinois,  and  would  probably  be  stopped  by  the 
Indians  if  timely  precautions  were  not  taken,  a  canoe  was  aispatcned  at 
night,  and  the  people  on  the  pirogues,  being  thus  apprised  of  the 
impending  danger,  were  enabled  to  avoid  it. 

A  number  of  the  Natchez  came  to  Bienville's  camp  and  surrendered 
themselves,  desirous  to  lose  their  lives,  that  they  might  in  the  next  world 
wait  on  their  captive  chiefs,  if  their  lives  were  not  spared.  He  told  them 
he  had  no  doubt  that  Longbeard,  one  of  his  prisoners,  had  been  concerned 
in  the  murder,  and  was  one  of  those  who  had  favored  the  admission  of 
the  British  traders  ftmong  the  Natchez ;  but,  as  he  had  come  into  the 
camp  of  the  French  as  a  messenger  of  peace,  his  life  would  not  be  taken 
till  the  determination  of  the  nation  to  refuse  the  head  that  had  been 
demanded,  was  known.  The  Indians  in  the  camp,  however,  expresfml 
their  wish  that  as  he  was  a  turbulent  fellow,  and  had  often  disturbed  their 
tranquillity,  he  might  be  sacrificed.  Bienville  declined  doing  so  until  he 
had  the  consent  of  the  nation.  Th6  Indian  was  however  secretly 
dispatched  by  his  countrymen  without  the  participation  of  any  of  tli(^ 
white  people. 

After  this,  Bienville  and  the  French  accompanied  the  Indians  to  their 
village.  The  property  of  the  Canadians  was  restored,  and  with  the 
consent  of  the  Natchez  a  fort  was  begun  on  the  spot  which  Iberville  hiul 
chosen  for  a  town.  It  was  called  Fort  Rosalie,  and  a  small  garrison  was 
left  in  it,  under  the  order  of  Pailloux,  in  the  latter  part  of  June. 

One  of  Crozat's  ships  arrived  at  Mobile  in  the  following  month,  with  a 
large  supply  of  goods  and  provisions ;  she  landed  twenty  passengers. 

After  a  journey  of  upwards  of  two  years,  St.  Denys  reached  Mobile,  in 
the  month  of  August.  We  have  seen  that  he  was  sent  in  1714  into  the 
internal  provinces  of  Spain,  for  the  double  purpose  of  finding  a  vent  for 
Crozat's  goods,  and  checking  the  advances  of  the  Spaniards,  who  were 

Ereparing  to  form  settlements,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Natchitoches.  He 
ad  reached  this  place,  with  his  Canadians  and  Indians,  without  accident. 
He  employed  them  in  erecting  a  few  huts  for  some  of  the  Canadiansf 
he  was  to  leave  there,  and  having  engaged  some  individuals  of  tho 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


121 


rni(?tl 
nnon}! 

id  the 
ed  as 
)f  tho 
invo- 
om  be 
aid  be 
di  bad 
1  great 
9  cmn- 

for  the 
mted  to 
jeption, 
position 

were  on 

by  the 

tched  at 

.  of   th(? 

rendered 
ixt  world 
old  them 
oncerned 
lission  of 
.  into  the 
be  taken 
Ihad  been 
jxpresi^ed 
:bed  their 
until  he 
secretly 
y  of  the 

lis  to  their 

with  the 

rville  hiid 

Itison  Wiif 

jth,  with  a 
jngers. 
lobile,  m 
[4  into  the 
a  vent  for 
who  wen- 
khes.    He 
It  accident. 
ICanadian!^ 
lis  of  tk 


neighboring  tribes  to  join  the  Natchitoches,  he  supplied  them  with  a  few 
implements  of  husbandry,  and  useful  seeds.  Then,  taking  twelve  eliosen 
Canadians  and  a  small  number  of  Indians,  he  left  Red  river  and  nuirched 
westerly.  After  journeying  for  twenty  days  he  came  to  ji  village  of  the 
As.sinais,  not  far  from  tne  spot  where  Lasalle  was  murdered,  about  thirty 
vears  before.  There  he  obtained  guides,  who  led  hini  one  hundred  and 
fiftv  leagues  farther,  to  the  easternmost  settlement  of  the  Spaniards  on  Rio 
Bravo;  it  was  called  St.  John  the  Baptist,  or  Presidio  del  Norte.  Don  Pedro 
dc  Villescas,  who  commanded  there,  received  the  French  with  much  hospi- 
tality. St.  Denys  informed  his  host  he  was  sent  by  Lainotte  Cadillac,  to 
make  arrangements  for  a  connnerce  that  might  be  equally  beneficial  to  the 
Spanish  and  French  colonists.  Don  Pedro  said  he  could  not  do  anything, 
without  consulting  the  governor  of  Caouis,  under  whose  immediate  orders 
he  was.  This  officer  resided  at  a  distance  of  about  one  hundred  and 
eighty  miles,  and  on  receiving  a  communication  from  Don  Pedro,  dis- 
patched twenty-five  horsemen  to  luring  St.  Denys  to  hinj.  He  detained 
him  until  the  beginning  of  1715,  when  he  informed  him  that  he  considered 
it  his  duty  to  send  him  to  the  viceroy.  St.  Denys  being  about  to  depart, 
wrote  to  his  companions,  whom  he  had  left  at  the  Presidio  del  Norte,  to 
return  to  Natchitoches. 

Caouis  is  distant  from  Mexico  about  seven  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  and 
St.  Denys  was  conducted  by  an  officer,  attended  by  twenty  horsemen.    On 
his  arrival  in  the  capital,  the  viceroy  sent  him  to  prison.     He  was  enlarged, 
after  a  confinement  of  three  months,  at  the  solicitation  of  stn-eral  French 
ollicers  in  the  service  of  Spain.     The  viceroy  now  treated  him  with  kind- 
ness, and  made  every  effort  in  his  power  to  induce  him  to  enter  the  service 
of  the  Catholic  king.     Finding  his  endeavors  useless,  he  made  a  presi^nt 
to  8t.  Denys  oi  a  fine  horse  from  his  stable,  supplied  him  with  money  and 
sent  him  back  to  Caouis,  from  whence  he  proceeded  to  the  Presidio  tlel 
Norte.    Don  Pedro  was  much  afiected  at  the  removal  of  the  Indians  of 
five  neighboring  villages,  who  fatigued  at  the  vexations  they  experienced 
from  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  garrison  of  the  Presidio,  had  determined 
to  seek  an  asylum  among  a  distant  tribe  of  Indians.     St.  Denys  offered  to 
Don  Pedro  to  go  and  bring  them  back  ;  he  soon  overtook  them,   as  their 
chihlren  and  baggage  much  retarded  their  march.     Placing  a  white  hand- 
kerehicf  on  the  muzzle  of  his  nnisket,  as  soon  as  he  perceived  them,  he 
waved  it  as  a  token  of  his  friendly  intentions  ;  they  waited  his  aj)proach. 
He  placed  before  them  the  danger  they  ran,  in  removing  among  Indians 
\vlu»  were  utter  strangers  to  them,  and  told  them  he  was  charged  by  Don 
Pedro  to  assure  them,  that,  if  they  would  re-occupy  their  villages,  neither 
(iffieers  or  soldiers  of  the  Presidio,  would  be  suffered  to  enter  any  of  them, 
without  their  consent.     They  agreed  to  return  with  him,  and  Don  Pedro, 
I  who  feare<l  that  the  departure  of  these  Indians  from  the  neighborhood  of 
I  the  Presidio  should  be  attributed  to  his  ill  conduct  or  neglect,  was  gratified 
[by  the  service  St.  Denys  had  rendered  him. 

During  the  short  interval  he  had  passed  before,  under  Don  Pedro's  roof, 
I  the  charms  of  the  Spaniard's  daughter  had  made  a  lively  impression  on 
|8t,  Denys,  and  she  had  appeared  to  reciprocate  his  affection.  He  now 
jpressed  his  suit,  and  obtained  her  hand.  He  staid  six  months  with  her, 
jafler  their  nuptials,  and  left  her  pregnant,  returning  to  Mobile,  accompained 
jby  Don  Juan  de  Tillescas,  her  uncle. 

Lamotte  Cadillac  was  now  convinced  that  a  commerce  with  the  Spaniards 

17 


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5  I 


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#       'pi 


ML  ^^mmM 


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ftif :  :  .  , 


Mi*'|-.ll  if' 


iiiii 


!     n ;  , 


r  ■,. 


i., 


■  ■;  i 


ii  '■. ;  1 


If;';  I 


41. 1: 


«'i!f:t 


122 


HISTORY   OF    LOUISIANA. 


was  i\»  impossihlo  by  hmd  as  b3^  water;  and  he  apprised  Crozat  of  the 
inutility  of  any  further  attempt  either  way. 

The  period,  for  which  the  Superior  Council  of  Louisiana  had  been 
cstahlisned,  being  about  to  expire,  the  king,  in  the  month  of  September, 
re-established  it  l)y  a  perpetual  and  irrevocable  edict.  It  was  nowever. 
new  modelled,  and  to  be  composed  of  the  governor-general  and  intendant 
of  New  France,  the  governor  of  Louisiana,  a  senior  councillor,  the  kingV 
lieutenant,  two  i)uisne  councillors  and  an  attornev-general  and  clerk.  The 
edict  gives  to  the  council  all  the  powers,  exercised  by  the  superior  council? 
of  other  colonies :  principally  that  of  determining  all  cases,  civil  and 
criminal,  in  the  last  resort,  and  without  costs.  Its  sessions  are  directed 
to  be  monthly,  and  a  quorum  is  to  consist,  in  civil  cases  of  three  judges, 
and  in  criminal  of  five.  When  necessary,  in  the  absence  and  lawful  excuse 
of  the  members,  notables  may  be  called  to  vacant  seats.  The  intendant 
of  New  France,  and,  in  his  absence,  the  senior  councillor,  is  to  act  as 
president,  even,  in  presence  of  the  governor-general  of  New  France,  or  the 
governor  of  Louisiana.  In  provisional  matters,  fixing  of  seals,  making 
inventories,  etc.,  the  senior  councillor  is  authorized  to  act  as  a  judge  of 
first  instance. 

This  edict  was  followed  on  the  sixteenth  of  November,  by  an  ordinance 
relating  to  redemptioners  and  muskets ;  it  was  not  confined  to  Louisiana. 
Vessels,  leaving  the  kingdom  for  any  of  the  king's  American  colonic?. 
were  directed  to  carry  thither,  if  under  sixty  tons  four,  and  if  above,  six 
redemptioners,  whose  period  of  service  Avas  fixed  at  three  years.  They 
were  required  to  be  able  bodied,  between  the  ages  of  seventeen  and  forty. 
and  in  size  not  under  four  feet.  It  was  provided  that  the  redemptionerk 
whom  the  captain  might  not  sell,  should  be  given  by  the  governor  to  some 
of  the  planters  who  had  not  any,  and  who  were  to  pay  their  passage. 

Crozat  having  recommended  that  notwithstanding  the  ill  success  of 
St.  Denys,  in  his  attempt  to  open  a  trade  with  the  Spanish  provincc!i 
bordering  on  Louisiana,  the  project  should  not  be  abandoned;  three 
Canadians,  named  Delery,  Lafreniere  and  Beaulieu,  were  supplied  witli 
goods  out  of  his  stores,  in  the  month  of  October,  and  proceeded  by  the 
way  of  Red  river  to  the  province  of  New  Leon;  and  to  prevent  the 
Spaniards  from  occupying  the  country  of  the  Natchitoches,  among  whom 
St.  Denys  had  left  a  few  of  his  countrymen,  a  detachment  was  plaoed 
under  the  orders  of  Dutisne,  who  was  directed  to  build  and  garrison  a 
fort,  among  these  Indians. 

Three  of  Crozat's  ships  arrived  from  France  on  the  ninth  of  March. 
They  brought  I'Epinai,  who  had  been  appointed  governor,  and  Hubert  | 
commissary  ordonnateur.      Duclos,  whom  he   succeeded,  went  in  that 
capacity  to  St.  Domingo.      Three  companies  of  infantry,  under  the  orders 
of  De  Rome  and  Gouis,  and  fifty  new  colonists,  accompanied  them,  amoiw  | 
Avhom  Avere  Trefontaine,  Guenot,  Dubreuil  and  Mossy. 

L'Epinai  brought  the  cross  of  St.  Louis  to  Bienville. 

The  Peacock,  one  of  these  ships,  went  into  the  bay  of  Ship  Island,  o: 
the  entrance  of  which  they  found  twenty-seven  feet  of  water ;  and  two  day? 
after,  she  was  unable  to  come  out,  without  being  unladen — the  pass  beinjl 
entirely  stopped  up.  After  being  lightened,  she  came  out  through  thfj 
channel  of  the  Island  of  Grand  Grozier;  where  she  found  ten  feet  of  waterr 
This  was  more  surprising,  as  since  the  arrival  of  Iberville,  nineteen  year^j 
before,  no  alteration  had  been  noticed. 


of  the 

d  been 
tcmber. 
lowever. 
tendant 
e  kingV 
rk.  The 
council? 
jivil  and 

directed 
e  judges, 
ul  excuse 
ntendant 
to  act  as 
ice,  or  the 
5,  making 

judge  of 

ordinance 
Louisiana. 
1  colonic?. 
above,  six 
arn.    They 
I  and  forty, 
imptioner?, 
lor  to  some 
isage. 
success  of 
province^ 
ned;  three 
jplied  with 
ded  by  the 
revent  the 
iiong  whom 
was  placed 
garrison  a 

,.  of  March. 

xnd  Hubert 
font  in  that  | 
Ir  the  orders 
Iheni,  anioM  I 


I  Island,  01 . 
IndtwodayH 

iepassbein? 
(through  thf 
teet  of  water 
lieteen  years 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


123 


Another  of  the  ships  was  sent  to  Havana  for  cattle ;  she  went  in  under 
the  pretence  of  distress,  and  was  allowed  three  days  to  refit  and  procure 
provisions.  She  took  in  sixty  cows ;  this  excited  surprise,  and  it  being 
found  they  were  intended  for  Louisiana,  the  captain-general  insisted  on 
forty-five  of  them  being  re-landed. 

Although  the  services  of  Bienville  had  been  rewarded  bv  knighthood, 
the  arrival  of  I'Epinai,  as  governor,  gave  him  great  mortification.  The 
officers  of  the  garrison  were  attached  to  him,  and  observed  their  new  chief 
with  a  jealous  eye.  This  was  the  source  of  an  unfortunate  schism  in  the 
colony,  which  for  a  while  checked  its  progress.  Hubert,  who  was  a  man 
of  business,  sided  with  I'Epinai,  and  his  animosity  against  Bienville  went 
Ko  far  as  to  charge  him  witn  being  a  pensioner  of  Spain,  bribed  to  check 
the  progress  of  the  settlement. 

Crozat's  agents,  finding  but  little  vent  for  his  goods  in  the  colony,  put  a 
considerable  quantity  of  them  on  board  of  one  of  his  ships,  which  they 
sent  to  Vera  Cruz,  under  the  impression  that  they  might  be  permitted  to 
land  them :  but,the  viceroy  was  found  inflexible.  Her  cargo  was  worth 
two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  at  the  costs  in  France,  and  the  goods  had 
mostly  been  selected  with  the  view  of  being  sold  to  the  Spaniards  at 
Mexico,  and  Crozat  had  made  the  attempt,  in  the  hope  of  providing  by 
the  sale  of  these  goods  the  means  of  discharging  large  sums  that  were  due 
to  the  troops  and  workmen.  On  the  return  of  the  ship,  they  were 
compelled  to  offer  to  these  people,  in  discharge  of  their  claims,  articles  of 
luxury  better  suited  for  a  great  city,  than  for  a  rising  colony.  This  excited 
great  murmurs ;  Crozat's  exclusive  privilege  had  grown  very  unpopular 
in  Louisiana.  The  colonial  officers,  who,  heretofore  had  carried  on  an 
interlope  trade  with  Vera  Cruz,  Havana  and  Pensacola,  viewed  with 
jealousy  his  agents  and  the  new  administrators,  whom  he  had  strongly 
littachecl  to  his  interest,  by  a  share  in  the  privilege. 

In  the  month  of  August,  Crozat  disappointed  in  the  expectations  he 
had  entertained,  surrendered  his  grant  to  the  king.  He  complained  that 
the  weakness  of  the  colony  rendered  it  contemptible  to  the  Indians,  whom 
it  could  not  prevent  from  incessantly  waging  war  among  themselves, 
whereby  no  trade  could  safely  be  carried  on  with  them ;  that,  the  British 
drew  nigher  and  nigher,  and  confined  the  French  to  their  small  settlements 
at  Mobile,  Biloxi  and  Dauphine  Island — that  the  land  on  the  island,  and 
near  the  other  two  settlements,  was  sandy  and  sertile,  while  the  rich  land 
on  the  Mississippi  was  open  to  the  British,  whom  nothing  prevented  from 
j  occupying  it.  The  surrender  was  accepted  on  the  twenty-third — about 
i  five  years  from  the  date  of  the  charter. 

During  this  period,  neither  the  commerce  nor  agriculture  of  the  colony 

j  was  increased.     The  troops  sent  by  the  king  and  the  colonists  who  came 

from  France,  did  not  swell  its  population  to  more  than  seven  hundred 

persons  of  all  ages,  sexes  or  color.     Two  new  forts  were  erected  and 

[garrisoned ;  Fort  Toulouse  among  the  Alibamons,  and  Fort  Rosalie  among 

|the  Natchez. 

Arrangements  having  been   made  with  three  individuals  of  the  names 

lof  Aubert,  Renet  and  Gayon,  for  the  commerce  of  Canada,  which  were  to 

[expire  with  the  current    year,  government    determined   on  creating   a 

company,  capable  of  carrying  on  the  commerce  of  Canada  and  Louisiana, 

M  improving  the  advantages  which  the  cultivation  of  the  soil,  in  these 

polonies  presented.    This  was  effected  a  few  days  after  the  surrender  of 

^rozat's  privilege  was  accepted. 


^Hm 

^^^^^H 

^||:HBn 

>il^D 

*'■  ''^1 

:r.J|| 

J^ 

'■m 

<•■:,- 


i,*W!L. 


*H!^ 


r  .'.'If    B 


.  ,i^  »«:•!;'■• 


i  ,    ''"j 


(;  HA  I'TEK    IX 


;  / 1 


miM' 


l1? 


Tin-;  charter  of  th(>  lunv  corporation  wan  registered  in  tlie  ParlianicMitof 
I'aris  on  tlie  sixth  of  September,  1717. 

It  in  to  Ite  (listinijnished  hy  tlu'  styh'  of  the  Western  ('oinpany,  and  all 
the  king's  snhjects,  as  well  as  corporate  bodies  and  aliens,  are  allowed  to 
take  shares  in  it. 

The  exclusive;  connneree  of  Lonisianu  is  granted  to  it  for  twenty-five 
vears  ;  with  the  right,  also  exclusive,  of  ])urehasing  beaver  skins  from  the 
inhabitants  of  Canada,  from  the  first  of  January,  171S,  until  the  last  (lav 
of  the  year  1712;  and,  the  monarch  reserv(;s  to  himself  the  faculty  of 
settling  on  inlonnati(Hi  to  be  obtained  from  ('anada,  the  number  of  skins 
the  company  shall  be  bound  annually  to  receive  from  the  inhabitants,  and 
the  j)ric»'  to  be  paid  therefor. 

All  the  other  subjects  of  th(;  king  are  prohibited  from  trading  to 
lit)uisiana,  under  the  penalty  of  the  confiscation  of  their  merchandisi' 
and  vessels :  but  this  is  not  intended  to  ])revent  the  inhabitants  from 
trailing  among  themselves  or  with  the  Indians.  It  is  likewise  prohihitcd 
to  any  but  the  comi)anv,  toinirchase  during  the  same  period,  beaver  skins 
in  Canada  for  exportation  under  the  penalty  of  the  forfeiture  of  the  skins, 
and  the  V(>ssels  in  which  they  may  be  shipped  :  but,  the  trade  in  these 
skins  in  the  interior  is  to  continue  as  heretofore. 

The  land,  I'oasts,  harbors  and  islands  in  Louisiana  are  granted  to  the 
comi)anv,  as  they  were  to  Oozat,  it  doing  faith  and  homage  to  the  kiuj.'. 
and  furnishing  a  crown  of  gold  of  the  weight  of  thirty  marks,  iit  eaeli 
mutation  of  the  sovereignty. 

It  is  authoriz(?d  to  make  treaties  with  the  Indians,  and  to  declare  and 
prosecute  war  against  them  in  case  of  insult. 

Tlie  property  of  all  mines  it  may  open  and  work,  is  granted  to  it, 
without  the  payment  of  any  duty  whatsoever. 

The  faculty  is  given  it  to  grant  land,  even  allodiallv,  to  erect  forts,  lew 
troops  and  recruits  even  in  the  kingdom,  procuring  the  king's  permission 
f(U"  this  pur})ose. 

It  is  authorized  to  nominate  governors  and  the  ofliicers  commanding  the 
trooi)s,  who  are  to  be  presented  by  the  directors  and  oommissiimed  by  the 
king  and  removable  by  the  company.  Provisional  commissions  may.  in 
case  of  necessity  be  granted  to  be  valid  during  six  months,  or  until  the 
royal  commission  arrive. 

The  directors  and  all  oflicers  are  to  take  an  oath  of  fidelity  to  the  kiiii:. 

Military  officers  in  Louisiana  are  ])ermitted  to  enter  into  the  serviee  nl 
the  company,  and  others  to  go  there  with  the  king's  license  to  serve  it. 
All  while  in  its  service  are  to  ])reserve  their  respective  ranks  and  grade? 
in  the  royal  land  and  naval  forces  ;  and  the  king  promises  to  acknowte  I 
as  reiulered  ti)  himself  all  services  they  may  rencier  to  the  oomp.any. 

Power  is  given  to  fit  out  shi])s  of  war  and  cast  cannon,  and  to  appoint 
and  remove  judges  and  officers  of  justice;  but  the  judges  of  the  superior 
council  are  to  be  nominated  and  commissioned  by  the  king.  I 

All  civil  suits  to  which  the  company  may  be  a  party,  are  to  be  detonuineJJ 
by  the  consular  jurisdiction  of  the  city  of  Pans,  the  sentences  of  whidij 
under  a  fixed  sum  are  to  be  in  the  last  resort:  those  above  are  to  If  I 
provisorily  executed  notwithstanding,  but  without  prejudice  of  the  ap{)ea![ 


th 


inont  of 

and  stll 
lowctl  ttl 

euty-tivc 
fvom  the 
last  (lay 
K'ulty  of 
•  of  skins 
,ants,  and 

ra«linn  to 
ircliandisc 
ants  from 
prolnliitod 
aviM'  skins 
■  \\w  skins, 
ilo  in  tlu'Sf 

\ttMl  to  the 
,()  tho  kins;, 
•ks,  at  ciu'li 

UH'lare  and 

anted  to  it. 

forts,  levy 
|H>rniissiou 

uandingtlie 
oned  l)y  the 
>us  may.  i" 
>r  until  tho 

to  the  king. 
,o  sorvioo  of 
to  serve  it ' 
,  iind  s^rutloJ 
iVi'knowletlK  1 
lupany. 
to  avV*^">M 
the  supenoi 

le  actorniinejl 
Ices  of  >vW| 
love  are  to  Ml 
|)f  the  appeal. 


IIISTOUY   OK    I-OIIISIANA. 


125 


wliii  li  in  to  \w  hroiif?lit  l>ofor<>  i\\v  I'arliament  of  I'liriH.  Oiininal 
jurisdiction  is  not  to  draw  with  it  that  of  th(!  civil  inuttor. 

Tlic  king  protniscH  not  to  grant  any  letter  of  disnensation  or  rewpite  to 
jiiiv  del)tor  of  the  company ;  and  he  assures  it  of  tin;  protection  of  his 
iiainc,  against  any  foreign  nation,  injuring  tlu!  eoinpanv. 

French  vessels  and  crews  alone,  are  to  ho  employed  hy  it,  and  it  is  to 
Itrir.g  the  jjroduce  of  Louisiana  into  the  ports  of  the  king(l(»m.  All  g<»ods, 
ill  its  vessels  arc  to  he  presume*!  its  proi)erty,  unless  it  he  shown  they 
\v('rc  ship|»(^<l  with  its  license. 

The  subjects  of  the  king,  removing  to  Louisiana,  arc  to  preserve  their 
national  character,  and  their  (diildren  (and  those  of  European  parents, 
iirofessing  the  Uonum  (latholic  religion)  horn  there,  are  to  l)e  considered 
iis  natural  horn  suhjciits. 

During  the  (umtmuanec  of  the  charter,  the  inhabitants  of  Louisiana 
arc  exempted  from  any  tax  or  imposition,  and  the  company's  goods  from 

duty. 

With  the  view  of  emrouraging  it  to  build  vessels  in  Louisiana,  a  gratifi- 
cation is  to  be  i)aid  on  the  arrival  of  each  of  them  in  France. 

Four  liundred  (luintals  of  powder  are  to  be  delivered  annually  to  the 
company,  out  of  tlie  royal  magazines,  at  cost. 

The  stock  is  divided  into  shares  of  five  hundred  livres  each,  (about  one 
hundred  dollars.)  Their  number  is  not  limited;  but  the  company  is 
authorized  to  (dose  the  subscription  at  discsretion.  The  shares  of  aliens 
arc  exempted  fron»  the  droit  (Vauhnine  and  confiscation  in  case  of  war. 

Holders  are  to  have  a  vote  for  every  fifty  shares.  The  affairs  of  the 
company  are,  <iuring  the  two  first  years,  to  be  managed  by  directors 
appointed  by  the  king,  and  afterwards  by  others,  appointed  triennially  by 
the  stockholders. 

The  king  gives  to  the  company  all  the  forts,  magazines,  guns,  ammuni- 
tions, vessels,  boats,  provisions,  etc.,  in  Louisiana,  with  all  tlie  merchandise 
surrendered  by  Crozat. 

It  is  to  build  churches  and  provide  clergymen ;  Louisiana  is  to  remain 
part  of  the  diocese  of  Quebec,  it  engages  to  bring  in  during  its  i)rivilege, 
six  thousand  white  persons  and  three  thousand  negroes ;  but  it  is  stipu- 
lated, it  shall  not  bring  any  person  from  another  colony  without  the 
license  of  the  governor. 

AlthiUigh  the  king  had  consented  to  redeem  the  card  money  that 
inundated  Canada  according  to  the  petition  of  the  planters  and  merchants 
of  that  colony,  in  1713,  he  was  tard/ in  the  performance  of  his  engage- 
ment, and  it  was  not  till  this  year,  that  the  circulation  of  it  was  stopped. 
.\t  the  same  time  the  value  of  coin  there  was  reduced  to  the  standard  of 
the  realm ;  dearly  bought  experience  having  shown  that  the  rise  of  its 
Icfial  value  had  not  a  tendency  to  retain  specie  in  the  colony,  and  that 
the  only  mean  of  preventing  the  exportation  of  it,  was  the  payment  of 
wiiatever  was  imported,  in  the  produce  of  the  country. 

On  the  ninth  of  February,  1718,  three  of  the  company's  ships  arrived, 
with  as  many  companies  o^  infantry  and  sixty-nine  colonists.  Boisbriant, 
who  came  in  this  fleet,  and  who  was  appointed  king's  lieutenant  in  the 
colony,  was  the  bearer  of  Bienville's  commission  as  governor  of  the  province ; 
I'Epinai  being  recalled.  Hubert  had  been  made  director-general  of  the 
eoncerns  of  the  company  in  Louisiana.  The  troops  and  the  inhabitants 
generally  saw  with  great  pleasure  the  chief  command  restored  to  Bienville. 


'X   '       i  '    *    iff' 


,'j' 


h'"Mn 


126 


HISTORY  OF   LOnSIANA. 


h    1  ■  i 


pi- 


y  ii!  ;•■ 


c 


it]'';  *-^^f 


Ht'  had  spent  IwtMity  yeart*  in  the  colony  and  was  well  acquainted  with 
its  wants  and  resources. 

The  three  (Canadians,  who  had  gone  on  a  trading  cxnedition  to  tlu' 
province  of  New  Leon,  in  1710,  returned  to  Mohile.  They  had  heenjoinod 
by  St.  Denys,  and  having  supplied  themselves  with  horses  and  nudes  at 
Natchitoches,  they  journeye«lto  a  small  village  of  the  Adayes,  which  had 
hut  thirty  warriors.  Fording  the  river  here,  they  came  soon  after  to  u 
group  of  about  ten  cabins  of  the  Adeyches ;  near  which  the  Spaniards  had 
a  mission  conii)osed  of  two  friars,  three  soldiers  and  a  woman. 

Their  next  stage  was  at  Nagogdoches,  where  they  found  the  Hunie 
number  of  friars,  a  lav  brother  and  a  woman.  The  first  village  of  the 
Assinais  was  thirty  mifes  farther.  Here  they  met  two  friars  and  a  woman. 
St.  Denys  now  parted  from  his  companions  and  went  ahead  with  part  of 
the  goods.  His  con^)anions,  after  journeying  for  twenty-five  miles, 
reached  the  first  presidio,  garrisoned  by  a  captain,  lieutenant  and  twenty- 
five  soldiers ;  they  journeyed  along,  crossing  two  streams,  about  thirty 
miles  to  the  last  village  of  the  Assinais,  near  which  was  a  mission 
comjiosed  of  two  friars  and  a  few  soldiers.  They  halted  seventy  miles 
farther  (Hi  the  bank  of  the  river  Trinity.  At  nearly  the  same  distance 
they  crossed  a  river  near  which  were  immense  herds  of  bufl'aloes.  It  had 
two  branches,  on  the  farthest  of  which  was  an  Indian  village  of  fifty  huts. 
The  travellers  found  Rio  Colorado  at  the  distance  of  about  fifty  miles. 
This  is  the  stream  near  the  mouth  of  which  Lasalle  built  Fort  Louis, 
which  the  Spaniards  destroyed  in  1690.  Soon  after  crossing  it,  the  party 
was  attacked  by  about  sixty  Spaniards,  on  horseback,  covered  with  hides. 
who,  intimidated  by  its  spirited  conduct,  fled ;  but,  shortly  after,  came 
upon  the  rear  of  the  French,  and  carried  away  a  mulatto  woman  and 
three  mules,  one  of  which  was  loaded  with  a  quantity  of  goods.  The 
French  reached,  on  the  next  day,  the  camp  of  a  wandering  tribe  of 
Indians,  who  had  erected  about  thirty  huts  tand  who  gave  them  a  friendly 
reception.  After  a  stay  of  two  days  to  rest,  the  party  crossed  on  the 
second  day  the  river  St.  Mark,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  following, 
thjit  of  Guadeloupe.  Fording  afterwards  that  of  St.  Anthony,  they 
stopped  at  the  presidio  of  St.  John  the  Baptist,  on  the  western  side  of  Rio 
Bravo  or  Del  Norte,  at  the  distance  of  about  six  miles  from  the  stream. 

The  garrison  of  this  post  consisted  of  a  captain,  lieutenant  and  thirty- 
six  soldiers.  The  settlement  was  confined  to  a  square,  surrounded  witli 
mud  houses.  Within  this  command  were  the  missions  of  St.  Joseph  ami 
St.  Bernard. 

The  French  were  informed  here  that  the  goods  brought  by  St.  Deny 
had  been  seized,  and  he  was  gone  to  Mexico  to  solicit  their  release.  Td 
avoid  a  similar  misfortune,  they  placed  theirs  in  the  hards  of  the  friars, 
and  afterwards  disposed  of  them  to  merchants  from  Bocca  de  Leon.  They 
were  tarrying  to  receive  their  payment  when  accounts  reached  the 
presidio  that  St.  Denys  had  been  imprisoned.  This  induced  them  1" 
depart  abruptly,  and  make  the  best  of  their  way  to  Mobile. 

On  their  return  they  found  a  new  mission  had  been  established  at  tli'" 
Adayes,  under  the  name  of  San  Miguel  de  Linarez. 

The  report  of  these  people  convinced  the  colonial  government  that  it 
would  be  in  vain  to  make  any  further  attempt  towards  establishing  ii 
trade  with  the  neighboring  provinces  of  Spain. 

Bienville,  according  to  the  last  instructions  he  had  received,  dispatched 


HISTORY   OF    LOUISIANA. 


12: 


i  with 
to  the 

joilH'tl 

ules  at 
•h  had 
ter  to  a 
rds  hatl 

e  saiuo 

e  of  the 

woman, 
part  of 

2   miles, 
twenty- 
it  thirty 
mission    I 

ity  miles 
distanee 

.    It  liad 

Hfty  huts. 

fty  miles. 

>rt  Louis, 

the  party 

ith  hides. 

ifter,  came 

oman  and 

lods.    The 

g  tribe  of 
a  friendly 
ed  on  the 
following, 
ony,  they 
side  of  Ri» 
stream, 
nd  thirty- 
inded  with 
oscph  ami 

St.  Deny» 
jlease.    To 

the  friars 
3on.  They 
jached  the 
3d  them  to 

shed  at  tlv> 

lent  thai  it 
lablishingii 

dispatcheil 


(!hatoaujjue,  with  fifty  men,  to  take  possession  of  the  hay  of  St.  Josopli, 
liftwoen  Pensacohi  and  St.  Marks.  Cnateauf^uo  marked  out  the  liiu's  of  a 
fort,  and  left  (iousy  to.huild  and  coniinand  it. 

In  the  meanwhile,  Bienville  visited  the  hanks  of  the  Mississippi,  in 
order  to  select  a  spot  for  the  principal  settlement  of  the  province.  He 
cliose  that  on  which  the  city  of  New  Orleans  now  stands,  and  left  there 
tiftv  men  to  clear  the  ground  and  erect  barracks. 

the  (H)mpany  ha<l  been  taught  by  the  failure  of  all  the  plans  of  Crozat, 
tliat  nothing  was  to  be  expected  from  a  trade  with  the  Spaniards,  or  the 
M'arch  after  mines  of  the  nrecious  metals,  in  Louisiana;  and,  that  no 
considerable  advantage  1  ould  attend  an  exclusive  trade  with  an  extensive 
jirovince,  thinly  peopled,  unless  agriculture  enabled  the  planters  to 
purchase,  and  furnish  returns  for,  the  merchandise  that  might  be  sent 
thither.  It  was  imagined  the  culture  of  the  soil  would  be  best  promoted 
l»y  large  grants  (many  of  several  miles  front  on  the  rivers)  to  i)owerful 
niid  wealthy  individuals  in  the  kingdom. 

Accordingly,  one  was  made  on  the  Arkansas  river,  of  twelve  miles 
i<(iuarc  to  Law,  a  Scotchman,  who  had  ac(iuired  great  credit  at  court,  by 
several  plans  of  finance,  which  he  had  proposed.  Others  of  inferior, 
though  still  very  large,  extent,  were  made — particularly  one  on  the  river 
of  the  Yazous,  to  a  company  composed  of  Leblanc,  secretary  of  state, 
Count  de  Belleville,  the  Marquis  of  Assleck  and  Leblond,  who  afterwards 
came  to  Louisiana,  as  a  general  officer  of  the  engineers :  others  at  the 
Natchez,  to  Hubert,  and  a  company  of  merchants  of  St.  Maloes ;  at  the 
Cadodaquioas,  above  the  Natchitoches,  uj)  Red  river,  to  Benard  de  la 
Harpe ;  at  the  Tunicas,  to  St.  Reine ;  at  Point  Coiiiiee,  to  de  Mouse ;  at  the 
place  on  which  now  stands  the  town  of  Baton  Rouge,  to  Diron  d'Arta- 
Uuette ;  on  the  right  side  of  the  Mississippi,  opposite  to  Bayou  Manchac, 
to  Paris  Duvernay ;  at  the  Tchoupitoulas,  to  de  Muys ;  at  the  Ournas,  to 
the  Marquis  d'Ancouis ;  at  the  Cannes  Brulees,  to  the  Marquis  d'Artagnac  ; 
opposite  to  these  on  the  right  side  of  the  river,  to  de  Guiche,  de  la  Houssaie 
and  de  la  Houpe ;  at  the  bay  of  St.  Louis,  to  Madame  de  Mezieres";  and  at 
the  Pascagoulas,  to  Madame  de  Chaum(jnt. 

It  has  been  stipulated  with  Law,  that  he  should  bring  fifteen  hundred 
persons  from  Germany  or  Provence,  to  settle  the  land  granted  him,  on 
the  Arkansas,  and  he  was  to  maintain  a  small  body  of  horse  and  foot  for 
their  protection.  Each  of  the  other  grantees  was  bound  to  transport  a 
number  of  settlers,  proportioned  to  the  extent  of  his  grant.  The  company 
expected  by  these  means,  to  fulfil  the  obligation  imposed  by  the  charter, 
tomtroduce  six  thousand  white  persons  into  the  colony.  Experience, 
however,  showed  that  although  these  large  grants  facilitated  the  transpor- 
tation of  settlers,  little  was  obtained  from  the  labors  of  men,  brought  over 
from  a  distant  clime,  to  cultivate  land,  the  proprietors  of  which  staid 
liehind. 

The  first  accession  of  population,  which  Louisiana  received  in  this 
manner,  consisted  of  sixty  men,  led  by  Dubuisson,  to  occupy  the  land 
granted  to  Paris  Duvernay.    They  arrived  in  the  month  of  April. 

In  June,  three  of  the  company's  ships  arrived ;  Richbourg,  a  knight  of 
St.  Louis,  and  Grandval,  lately  appointed  major  of  the  fort  at  Mobile,  with 
a  number  of  subaltern  officers,  came  in  these  vessels.  They  were  accom- 
panied by  Legas,  an  under-director,  who  brought  thirty  young  men,  to  be 
employed  as  clerks,  in  the  offices  of  the  company :  seventy  settlers  of  the 


'     :\? 


¥<i>i 


Lm.-'i 


. 


S'JW 


mm  , 


|.«'iir:, 


12S 


lirSTOKY  OF   LOriSIANA. 


}?runt  of  (Ic  la  HouHsaio.  and  sixty  of  that  of  <1<'  la  Houpc,  with  twdvt 
compaiiit'S  of  fiftouii  Hotth'rs,  each  of  Whhvy  m'aiitH  ;  a  nuiiihi'r  of  woididN 
and  coiivit-ts,  caino  alno  at  th<>  same  tiiiic.  The  adilitioii  to  the  population 
of  the  eoUmy  by  those  vessels  amounted  to  uj»wards  of  ei^^ht  hundicl 
persons. 

The  Spaniards  eomplaineil  grievously  of  the  occupation  of  the  l»a\  ui 
St.  Joseph,  as  a  military  i»ost.  They  had  induced  one-half  <»f  the  f^arrisdn 
to  desert;  Chatcaugue  was  sent  to  bring  back  the  remainder.  The  fdii, 
being  thus  abandoned  by  the  French,  was  immediately  after  occupiid  liy 
the  Spaniards. 

The  former  spread  themselves  widely  over  Louisiana  in  the  tall, 
Benard  de  la  Harpe,  with  sixty  settlers,  went  to  take  possession  of  his 
grant,  at  the  Cadodaquious,  up  Red  river.  Bizart  was  sent  with  a  huijiIj 
detaclunent  to  the  river  Yazous,  where  he  built  fort  St.  I'eter,  aiid 
Boisbriant  went  to  take  the  command  at  the  Illinois.  Thus  the  settleuuiits 
of  the  French  in  Louisiana,  accpiired  the  utmost  extension  from  east  to 
west,  they  ever  had,  i.  e.,  from  fort  Toulouse  on  the  Alibamons,  to  a  point 
on  Red  river,  beyond  the  present  limits  of  the  State.  This  circumHtaiur 
weakened  much  the  colony,  and  was  certainly  unpropitious  to  its  i)r()};r(>^s 
in  agriculture.  Its  connnerce  was  sujiposed  to  be  favored  by  pushing  tlic 
settlements  among  distant  tribes  of  Indnms,  and  facilitating  the  collections 
of  furs  and  jieltries. 

A  nundx  r  of  soldiers  of  the  garrison  of  Mobile  <leserted  this  winter,  ami 
found  their  way  by  land,  to  the  settlements  of  the  British  in  South 
Carolina. 

A  large  })arty  of  Spaniards  from  the  neighboring  provinces  came  to  tin 
Missouri  with  the  view  of  descending  and  attacking  theFrench  at  the  lUiiidis, 
They  fell  on  two  towns  of  the  Missouri  Indians  and  route<l  the  inhabitants. 
But,  those  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  having  timely  notice  of  the  approadi 
of  the  foe,  collected  in  vast  numbers,  attaiikcd  and  defeated  it.  TIkv 
made  a  great  slaughter  and  tortured  tt)  death  all  the  prisoners  they  tnok, 
except  two  friars.  One  of  these  died  soon  after :  the  other  reniaiiud 
awhile  in  captivity.  He  had  a  fine  horse  and  was  very  skilful  in  the 
management  of  it :  one  dav  as  he  was  amusing  the  Indians  with  feats  nl 
horsenianship,  he  applied  ^lis  spurs  to  the  sides  of  the  animal  and  ef!('(  ti  I 
his  escape. 

In  the  spring,  TArchambault,  lately  appointe*!  director-general  of  thr 
company's  concerns,  arrived  at  Mobile  with  upwards  of  one  humlitil 
passengers. 

St.  Denvs  now  returned  from  Mexico.  He  had  left  the  presidio  (tf  St. 
John  the  baptist,  with  the  view  of  procuring  the  release  of  his  goods^.  On 
his  arrival,  tne  Marquis  de  Valero,  who  had  succeded  the  Duke  of  hinan/. 
in  the  viceroyalty,  had  flattered  him  with  hopes  of  success.  But  Din 
Martin  de  Alacorne,  governor  of  the  province  of  Texas,  having  hoard  ni 
the  passage  of  St.  Denys  through  his  government,  without  having  stm 
him,  had  written  to  the  Marquis,  representing  St.  Denys  as  a  su.sjHcicii* 
character,  who  was  claiming  property  that  was  not  his  own.  Too  rciidv  j 
an  ear  was  given  to  the  misrepresentation  of  Don  Martin,  and  St.  Deiiv'^ 
was  arrested  and  imprisoneci.  One  month  after  he  obtained  from  the 
royal  audience  a  decree  for  the  release  of  his  person  and  the  restitution  ni 
his  goods.  He  disposed  ctf  them  to  much  advantage;  but  the  persiin| 
whom  he  employed  for  the  collection   of  the   proceeds,  wasted  them 


HIHTOHY   OF   LOUIHIANA. 


120 


KxiisiMTated  h\  hiH  minfortiine,  he  venUul  IiIm  rugf  in  ahuHUH  of  tlio 
SpaniiinlH,  ana  in  vauntinj;  his  influcnro  witli  the  Indians.  Tliis 
iiKlisoretion  occasioned  an  order  for  his  arrest;  hut  Home  of  his  wife's 
rolationH  gave  him  notice  of  it,  and  furnishe*!  meaiiH  of  ewcape. 

The  only  advantage  the  company  derived  from  his  excrursion,  was  the 
(vitU'iu'o  of  his  fidelity,  and  Home  information  relating  to  the  Spanish 
scttletnonts. 

The  province  of  New  Leon  was  thinly  peopled,  hut  rich  in  the;  giftH  of 
iiiiture.  rt  had  large  meadows  covered  with  catth;  an»l  vast  fields  highly 
cultivated,  ahounding  in  all  kinds  of  grain  and  fruit;  Monterey  was  its 
Liipital.  Caldereto,  Lahradores,  St.  Antonio  de  Llan(>s,  liinarez  and 
TeHalvc,  were  small  open  towns.  The  provin(!e  had  no  mine;  hut  the 
industry  of  its  inhahitants  made  them  sharers  in  the  j)rofit8  of  their 
neighbors. 

The  Spaniards  were  seeking  to  avail  themselves  of  the  facility,  which 
the  union  of  the  monarchies  of  France  and  Spain  under  princes  of  the  same 
family,  offered  of  penetrating  into  the  western  part  of  Louisiana.  They 
reincml)ered  the  bay  of  St.  Bernard  and  the  fort  huilt  there  hv  Lasalle : 
they  erected  another  on  its  ruins,  in  which  they  displayed  the  flag  of 
Spain.  They  had  called  near  it  some  wandering  tribes  of  Indians,  who, 
soon  after,  attacked  by  others  less  pacific,  removed  their  village  seventy 
miles  farther  westerly. 

The  Spaniards  next  brought  over  from  the  Canary  Islands,  a  number  of 
families,  who,  finding  the  soil,  immediately  on  the  margin  of  the  sea, 
(luitc  sterile,  ascended  the  river  San  Antonio,  one  of  those  that  fall  into 
tne  bay  of  St.  Bernard,  and  which,  by  the  help  of  dykes,  is  made  to  cover 
and  fertilize  its  banks.  At  the  distance  of  about  two  hundred  miles  from 
the  sea,  on  the  border  and  near  the  source  of  this  stream,  they  established 
the  town  of  San  Fernandez. 

Another  body,  amounting  to  five  hundred  of  these  Islanders,  came  soon 
after  and  proceeded  to  the  northwest.  They  settled  among  the  Assinais 
and  Abenaquis ;  tribes  remarkable  for  the  friendly  reception  they  had 
given  to  Lasalle.  Two  friars  and  a  few  soldiers  had  detached  themselves 
from  this  little  colony,  to  catechise  the  Adayes,  within  twenty  miles  from 
the  Natchitoches,  among  whom  several  French  were  domicihated. 

The  Spaniards  called  the  country  they  thus  usurped  from  their  neighbors, 
New  Phillipine,  in  honor  to  the  monarch  of  Spain,  and  in  hope,  too,  that 
a  name,  dear  to  the  French,  might  lessen  the  irritation,  which  the 
encroachment  was  calculated  to  excite. 

Two  company  ships  arrived  from  France,  on  the  twenty-ninth  of  April. 
Serigny  and  thirty  other  passengers  came  in  them.  This  officer  was 
charged  with  the  survey  of  the  coast  of  Louisiana.  He  brought  the  account 
of  the  declaration  of  war  by  France  against  Spain,  on  the  ninth  of  January, 
in  consequence  of  Philip's  refusal  to  comply  with  some  of  the  stipulations 
of  the  triple  alliance. 

In  a  council  of  war  composed  of  Bienville,  Hubert,  L'Archambault, 
Legas  and  Serigny,  the  attack  of  Pensacola  was  determined  on. 

Bienville,  with  as  many  soldiers  of  the  garrison  as  could  be  spared,  a 
number  of  Canadians  and  four  hundred  Indians,  gathered  around  the  fort, 
marched  by  land,  while  Serigny,  with  the  shipping  approached  the  place 
by  water.  Mattamore,  the  Spanish  governor,  having  but  a  few  soldiers, 
surrendered  it  without  resistance,  asking   rs  an    only    condition,    an 

18 


1 


^,m:.%i 


^ 


?'^4i. 


v'Vt"  t^l  *'J5| 


m) 


IIISTOUY   OK    LOUIHIANA. 


H'  ' 


cxciuption  from  pillu^t*  for  the  inliiihitaiitH,  and  a  pasHnf^o  to  tho  Haviuia. 
Two  (»r  tlu-  (dinpaiiy'H  nhipH  wmt  to  (!ulmoti  tluHHcrvice,  and  Chatt'iiiif^uc, 
wan  Ii'ft  in  i-oinniantl. 

Kxpcricnco  had  shown  thr  vccat  fertility  of  the  hind  in  liouisiaim, 
('s|><'<ially  on  the  l»ankH  of  the  SliHsisnippi,  and  its  aptitiuU;  to  the  ciilturi' 
of  tohacco,  indigo,  cotton  and  rice;  hut  the  hihorcru  worn  v«'ry  fow,  and 
many  of  the  new  coincrH  had  faUcn  victiniH  to  the  climatt'.  The  Hurvivor^ 
found  it  inipoHsihh'  to  work  in  th(;  fichi  during];  the  groat  hoatH  of  Hiniinui, 
protracted  throujj;ii  a  part  of  the  autunni.  The  nccoHHity  of  ohtaiiiin^' 
cultivators  from  Africa,  was  apparent;  the  company  yiehling  thcnto, 
sent  two  of  its  ships  to  tlie  coast  of  Africa,  from  whence  they  hrou^ht  Hw 
hundred  negroes,  who  were  huuhMl  at  I'ensacola.  They  hrought  thirty 
recruits  to  thi'  jj;arrison. 

A  numher  of  sohliers  havinji  (U'serted  this  year,  and  it  heing  supposed 
they  had  j,'one  to  S(»uth  Carolina,  Vauchez  de  la  Tondiere  was  sent  to 
C!harleston  to  claim  them.  (Jovernor  Johnstone,  far  from  listening  to  the 
request  of  Bienville,  sent  his  messenger  to  Kngland ;  an  injusticx',  wliitli 
the  indiscreet  conlidence  of  Hicjnville  hy  no  means  justified. 

In  violation  of  the  laws  of  war,  the  captain-general  of  the  islaml  of  (Uilw, 
seized  the  company's  ships,  which  had  entered  the  port  of  Havana  to  hind 
the  garrison  of  I'ensacola,  pursuant  to  one  of  tne  stipulations  of  the 
capitulation.  Having  manned  them  with  sailors  of  his  nation,  and  nut  a 
small  land  force  on  hoard,  he  sent  them  hack  to  retake  the  place,  riicy 
appeared  hefore  it  on  the  fifth  of  August. 

L'Ar(!haml)ault  was  still  there;  Chateaugue  and  he  determined  on  a 
vigorous  defense,  in  the  ho])e  of  heing  soon  succored  hy  Bienville  and 
Herignv  :  hut  the  confusion,  which  the  unexpected  approach  of  the  eneniv 
created,  and  the  mutiny  »)f  some  soldiers,  excited  hy  a  few  Spanisli 
suhaltern  otlicers,  who  had  heen  incautiously  sufi'ered  to  remain,  compelled 
Chateaugue  to  surrender  the  next  day. 

Serigny,  having  learnt  the  arrival  of  the  Spaniards,  was  advancing, 
when  lie  heard  of  their  sucicess.  Aware  that  they  would  not  long  remain 
idle,  he  hastened  to  Daupliine  Island,  and  had  hardly  anchored,  when  the 
enemy  hove  in  sight.  Don  Antonio  de  la  Mandella,  the  commodore,  sent 
a  h()at  to  summon  the  oflRccr  conmumding  the  ship,  in  which  Serigny  had 
advanced,  to  an  immediate  surrender ;  threatening  in  case  of  delay,  (ir 
injury  to  the  shij),  to  give  no  quarters,  and  even  to  extend  his  rigor  to 
Chateaugue  and  the  other  French  prisoners,  taken  at  Pensacola.  Diouis, 
who  commanded  the  shipping,  sent  the  messenger  on  shore  to  Serigny, 
who  received  him  surrounded  hy  two  hundred  soldiers,  and  a  greater 
number  of  Indians ;  the  latter  manifested  anxiety  and  impatience  to  he 
permitted  to  present  Serigny  with  the  Spaniard's  scalp.  He  was  directed 
to  make  known  to  Don  Antonio,  the  determined  resolution  of  the  French 
to  defend  the  shipping  and  island.  Fifty  men  were  sent  on  board  of  the 
shmping  to  enable  them  to  resist  the  lan(ting. 

Towards  the  evening,  one  of  the  enemy's  ships  entered  Mobile  river,  ami 
took  a  boat  with  five  men  and  a  quantity  of  provisions ;  and  on  the  next 
day,  another  boat  laden  also  with  provisions,  going  from  Dauphine  Islaml 
to  the  fort  at  Mol»ile,  was  captured. 

In  the  meanwhile,  Bienville  reached  Dauphine  Island,  with  a  large  hodv 
of  Indians,  and  the  Spaniards  were  repulsed  in  their  attempt  to  land 
Nineteen  of  their  men  were  killed  or  drowned.     Eighteen  French  deserters  I 


m 


Iluvuiia. 

)uisiui\ii, 
!  culture 
lew,  and 
mrvivorh 
Huninu'V, 
:)))tainin|! 
;  tht'i'i'to, 
.ii^lit  tivi 
ht  thirty 

HU\)pt)H(nl 
IH    HCUt  to 

ling  to  tlu' 
i(rc,  which 

a  of  Cuha, 
na  to  hind 
DllS  of  tlw 
,  ami  J>ut  ;i 
ice.      "^ 


Thev 


nineel  on  a 
onville  and 
the  enemv 
vv  Spanish 
,  coinpt'lk'd 

advant'inK, 
ong  remain 
J,  when  the 
lodore,  wnt 
^erigny  had 
.f  (Ichvy,  i)r 
lis  rigor  to 
a.     Dioui:*. 
to  Serigny, 
a  a  greater 
Itience  to  hi' 
AS  lUrcctoil 
the  French 
oard  of  thf 

lie  river,  anJ 
Ion  the  next 
])hine  li'lan^ 

la  large  bodv 
Impt  to  law'' 
ich  deserters  I 


IIIKTOIIY   OK    MH!I8IANA. 


181 


were  taken  hy  the  Indinns:  seventeen  «)f  thtiii  were  Hh(»t  at  MohiU',  and 
the  other  hung  on  the  ishind. 


It  anpoarinu  inipnu'ticahh'  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  entorinjj;  Muhile 
river,  it  wan  (letermined  no  h>nm>r  to  attempt  Mending  provisions  to  the 
fort.      Kverv  eflort  was  directed  to  the  protection  of  the  island.       The 


Spaniards  did  not  attempt  anything  till  th<>  eighteenth,  when  two  sliips 
were  discovered  coming  from  Pensacohi.  They  liovertul  antund  tlu^  island 
the  two  following  days,  and  Si-rigny  employed  this  tim«'  in  tiretiting 
liatteries  near  the  places  in  which  a  landing  was  most  to  l»e  api)rehcndc<l. 
On  the  twenty-first,  the  enemy  approached  the  western  end  <»f  the  island, 
and  exchanged  a  few  shots  with  a  Frem  h  shij),  supported  l)y  a  hatt((ry. 
They  next  moved  to  Point  (Jui(h'ry,  at  th(!  eastern  en<l  of  the  settlement. 
Serignv  ordertid  Trudeau,  a  I'anadian  oflicer,  to  take  as  many  Indians  as 
heeoiild,  and  oijpose  the  landing.  Ahout  one  hundred  Spaniards  came 
onshore;  hut  Trudeau,  approaching  with  twcdve  Indians  only,  they  were 
so  alarmed  at  the  yells  an(l  shrieks  of  those  allies  of  the  Frentdi,  that  thev 
retreated  in  much  confusion.     Ten  of  their  men  were  kilhid  or  drowned. 

(hi  the  next  day,  the  enemy  succeeded  in  effecting  a  second  landing  at 
theHuine  place,  but  the  only  advantage  it  pntcurcd  was  a  supply  of  water, 
(d)taine(l  nefore  the  force  sent  by  Serigny  to  drive  them  bac^k  arrive<l.  On 
the  same  day  the  garrison  was  reinforced  by  sixty  Indians  from  Mol)ile; 
at  night  the  barraclis  wore  consumed  by  an  aci'ideiital  tire. 

Shots  were  again  exchanged  the  next  morning  by  a  Spanish  and  a 
French  ship  under  a  battery.  The  former  sailed  ofi'  on  the  following  day 
after  tiring  a  few  broadsides  at  the  houses.  The  rest  of  the  fleet, 
departing  one  after  the  other,  were  all  out  of  sight  on  the  twenty-eighth. 

Three  ships  of  the  line  under  the  orders  of  the  Count  de  Champmeslin, 
escorting  two  company  ships,  hove  in  sight  on  the  first  of  September. 
The  garrison  were  greatly  alarmed,  mistaking  thorn  for  a  fleet  from  Vera 
Cruz,  which  it  had  been  reported,  was  coming  to  prosecute  the  success  of 
the  Spanish  arms,  and  reduce  the  whole  province  of  Louisiana. 

Villardo,  a  new  director,  with  two  hundred  passengers,  arrived  with 
Champmeslin. 

A  council  of  war  was  held  on  board  of  the  Count's  ship,  in  which  it  was 
determined  to  attack  Pensacola.  Two  hundred  soldiers  were  accordingly 
taken  on  board  of  the  fleet,  and  the  anchors  were  weighed  on  the  fifteenth. 
Bienville  set  off  at  the  same  time  from  Mobile,  by  land,  with  the  same 
number  of  soldiers  and  about  one  hundred  Indians ;  those  on  Dauphine 
Island  having  ^one  to  the  fleet.  Having  invested  the  fort,  he  hoisted  a 
white  flag,  a  signal  preconcerted  with  Champmeslin,  who  immediately 
brought  the  naval  force  into  the  harbor.  The  main  fort  did  not  fire  a 
single  gun ;  the  small  one  was  defended  for  a  couple  of  hours.  The 
shipping  made  a  brisk  but  unsuccessful  resistance.  The  Indians  were 
I  allowed  to  pillage  the  main  fort ;  but  were  prevented  from  scalping  any  one. 

When  the  Spanish  commodore  presented  his  sword  to  Champmeslin, 
I  the  latter  immediately  girt  it  on  him,  saying  he  deserved  to  wear  it.    The 
commander  of  the  land  forces  was  treated  in  a  different  manner ;  Champ- 
meslin ordered  a  common  sailor  to  receive  his  sword,  and  reprimanded 
I  the  Spaniard  for  his  want  of  courage ;  saying  he  did  not  deserve  to  serve 
jhis  king. 

The  Spaniards  lost  many  men,  the  French  six  only.  The  number  of 
I  prisoners  made  was  eighteen  hundred. 


1  !  >t^,l  , 

•  ■  '.m\ 


.,:'-*!' 


-'n.»i' 


,A 


^- 


1 


I    I 


i;i2 


IIIHTOUY   OK    LOUISIANA. 


N^ ' 


Tilt'  hope  liiid  Im'cm  ciitcrliiMUMl  that  ii  Iiirjj;c  supply  of  proviHioiis  ainl 
.'iMmiuiiition  would  liiivc  licrn  found  in  tlic  I'orts ;  hut  it  turuo(l  out  tlidv 
iiiid  provisions  lor  a  fortnight  only.  Tlu;  discovciry  inducml  (MmnipiiK  slin 
to  liiis1»>n  the  dcpai'turc  of  lii.s  prisoners.  The  olHcer  wlio  carried  tlicm 
to  Havana  was  (lireetetl  to  hrin*!;  hack  all  the  French  prisoncirs  there,  and 
in  order  to  insure  tlu'ir  return,  tlu;  held  ollici'rs  lately  taken  were  detiiiiuil 
as  hosta}j;es. 

A  hrijz  laden  with  corn,  Hour  and  hrandy,  sent  from  Havana  to  siipjilv 
the  licet,  which  was  expected  fi»»ni  \'era  ('ruz,  enttavd  tlu"  harlxir  df 
Pensacola  on  the  twenty -eighth,  having  mistaken  the  shipping  in  it  for  that 
of  her  nation.  Ilcr  captain  reported  that  when  he  sailed,  it  Wii- 
conlidently  helieved  in  tlu>  island  ot  (Uiha,  that  the  Spanish  Hag  was  llyjnjr 
in  every  fort  of  Louisiana. 

i'laily  in  Octoher,  a  hrigfrom  Vera  Cruz  arrived  with  six  hundred  sacksnt 
Hour,  and  afterwards  a  smaller  ves.sel  from  the  same  port.  They  were  Ixiili 
deceivivl  i)y  tht>  Spanish  Hug,  whieii  was  kept  Hying  over  the  forts  for  tlii- 
puri)ose. 

Tlie  French  ileet  sailed  on  the  twenty-third  ;  Delisle,  a  liiHitenaiit  of  tin 
king's  ships,  was  left  in  conunand  at  I'ensacohi.  Of  forty  deserters  whu 
were  found  with  the  Spaniards,  twelve  were  hung  on  hoard  of  tlieslii|is: 
the  others  were  condemned  to  hard  lahor  for  the  henelit  of  the  com|)aiiv. 

The  directors  in  France  having  drawn  the  attention  of  the  king,  to  tin 
alterations  which  tli(>  ntnv  order  of  things  retpiiredin  tl»e  organization  of 
the  superior  council  of  Louisiana,  this  trihunal  had  heen  new' modelltMl: 
and  hy  an  od'wi  of  tlu'  month  of  Sei>teinher,  it  had  heen  ordere<l  tliiil  it 
shouUl  he  I'omposcd  of  such  directors  of  the  company,  as  might  l)e  in  the 
province,  the  commandant-general,  a  senior  councillor,  tlu;  king's  twi 
lieutenants,  three  other  councillors,  an  attorney-general  and  a  clerk. 

The  (jiionini  was  tixi>d  at  threi;  memhers  in  civil,  and  live  in  criminal 
cases.  Those  present  W(>re  authorized  to  i-all  in  some  of  the  most  notahk 
inhahitants  to  form  a  (/»(>/•»///,  in  cas(>  of  the  ahsence  or  legitimate  exciw 
of  the  others.  Judgments,  in  original,  as  in  appellate  cases,  were  to  bo  in 
the  last  resort  ;uid  without  costs.     The  sessions  were  to  he  monthly. 

llitlterto  the  council  had  been  tl^'  solo  trihunal  in  the  colony.  Tin 
suitors  had  no  other  to  which  they  c<>uld  resort.  The  increasi'igextt'iisinn 
of  tlu'  population  demanded  that  judges  should  he  dis})ersed  in  thesovoral 
{)arts  of  the  i>rovince.  The  directors  of  the  company  t)r  its  agents  in  tin 
distant  parts,  with  two  of  the  most  notable  inhabitants  of  the  neighhorlioml, 
in  civil,  and  f«)ur  in  criminal  eases,  were  constituted  inferior  tribunak 
Their  judgments,  though  subject  to  an  appeal  to  the  superior  ('(nnHil.  j 
were  carried  into  innnediate  but  provisional  execution,  notwithstiindiii!.' 
but  without  prejudice  to  the  appeal. 

The  gentlemen  who  composed  the  first  superior  council  under  thiv''e(iii't.: 
were   Bienville    as   conunandant-general,    Hubert,   as   senior  councillor 
Boisbriant  and  Chideaugue,  as  th(>   king's  lieutenants,   L'ArclianibniiltJ 
Villardo  and  Lcgas,  as  })uisne  councillors  ;    Cartier  de  Baune  wat^  tin 
attorney-general  and  Couture  the  clerk. 

Although  the  commandant-general  occupied  the  first  seat  in  tlu'couiHi, 
the  senior  councillor  performed  tlu>  functions  of  i)resident  of  that  tribunail 
He  collected  tiie  votes  and   pronounced  th(>  judgments;  ami  in  provi-onj 
instaiu'cs,  as  the  allixing  of  seals,  inventories  and  the  like,  the  duties  ota| 
judge  of  the  first  instance  were  discharged  by  him. 


'""•'  into  the  mI 


IIISTOIIV    OF    LOIISIANA. 


133 


i\s  and 
lit  lht;y 
um'slin 

ll    ihtMU 

•IT.  ;inil 
lolniiUMl 

)  siijuily 
irlu)!'  (ll 
i,  for  that 
,   it   \Vii> 
MS  llyini! 

I  sacks  nt 
\\('\v  liiHh 
Is  for  Ihi'^ 

ant  of  llu 
M-tcrs  whii 
tho  sliiiis. 
upany. 
inji,  to  the 
lization  nf 

niodolK'il'. 
>ml  tl>iU  it 
it  1)0  in  till' 

kinfi's  twii 
L'lovk. 

in  criniiiwl 
lost  notulik' 

iiato  oxi'U;;! 

ore  to  1)0  ill 

luthly. 

,>l(»ny-   T'"' 
111'  extt'usiiivi 

II  tlio  several 
[gonts  in  till' 
lighborhmnl. 
jr'"  tril)vuial>. 
Iriov  council 
lithstantUns:. 

|k>rtlu*»odiot. 
t'ouncillor  j 
^rohan>l)iwl''| 
luno  wi\!i  tin 

In  the  couiun>| 
lliat  tvil)uii;t! 
in  \)rovi:-oi;1 
hio  dutio^  otil 


The  h()p<!  of  a(Mi|uiring  riches,  liy  tlu;  discovery  of  mines,  had  not  yielded 
til  the  experience  of  iii»wardsof  twenty  years  ;  and  the  oeople  of  the  Illinois 
thought  their  country  possessed  vulual)le  ores,  and  tlieir  tiin(!  was  more 
engrossed  hy  search  alter  them  than  the  tillage  of  the  <'arth.  On  their 
iiiiiilication,  an  engineiir,  who  was  supposerl  to  he  skilled  in  nnneralogy,  was 
Milt  late  in  the  fall  to  that  distant  part  of  tluM-olony. 

The  desire  of  liienville  to  removi!  the  seat  of  gov(^rnnient,  and  the  head 
(juarters  of  the  troops,  to  the  spot  he  had  selectecl  on  the  Mississii)pi  for  a 
(itv,  wasoppostsdhy  the  other  military  ollicers,  hy  Huhertand  tlKMliitsctors 
of  the  company's  concerns.  ,\n  (extraordinary  rise  of  the  Mississippi 
this  year  seiined  to  present  an  insuperahh;  ohstach;  to  his  project;  as  the 
((tjoiiv  did  not  possess  the  means  of  raising  at  once  the  dykes  or  li,'\'(;es 
lucessary  to  protect  the  place  from  th(>  inundation  of  the  stream,  the  i<lea 
was  for  the  present  ahandoned.  Iluhert  thought  the  chief  (^stahlishment 
(ifthe  provinc^e  should  he  in  the  country  of  the;  Xatchcz  ;  hut,  as  he  had 
(ihtained  a  largi;  grant  of  land  tlu'n!,  his  predilection  for  this  part  of  the 
(iiuntry  was  attril)uted  to  privatt;  motives,  and  Ik;  found  no  adherent. 
i/Archainhaidt,  Villardo  and  Legas,  \vhos(;  views  were  nion;  lommercial 
than  agricultural,  joined  in  the  opinion  to  nunovi!  the  seat  of  gov  'rnuKint 
to  a  spot  on  tlu!  seashore,  on  the  east  sid((  of  the  hay  of  liiloxi.  This 
o|iinion  prevailed  ;  and  Valdelure  led  tliere  a  detachment  to  he  employ(;d 
in  erecting  houses  and  harraeks.  The  phu^e  was  afterwards  known  as  the 
New  Biloxi. 

Dutisne,  who  had  heon  sent  to  explore  tlie  country  of  the  Missouris, 
Osages  and  I*anoussas,  now  returned,  and  nuide  a  report  to  Bienville. 

He  had  ascended  tlu;  Mississipi)i  as  far  as  the  hdi/on  dc-f  Sdllncx,  whi(;h 
is  six  miles  from  the  Kaskaskias,  and  ninety  froni  the  Missouri.  He 
iifterwards  travehid  through  stony  hills  well  timhered,  crossing  several 
streams  whi(!h  flow  into  the  Missouri.  He  reckoned  there  were  thr(3e 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  from  the  salini;s  to  tlu;  prim-ipal  village  of  the 
Osages,  which  stood  on  a  hill,  at  tlu;  distance  of  five  miles  from  the  river 
of  this  name.  It  (Contained  ahout  one  hundred  cahins,  '>nd  ".early  (h)uhle 
that  nuniher  of  warriors.  These  Indians  spent  hut  a  small  part  of  the 
year  in  their  viUages,  hunting  to  a  great  distance  through  the  woods, 
(luring  the  other  i)art.  Ahout  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  from  the 
Osages,  in  a  prairie  country,  ahounding  with  hufialoes,  lie  found  the  first 
village  of  the  Panionkes,  which  had  one  hundred  and  thirty  cahins,  and 
lie  estimated  tlie  numher  of  their  warriors  at  two  hundred  and  fifty.  They 
liad  another  village,  nearly  of  the  same  size,  ahout  four  miles  further. 
Tliere  were  near  these  two  villages  ahove  three  hundred  horses,  which 
these  Indians  appeared  to  prize  much.  The  I'awonees  were  at  the  distance 
iif  four  hundred  and  fifty  miles.  There  was  a  saline  of  ro(;k  salt  at  ahout 
tifty  miles  from  the  Panoussas. 

He  had  noticed  mines  of  lead  and  ores  ()f  other  metals,  near  the  villages 
(if  the  Osages.  The  villages  of  the  Missouris  were  at  the  distance  of  three 
hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  the  mouth  of  the  river,  which  hears  their 
luune,  and  those  of  the  Osages,  ahout  ninety  miles  farther. 

He  formally  took  possession  of  the  countries  of  these  Indians,  in  the 
uiimeof  the  king,  and  erected  posts  with  arms,  iii  testinmnial  of  it. 

Deloehon,  a  gentleman  who  had  been  recommended   hy  the  directors 
j  tor  his  skill  in  mineralogy,  had  heen  sent  to  the  Marameg,  a  river  that 
iiills  into  the  Mississippi,  a  little  ahove  the  Missouri,  and  on  the  same  side. 


W-    „: 


Ill"  • 


^:  '■% 


n\    5 


!l!ii:r 


ft 


''M 


134 


HISTOHV   OF   LOUISrAXA. 


He  obtained  some  ore,  at  a  place  pointed  out  by  the  Indians,  iuid 
asserted,  that  a  pound  of  it  had  oroduced  two  pennyweights  of  sih'cr. 

On  his  return  to  Mobile,  he  had  l)een  sent  back  with  a  nuuil^er  nf 
workmen ;  and  the  i)rocesB  being  repeated  on  a  very  large  scale,  a  few- 
thousand  pounds  of  very  inferior  lead  were  obtained.  It  was  believed  he 
had  been  guilty  of  a  gross  ini])osition. 

Accounts  were  received  from  Europe  tluit  the  western  and  the  eastorn 
companies  had  been  united :  the  aggregate  body  preserving  the  name  (if 
the  former.  The  new  directors  sent  positive  ortlers  to  Bienville  to  removo 
the  headtjuarters  of  the  colony  to  Biloxi :  an  unfortunate  stej),  as  the  liind 
there  is  a  barren  soil,  absolutely  incapable  of  culture ;  the  anchorage 
unsafe,  and  the  coast  of  difficult  access. 

Tlie  directors  sent  for  publication  in  the  province,  a  procdamation  of 
theirs,  notifying  the  prices,  at  which  goods  were  to  be  obtained  in  the 
com})any's  stores  at  Mobile,  Dauphine  Island  and  Pensacola.  To  thcso 
iirices  an  advance  of  five  per  (!ent.  was  to  l)e  added  on  goods  delivered  iit 
New  Orleans,  ten  at  the  Natchez,  thirteen  at  the  Yazous,  twenty  at 
Natchitoches,  and  fifty  at  the  Illinois  and  on  the  Missouri. 

The  j)roduce  of  the  country  was  to  l»e  received  in  the  company's  wiin- 
houses  in  New  Orleans,  Biloxi,  Ship  Island  and  Mol)ile  at  the  follcnvinir 
rates  :  Silk,  according  to  quality,  from  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  to  two 
dollars  the  pound  ;  tobacco  of  the  best  kind,  five  dollars  the  hundred,  rice, 
four,  superfine  flour,  three,  wheat,  twt)  dollars;  barley  and  oats,  ninety  cents 
the  hundred  weight ;  deer  skins,  from  fifteen  to  twenty-five ;  dressed, 
without  head  or  tail,  thirty  ;  hides,  eight  cents  the  pound. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  year,  de  la  Hari)e  arrived  from  Red  river.  He 
had  established  a  post  at  the  Cadodaquious,  and  explored  the  country 
around. 

Having  ascended  the  Red  river,  as  far  as  the  Natchitoches,  with  tiftv 
men,  in  two  boats  and  three  pirogues,  he  found  Blondel  in  command  iit 
the  fort.  Father  Manual,  a  friar  of  the  8]>anish  mission  of  the  Adayes.  hail 
come  on  a  visit.  On  an  island  near  the  fort,  were  about  two  hundrni 
individuals  of  the  Natchitoches,  Dulcinoes  and  Yatassee  tribes. 

Don  Martin  de  Alacorne,  governor  of  the  province  of  Texas,  had  lately 
gone  to  Rio  del  Norte,  after  having  established  several  missions,  andlmih 
a  fort  on  a  bay,  which  hs  calle«l  del  Spiritu  Santo,  near  the  rivers  (Uiade- 
loupe  and  St.  Mark  ;  and  was  ex])cctcd  to  return  and  establish  a  mission 
at  the  Cadodaciuious.  Laharpe,  anxi(»us  t(j  ])re-occupy  the  ground,  loft  the 
fort  of  Nachitoches  and  ascended  Red  river  to  the  Nassonites,  wiin  dwelt 
jit  the  distance  of  four  himdred  and  fifty  miles.  The  Indians,  in  these 
})arts,  the  Cadotlaquious  and  Yatassees,  apprised  of  his  approach,  had 
]>repared  an  entertainment,  to  which  they  invited  him  and  his  offieeiv. 
Large  (piantities  f)f  smoked  beef  and  fish  had  been  provided.  A  ])rofouiiil 
silence  prevailed  ;  the  Indians  deeming  it  uncivil  to  address  their  guest- 
till  they  are  perfectly  at  rest  or  begin  the  conversation;  Laharpe  waitcil 
till  his  hosts  had  satisfied  their  ai)petites,  and  then  informed  them  th  nit;]) 
his  interpreter,  that  the  great  chief  of  the  French  on  the  Mississipj,.,  (if 
whose  mind  he  was  the  bearer,  apprised  of  the  war  the  -Jhickasaws  waged 
against  them,  had  sent  him  and  some  other  warriors  to  dwell  in  their 
country  and  protect  them  against  their  enemies. 

An  old  Cadodaijuiou  row  rose  and  observed  the  time  was  nov,'  comefiff 
them  to  change  their  mournful  mood  for  scenes  of  joy ;  several  of  his 


,  and 
silver, 
er  of 
a  few 
ifn\  he 

lasteni 
ime  of 
•emove 
le land 
;horajfe 

tion  of 
in  the 
fo  these 
vereil  ui 
cnty  !U 

y"s  ware- 
bUowin^' 
ts  to  two 
Ired,  rice, 
\ety  cents 
dressed 

iver.    Hi- 
,e  country 

with  tifty 
inniand  at 
layos.huil 
hundred 

had  lately 
,  andhtiilt 

[>i-^  (luadr 
a  niissieii 

|nd.  left  the 
who  dwelt 
s;,  in  these 
•oach.  hft>l 
lis  otlieeV'. 
prof(uniil 
their  guest- 
\,T\n^  waiteil 
Mnth  nijib 
aissipt".  "f 

,'ell  in  their 

|,v-  (^oinei'"' 
;eral  of  W' 


HISTORY    OK    LOUISIANA. 


135 


countrymen  had  bt  ?n  killed  jmd  others  made  prisoners,  so  that  his  nation 
was  greatly  reduced  ;  but  the  arrival  of  the  French  was  about  to  prevent 
its  utter  destruction.  He  concluded  they  should  return  thanks  to  the 
meat  s{)irit,  w'hose  wrath  was  no  doulit  a[)j)cased,  ami  yield  every  possible 
assistance  to  the  French,  as  his  nation  well  knew  that  the  Naoudishes  and 
otlier  wandering  tribes  had  given  them  peace  since  the  arrival  of  some  of 
the  French,  under  Lasalle. 

Laharpe,  desiring  information  as  to  the  nearest  Spanish  settlements,  and 
the  neighboring  tribes  of  Indians,  was  apprised  that  southerly,  at  the 
distance  of  thirty  miles  were  the  Assinais,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty 
miles  from  these  the  Nadocoes.  The  Spaniards  had  lately  sent  friars  and 
soldiers  among  these  two  tribes,  whose  villages  could  not  be  approached 
itv  land,  except  in  the  lowest  waters ;  as  a  river  was  to  be  crossed,  which 
ill  the  wet  season,  inundated  the  country  to  a  large  extent.  At  the  distance 
of  one  hundred  and  eighty  miles,  on  the  left  side  of  the  river,  were  wandering 
trii)es  of  Indians,  who  were  at  war  with  the  (!adays,  in  the  neighborhood 
of  whom  the  Spaniards  had  a  mission. 

LaharjKi  })urchased  the  cabin  of  one  of  the  (chiefs,  near  the  river  and  on 
the  left  side  of  it.  The  country  was  flat ;  but  at  the  distance  of  one  or  two 
miles  from  the  river,  were  bluffs,  and  behind  these  wide  prairies.  The 
soil  was  black,  though  sandy,  and  along  the  stream  very  suitable  to  the 
cultivation  of  tobacco,  indigo,  cotton,  corn  and  other  grains.  The  Indians 
said  they  sowed  corn  in  April  and  gathered  it  in  tTuly.  The  most  common 
trees  were  the  copalm,  willow,  elm,  red  and  white  oak,  laurel  and  plum. 
The  woods  abounded  in  vin^^.s,  and  the  prairies  were  full  of  strawberries, 
cranberries  and  wild  purslain. 

Lahar})e  emj)loyed  his  men  at  first  in  erecting  a  large  and  strong 
lilockhouse,  in  which  he  was  assisted  by  the  Indians.  By  re})eated 
oliservations,  he  found  it  in  latitude  38. 35.  and  he  reckoned  it  was  distant, 
in  a  straight  way  from  the  fort  of  Natchitoches,  two  hundred  and  fift}' 
miles. 

Don  Martin  de  Alacorne  having  in  the  meanwhile  returned  to  the 
luinhhorhood,  Laharpe  dispatched  a  corporal  of  his  garrison,  who  spoke 
the  language  of  several  tribes  of  Indians,  with  a  letter,  soliciting  Don 
Martin's  friendship  and  correspondence,  and  tendering  any  service  in  his 
imwer;  informing  him  he  had  it  in  charge  to  seek  every  opportunity 
(if  opening  a  trade  with  the  Spaniards.  Lahari)e  at  the  same  time  addressed 
Father  Marsello,  the  superior  of  the  missionaries  in  the  province  of  Texas, 
hesfjing  his  friendship,  and  offering  a  correspondence,  advantageous  to 
tiie  mission — observing,  the  conversion  of  the  Indians  ought  to  engage 
tile  attention  of  all  good  christians  ;  and  as  some  assistance  nught  be 
iiseful,  in  enabling  bis  reverence  successfully  to  preach  the  gospel  in  these 
'iirts,  and  enlist  the  Indians  under  the  banner  of  the  cross,  he  suggested 
I  liie  father  should  write  to  his  friends  in  Mexir-o  and  Bocca  de  Leon,  that 
itiiey  would  find  at  Natchitoches  and  the  Nassonites,  any  kind  of  European 
[ijnods  they  might  have  occasion  for,  on  very  good  terms.  He  concluded 
liy  assuring  th(>  holy  man  he  would  be  allowed  a  handsome  commission 
I'll  any  sale  effected  through  his  aid. 

By  the  return  of  the  corporal,  Don  Martin  reciprocated  Laharpe's  offers 
jof service;  but  expressed  his  surpri.'se  at  the  occupation  by  the  French, 
|of  a  territory,  which  he  observed  made  a  part  (»f  the  viceroyalty  of  Mexico. 


■1 


(Ki* 


136 


HISTOnV   OF    LOl'ISIAN'A. 


■IH 


He  recjiiested  Laharpe  to  make  it  known  to  liis  chief  that  the  neeessjtvof 
using  force  to  remove  the  detachment  miglit  be  averted. 

The  father's  replv  was  of  a  different  cast.  He  wrote  that,  as  tli( 
proposed  correspondence  was  tendered  on  principles  of  religion,  charitv 
and  esteem,  he  cheerfully  accepted  it,  he  would  a[»])rise  his  friends  oi' 
Laharpe's  arrival  and  views.  He  addecl,  that,  as  it  did  not  become  thi' 
clergy  to  be  concerned  in  trade,  he  had  to  rccpicst  that  the  corres|)()n(U'iiM' 
might  be  kejit  secret ;  esp(;cially  as  he  was  not  on  very  good  terms  with 
Don  Martin,  wlio,  he  intimated,  would  ])robal)ly  be  soon  reniovcil. 

Lahar})e  exjjressed  to  the  latter,  he  was  astonished  at  the  assertion,  tlim 
the  post,  just  occni)ied  by  the  French,  was  within  the  government  nf 
Mexico,  as  he  and  his  countrymen  liad  always  considered  the  wIkiIi' 
country  which  the  8})aniards  called  the  province  of  Texas,  as  part  df 
Louisiana,  of  which  Lasalle  had  taken  possession  thirty-six  years  before. 
He  added,  he  had  never  understood  till  now,  that  the  pretensions  of  8]iinii 
had  ever  been  extended  to  the  east  of  Rio  Bravo ;  all  the  rivers  tlowiii'; 
into  the  Mississipj)!  being  the  property  of  France,  with  all  th^  coiintrv 
they  watered. 

There  was  at  the  distance  of  thirty  miles  to  the  northwest  of  tlie  sp^t 
occupied  by  the  French,  a  salt  spring,  from  which  they  obtained  four 
hundred  weight  of  salt. 

A  Dulcino  Indian,  coming  from  Natchitoches,  informed  the  Nassoniti"; 
the  Fren(di  were  at  war  with  the  Spaniards,  and  the  Natchitoches  wen 
desirous  to  be  joined  by  the  Nassonites,  to  assist  the  French.  These 
Indians  replied  they  would  not  join  in  any  act  of  hostility ;  but  thcv 
would  defend  the  French  if  they  were  attacked. 

Moulet  and  Durivage,  two  officers  of  Laharpe's  detachment,  haviu); 
gone  on  a  journey  of  discovery,  met,  at  the  distance  of  one  hundred  and 
eighty  miles  from  the  Nassonites,  on  Red  river,  parts  of  several  wanderiiif; 
tribes,  by  whom  they  »vere  well  received.  These  Indians  had  lately 
destroyed  part  of  the  Cansey  nation,  who  had  eleven  villages  on  the  heail 
of  that  river,  near  which  the  Spaniards  had  a  settlement  and  worked 
mines.  In  high  water,  the  villages  were  accessible  by  the  river.  Present* 
were  made  by  the  two  Frenchmen  to  these  Indians,  whom  they  endeavored 
to  induce  to  remove  to  the  neighborhood  of  the  Nassonites,  to  settle  in 
villages  and  plant  corn.  They  were  about  two  thousand — had  w 
permanent  residence ;  but  went  out  in  large  i)arties,  erecting  huts,  in  tln' 
shape  of  a  dome,  and  covered  with  hides. 

On  the  return  of  these  officers,  Laharj)e.  finding  his  post  had  notliiii;; 
to  apprehend,  made  with  two  others,  half  a  dozen  soldiers  and  a  !•« 
Indians,  an  excursion  to  the  northeast.  He  loaded  eleven  horses  with 
goods  and  provisions,  and  journeyed  to  the  Washitas  and  Arkansas.  He 
met  with  a  friendly  reception  from  these  Indians,  and  entered  into  aliiantf 
witli  thfm.      Hp  took  |v>acf"^«ir<n   <>f  *\^^ir.  ayuniry  in   th.> 


R-*--^  '\    r\f    nil.'  I 

"sovereign,  and  in  token  of  it  erected  })osts  with  the  escutcheon  of  Framtj 
Having  disposed  of  his  goods  on  very  advantageous  terms,  he 
down  the  Arkansas  river  to  the  Mississippi,  and  reached  Biloxi  thrniit!l)j 
bayou  Manchac  and  the  lakes. 

The  Chickasaws,  excited  by  the  British  in  South  Carolina,  began  awiirj 
against  the  French  colonists.  The  first  .act  of  hostililty  was  the  inurderj 
of  Sorvidal,  an  officer  whom  Bienville  had  sent  among  these  Indiana 
This  circumstance  rendered  an  increase  of  population  quite  welcome.  ^1 


licet,  coi 

l»r(iiight 

niniiher  ( 

The  sc 

coiiie  thi 

removed 

t«'eiity-fiv 

The  CO] 

f'l'iii.'^iana 
iK'trroes,  tc 
lieeii  a  gn 


M^  ''ad  been  el 
'"  I'-'^'^e  who  hi 
^»''  the  colonil 
J«iniard,  who 
""^  mnies  of  M| 

""t'^f' easily  abl 
^Y'^n^e,  but  di^ 
in  the  meanv 
'"«'k  the  Chici 

19 


HISTORY   OF   LOI'IHIANA. 


131 


sity  of 

as  the 
charity 
juds  cf 
(ine  thi' 
nndciici' 
ns  with 

ion,tlii»i 
luout  ol 
le  whtili' 
part  (if 
■s  itefori". 
^  of  B|tiuii 
s  flowinii 
i  oountvy 

■  the  i^piit 
\ii\ed  four 

Narisoniti"^ 

,oches  were 

ch.    Theso 

;  hut  they 

fent,  baviiis: 
andred  ami 
wanderini! 
lad  lately 
the  hoiiil 
md  workt'il 
Present* 
endeavored 
to  settle  ill 
\__ha(l  11" '■ 
huts,  in  tlw 

had  notliiii?  I 
and  a  B' ' 
horses  witli 
kansas.  Him 
into  alliami' 

n  of  Frawd 
■s,  he  tloat((i| 
loxi 


on 


throiilil>| 


began  a  wi 
i  the  muTilfl 

Ihese  ln(lia"-;f 
welcome. 


tl(>('t,  oonunandcd  l>y  commodore  Saugeon,  in  the  month  of  Fehniary, 
hrought  five  hundred  and  oighty-two  ])assen}iers,  ainonf:;  whom  were  a 
miuilu'r  of  females  from  the  hospital-general  of  Paris. 

The  settlement  of  the  [llinois  hegan  to  thrive,  many  families  having 
coine  thither  from  (-anada ;  and  Boishriant,  who  commanded  there, 
ivnioved  its  principal  estahlishment  to  the  hank  of  the  Mississipj)!, 
twcnty-tive  miles  helow  the  Kaskaskia  village. 

The  company  having  represented  to  the  king  that  the  planters  of 
Louisiana  had  heen  enabled  hy  th(!  introducticni  of  a  great  nundter  of 
ncLTocs,  to  (dear  and  cultivate  large  tracts  of  land,  and  that  there  had 
licon  a  great  migration  of  his  subjects  and  foreigners,  who  had  been 
iiiil)l<>ve(l  in  the  tillage  of  the  ground;  so  that  the  ]»lanters  found  it  no 
liiiiirer  their  interest  to  employ  vagabonds  or  convicts ;  as  these  jteopje 
were  idle  and  <lissolute,  and  less  disposed  to  labor  than  to  corrupt  the 
uonwr  white  inhabitants,  the  negroes  and  Indians,  the  trans])<)rtatioii  of 
VMiriilionds  and  convicts  to  Louisiana  was  forbidden  by  an  arrest  of  tluj 
kiiijis  council,  of  the  ninth  of  May. 

Two  line  of  battle  ships  came  in  the  latter  part  of  June,  from  Toulon. 
Thev  were  in  great  distress ;  (!atFaro,  the  conunodore,  and  most  of  their 
irc\vs  had  fallen  vic^tims  to  the  plague,  whi(di  some  sailors  in  these  ships 
who  had  come  from  Afarseilles,  had  communic^ated  to  the  others  :  that 
citv  Itcing  ravaged  by  pestilence,  brought  there  by  a  ship  from  Seyde,  in 
the  Levant.  Father  Laval,  a  Jesuit,  royal  professor  of  hydrograi)hy  in 
the  college  of  Toulon,  had  by  the  king's  order,  taken  passage  on  l)oard 
(if  tliis  Heot,  with  directions  to  make  astronomical  observations  in 
Louisiana.  The  chaplains  of  the  ships  having  died,  the  father,  considering 
science  an  object  of  minor  consideration  to  a  minister  of  the  altar,  thought 
it  his  duty  to  bestow  all  his  tinie  in  adnunistering  spiritual  relief  to  the 
sick,  who  for  a  long  time,  were  very  numerous,  and  he  sailed  back  with 
the  ships. 

The  settlement  of  Natchitoches  was  now  in  a  prosperous  situation, 
though  weakened  by  the  migrati(tn  of  some  of  the  settlers  who  had  gone 
northerly  in  the  hope  of  enriching  themselves  by  a  trade  with  the 
Spaniards.  This  chimerical  hope  prevented  attention  to  the  culture  of 
the  land.  Bienville  now  received  the  king's  order  to  send  St.  Denys  to 
nmimand  there,  and  Cliateaugue,  who  had  gone  to  France  from  Havana, 
lanie  in  these  shii)s  with  the  appointment  of  king's  lieutenant  in 
Louisiana,  and  succeeded  St.  Denys  in  command  of  the  fort  at  Mobile. 
He  had,  on  his  way  back,  touched  at  the  Havana  from  whence  hehrought 
the  French  prisoners  taken  at  Peusacola.        ' 

One  of  the  company's  ships  arrived  from  the  coast  of  Africa,  and  landed 
five  hundred  negroes.  

The  ill  success  whi(dl  had    nttonrhwl     r..-^^-.'     .Iti  ropf    I.O    Wnrir   thp   Tviinpn 

il»t-4i.id  heeu  discoveied  in  Louisiana,  was  attributed  to  the  want  of  skill 

those  who  had  been  employed, /ather  than  to  the  poverty  of  the  ore, 

[anil  the  colonial  government  received  orders  to  engage  Don  Antonio,  a 

Spaniard,  who  had  heen  taken  at  Pensacola,  and  said  he  had  worked  in 

the  mines  of  Mexico.     The  hope  of  obtaining  gold  from  Louisiana  could 

not  be  easily  abandoned  in  France;  the  Spaniard  was  sent  up  at  a  great 

[expense,  hut  did  not  succeed  better  than  Lo(!hon. 

In  the  meanwhile,  Bienville  exerted  himself  to  induce  his  red  allies  to 
[attack  the  Chickasaws.     He  met  with  considerable  difficulty.     Part  of  the 

19 


■  'm 


"''  u        KB 


m 


13S 


HISTORY   OF    LOUISFAXA. 


Choctinvs  liad  Ir'imi  f^iiined  by  the  liritisli :  the  Alibanioiis  coniplniiKMl 
that  tho  French  aUowed  thcin  less  tor  their  skins  than  their  rivals  at 
Charleston,  and  sold  tlieir  j^oods  inueli  dearer.  lie;  at  hist  succeeded  with 
the  (>h(»('ta\vs,  and  obtained  a  i)roniise  of  neutrality  from  the  Alibaiudiis, 
and  a  passaiie  for  his  men  through  their  c(»untry.  I'ailloux  was  instructed 
to  secur(>  the  aid  of  the  Xatcliez  and  Vazous. 

The  colony  received  a  very  large  increase  of  population  (hnung  the 
summer  and  fall.  A  company  ship  brought  sixty  settlers  of  the  grant  of 
St.  Catherine,  under  the  order  of  Heaumanoir,  into  the  country  of  tlic 
Natfhez.  They  were  followed  by  two  hundred  and  fifty  others  under  the 
onlcrs  of  Jiouteux.  Delonnt',  wlio  had  latidy  been  appointed  director 
general,  landed  at  Mobile  with  a  companv  of  infantry,  sixty  settlers  of  the 
grant  <»f  (Juiche,  and  oni'  hundred  and  fifty  of  that  of  St.  Heine.  In 
another  ship,  I.atour,  a  brigadier  general  of  engineers  and  a  knight  of  St. 
T^ouis.  accomi)anied  by  I'augc,  led  fifty  workmen,  and  Jioisi>inel  anil 
Chaville,  two  officers  of  the  same  cori)S,  arrived  soon  after  with  twn 
]iunilre(l  and  fifty  s(>ttlers  of  the  grant  of  Lebhuu;  and  his  associates. 

The  plan  of  settling  the  bay  of  St.  Bernard,  on  the  west  of  tlie  Mississipi)!'. 
was  still  a  favorite  object  in  France,  and  Bienville  received  by  those  vos.sels 
the  instructions  of  the  directors  of  the  (;oini)anv,  to  begin  an  establishiiieiit 
there  innnediately.  they  ex])resse(l  their  ap|)rehension  that  his  (hflay  mifilit 
defeat  their  plans,  and  the  bay  be  oceui)ic(n)y  the  Spaniards;  and, lest 
their  injunction  might  be  overlooked,  tlu^y  had  procureel  the  king's  sjKciiil 
order  to  l?ienville  for  that  puri)ose.  This  i)roject  was  viewed  in  adilfeieiii 
light  in  Ijouisiana;  the  great  distance  from  the  other  settlements,  whidi 
were  already  too  spare  ;  the  shallowness  of  water  near  thi;  coast,  wliich 
])revented  large  vessels  from  uj)proaching,  the  barrenness  of  the  countrv. 
the  difficulty  of  })roteeting  and  even  communicating  with  it,  the  small 
means  of  defense  the  colonial  government  had  at  command,  and  the  thin 
l)opulation  of  the  province,  appeared  to  forbid  the  extension  of  settlements 
to  the  west  of  the  Mississippi.  None  of  the  colonial  ofTieers  entertained  ;i 
different  opinion. 

The  same  unanimity  did  not  prevail  on  a  more  important  (juestiou.  It 
was  proptjsetl,  in  a  council  of  war  to  which  the  officers  (jf  engineers,  lately 
arrived  from  France,  assisted  in  the  month  of  Novendier.  to  remove  the 
head(iuarters  to  the  New  13iloxi ;  a  measure  wdiich  was  ado])ted,  notwith- 
standing the  opposition  of  Bienville  and  Hubert.  These  two  administratoi> 
did  not  agree  as  to  the  plac(^  of  removal. 

Bienville  objected  to  an  immediate  removal.  He  thought  it  wouhl 
occasion  considerable  damage  to  the  individuals,  who  had  built  at  the 
present  ])lace,  without  any  prospect  of  public  or  private  advantage. 

He  thought,  however,  that  if  a  removal  was  determined  upon,  Xtw 
Orleans  was  the  most  ])r('pcr  place. 

Hubert   disapproved  also  of  a  removal.     His  op'nion  was,    that  New 
Orleans  would  answer  ordy  as  a  place  of  de])osit ;  that  the  spot  <tn  whii 
hFTrify--f*£-Xatilhezii()w  stands,  was  the  most  propci-  site  for  th(;  capitid  n 
the  province,  {jrHl~«7uilTH'Te4aai|4j2e(mn    its-centre. 

He  felt  so  conlidi'iit.  in  his  h<)])e'or~T)eiTrprttW«*4ixindj^  the  directors  t^  I 
adopt  his  plan,  that  a  few  days  after,  he  sailed  for  FrancTToTThiT^-j^yxiHw: 
but  he  died  shortly  after  his  landing.     He  had  obtained  the  grant  of :« 
immense  tract  on   St.  (';:ltherin^-■s  Creek,  on  which  he  had  madoalawj 
plantation  with  considerable  improvements.     This  circumstanco  vva?soiiieI 


.;  i!' 


,-uls  ilt 
'd  Willi 
iin»(ins, 
tnictcil 

iHji  the 
:riuit  (if 
■  of  tlic 
idor  till' 
(liiHH'titr 
rs  of  the 
iiio.     In 
\\i  of  St. 
ncl  ;m\ 
ivitli  twn 
itcs. 
ssissii)\ii. 

)Ushin('m 

lay  \wM 
;  antl,k■^^ 
y^  s|K'einl 
a  ditt'eiviU 
ats,  \\\w\\ 
ist,  which 
le  countvy. 
the  small 
the  tliiu 
ttlements 
n-tained  n 


esi 


■;tiou.   h 

ers^,  liitflv 

move  tlu' 

,  notwitli- 

iinistViitoi> 

it,  woul'l 
)uilt  ;\ttlR' 


a^c. 
upon, 


N.;\v 


that  Ne^^- 

t  on  wliicl; 

capital  i>t' 

lairectorstnl 

f     1 '■    '  . — 

larant  *n  mi 

uidoaliiw 

I'e  was  some 


IIISTOUY   OF    LOUISIANA. 


VY.) 


cvidcnci',  that  ho  considovod  this  part  of  tlie  province  as  that  wliich 
iiirscntod  the  j^roatost  advantago ;  hut  liis  oppoiu'iits  in  the  council 
(fioundcd  on  it  a  sujigcstion  that  lus  vote  was  intluonced  l»y  privates 
interests. 

Tinio  iuis  sliown  that  Hicnvillo's  view  ot  the  subject  was  the  host.  The 
siinilv  coast  of  Hiloxi,  distant  from  fertile  land,  ditlicult  of  a]>proa(di  for 
vessels  of  burden,  and  without  a  sate  an(diorage,  offered  so  many  disadvan- 
times.  that  it  is  diHicult  to  surmise,  on  what  j^round  it  hecanie  the  choicts 
of  the  major'ty.  It  ])res(!nts  nothinjj;  to  the  view,  hut  interminable  heaps 
iif  san<l,  intersj)orsed  with  lagoons,  and  a  growth  of  scattered  stunted  shrubs. 
The  city  of  Natchez,  after  more  than  a  centurv,  luis  U(»t  as  y(!t  risen  beyonil 
the  rank  of  a  smart  village.  It  will  in  time  hecome  the  centre  oftrjule.  in 
iicireleof  a  considerable  radius;  but  distant  from  the  sea  four  hundred 
miles,  and,  if  time  be  the  measure  of  distance,  situated  in  those  days 
t'liitlier  from  the  Halize  than  Bourdeaux  by  water,  it  could  huvv  allbrded 
liut  little  protection  to  the  intermetliate  places  between  the  sea  anil  tlu^ 
settlements  at  Biloxi  or  Mobile. 

Hu'oert's  views  were  premature  by  several  ccMituries.  Had  the  Fri'uch 
remaineil  in  possession  of  the  whole  i)rovince  of  Louisiana,  with  theextiMit 
it  then  had,  no  doubt,  in  the  course  of  time,  the  f^\H)t  on  which  the  city  of 
Natchez  stands  miglit  have  Itecome  the  centre  of  the  poi)ulation  of  the 
cdkiny. 

The  majority  was  j)robably  influenced  by  the  commercial  agents  of  the 
cimipany,  who  viewed  New  Biloxi  as  the  spot  fnnn  which  their  storekeepers 
at  Hiloxi,  Pensaeola,  Ship  Island  and  the  old  Biloxi  might  be  more 
conveniently  watched . 

Bienville  complained  that  the.se  gentlemen  thwarted  his  views  and 
inevented  the  company  from  reaping  the  benefit  from  his  exertions,  which 
they  were  calculated  to  pro<luce. 

A  company  shii)  arrived  on  the  third  of  January,  1721,  with  three 
hundred  settlers  of  the  grant  of  Madame  (Jhaumont,  on  Pascagoula  river, 
nml  another  landed  in  the  following  month  eighty  girls  from  the 
Saltiietriere,  a  house  of  correction  in  Paris,  with  one  hundred  other 
[lassengers.  It  seems  the  late  order  of  council,  prohibiting  the  transport- 
ation of  vagabonds  and  convicts,  was  not  c(»nsidered  as  extending  to 
females. 

Ill  their  dispatcdies  to  Bienville  by  these  ships,  the  directors  expressed 
their  grief  at  the  division  which  existed  between  him  an<l  their  }»rinci}Kil 
a^rcnts  in  Louisiana,  by  which  the  aflairs  of  the  company  had  been  brought 
jti>such  a  situation,  that  it  would  be  prefcrabh^  that  the  establishment  had 
!iii\v  to  be  begun.  The  report  of  the  unfortuiuite  condition  of  their 
iimeerns  had  excited  great  n\urmurs  in  France,   and  the  direction   was 

laily  veproacluMl  for  the  iiumense  expenses  it  had  incurred :  it  was 
iiliuriied  with  having  appointed  (diiefs  too  careless  of  the  afiairs  of  the 
I'iinipany  and  too  careful  of  their  own.  That  the  regent,  who  was  informed 
jof  the  discredit  in  which  the  stock  of  the  company  had  fallen,  so  far  from 
jkeeping  the   promise   he  had  nuide  of  i)romoting  him  to  the  rank  of  a 

l'ri;:iulier  and  scmding  him  the  broad  ribbon  of  the  order  of  St.  Louis, 
jwimld  have  proceeded  against  him  with  severity,  if  he  had  not  been 
linionncii  ilurt.  flu  rnwHiiuiv's  atfents  in  the  coloiw  had  thwarted  his  views  : 


Ithat  the  directors  flattered  themselvesTTTTat 


<ml_jiew__agents, 


land  the  new  arrangements  that  were  about  to  be  made,  the  state  of  tilings 


'it- 


'Wm*t  * 


•ft     I 


t 


I 


-I 


i  '  i 


; 


k'    ) 


'<    'IW 


140 


IllSTOUY   OF    I.oriSIANA. 


\V(»ul(l  Itc  clianiJtcMl,  iind  tlu;  rof^ont  luu-omo  souHihU;  of  his  merit;  that  liis 
n»yiil  hij^iiiu'ss  told  them,  tin?  kinfi's  graces  wtTo  iHistowed  on  etrcctivf 
Hcrviccs  only,  and  as  it  was  sujij^csted  that  he  (Jiicnvillo)  inifi;ht  now  int'iit 
thcni,  it  was  in-oper  to  wait  till  he  nii^ht  prove  hinis»;lf  worthy  of  thcin. 

The  directors,  wliile  they  assured  Bienville  they  wouldfoster  the  rejicnt's 
good  dispositions  towards  him,  did  not  conceal  their  tlisapprol)ation  of  the 
promotion  he  had  made  (»f  some  non-conunissioned  oflieers.  Tlicv 
instructed  him  tor  the  future  to  exercise  the  right  of  suspension  only,  anil 
leave  to  them  that  of  removal  and  appointment.  They  reconnnended  tn 
him  to  correspond  with  the  Martjuis  de  Vaudreuil,  governor-general  of 
New  b"' ranee,  and  to  exert  himself  to  induce  his  Indian  allies  to  declari' 
themselves  against  the  Sioux,  wliom  the  Fox(!S  had  engaged  in  tiiL-ir 
interest. 

The  fort  at  Kaskaskias  was  ordered  hy  the  company  to  he  called  Fdit 
C'hartres;  that  of  Mohile,  Fort  C'onde,  and  that  of  Jiiloxi,  Fort  St.  Louis, 

Orders  were  given  to  I'auger,  to  make  u  survey  of  the  buy  of  Mohih;  and 
the  entrance  of  the  Mississippi. 

Two  hundred  (Jerman  settlers  of  Law's  grant  were  Umded  in  the  month 
of  March  at  Biloxi,  out  of  twelve  hundred  who  had  heen  recruited.  Tin 
rest  had  died  before  they  eml)arked,  or  on  the  passage.  They  wm 
followed  by  five  hundred  negroes  from  the  coast  of  Africa.  This  incroaw 
of  ]iopulation  was  rendered  less  welcome  by  the  great  dearth  of  provisions 
under  which  the  colony  labored. 

Hienville  dispatched  a  vessel  to  St.  Domingo  for  a,  supply.  He 
employed  for  this  service,  Beranger,  who  had  lately  arrived  from  Havana, 
where  he  had  (;onveyed  the  Spanish  hostages. 

There  came  among  the  (lerman  new  comers  a  female  adventurer.  She 
had  been  attached  to  the  wardrobe  of  the  wife  of  the  Czarowitz  Alexius 
Petrowitz,  the  only  son  of  Pt^ter  the  (ireat.  She  imposed  on  th<i  credulity 
of  many  persons,  but  })articularly  on  that  of  an  officer  o^  «ne  garrison  oi 
Mobile,  (called  by  Bossu,  the  Chevalier  d'Aubant,  and  by  the  kiufiof 
Prussia,  Maldeck)  who  having  seen  the  princess  at  St.  Petersburg  imagined 
he  recognized  h(>r  features  in  those  of  her  former  servant,  and  gave  credit 
to  the  re])ort  which  prevailed  that  she  was  the  duke  of  Wolfenbuttle's 
daughter,  whom  the  Czarowitz  had  married,  and  who,  finding  herself 
treated  with  great  cruelty  l)y  her  husband,  caused  it  to  be  circulated  that 
she  had  died  while  she  fled  to  a  distant  seat,  driven  by  the  blows  ho  had 
inflicted  on  her — that  the  Czarowitz  had  given  orders  for  her  private  burial, 
and  she  had  travelled  incog,  into  France,  and  had  taken  passage  at 
L'Orient  in  one  of  the  comj)any's  ships  among  the  German  settlers. 

Her  story  gained  credit  and  the  oflicer  married  her.  After  a  loiij: 
residence  in  liouisiana,  she  followed  him  to  Paris  and  the  island  (if 
Bourbon,  where  he  had  a  commission  of  major.  Having  become  n  widow 
in  1754,  she  returned  to  Paris  with  a  daughter,  and  went  thence  t" 
Brunswick,  when  her  imposture  was  discovered  ;  charity  was  bestowed  »ii  | 
her,  but  she  was  ordered  to  leave  the  country.  She  died  in  1771,  at  Pari?, 
in  great  poverty. 

A  similar  imposition  was  practiced  for  a  while  with  considerable  success  I 
in  the  southern  British  provinces  a  few  years  before  the  declaration  of  their 
independence.     A  female,  driven  for  her  misconduct  from  the  service  of  a  | 
maid  of  honor  of  princess  Matilda,  sister  to  George  III.,  was  convicted  at 
the  Old  Bailey  and  transported  to  Maryland.     She  effacted  her  escape  | 


IIISTOUY  OK  rorisiANA. 


141 


lilt  his 
HVctivc 
w  merit 
hem. 

11  of  the 
.  Tlu'v 
i\ly,  anil 
udoil  til 
iieral  (if 
(Uh'Iiivi' 
in  their 

led  Fort 
^t.  Louis. 
obiU?  and 

;ie  month 
ted  Th, 
'hey  weri' 
8  increasi' 
^H'ovisions 

)\)ly.     Hi' 
11  ilavauii. 

,urer.    She 
tz  Alexius 
<3  croduhtv 
garrison  of 
he  kiujiof 
r  iinagini'il 
jrave  credit 
ilfenbuttle's 
\\^  herself 
uhited  that 
lows  he  hail 

vate  burial 

passage  at 

tiers. 

ftor  a  lou? 
island  ot 

[lie  a  widow 
thence  to 
estowcd  on  | 

71,  at  PariN 

(able  suocesi  I 
Ition  of  their 
I  service  of  a 
convicted  il  I 
her  escape) 


liefore  the  expiration  of  liertitiu;,  and  travelled  through  Virj^inia  and  both 
the  I'andinas,  persoiiatinj^  the  |)rinre8s  and  levyinj^  eontributions  on  the 
cii'duHty  of  jdantors  and  inendumts  ;  and  even  some  of  the  kinjj's  ollicers. 
She  was  at  last  arrested  in  Charleston,  ))rose(Uted  and  whipped. 

A  ('((nipany  ship  had  sailed  for  Louisiana  in  171S,  with  troops  and  one 
hundred  (•onvi(;ts,  and  had  never  been  h(>ard  of.  It  was  now  discovered 
that,  like  the  fleet  of  Lasalle,  she  had  nusse(l  the  Mississij)pi  and  had  l)een 
(hivon  to  the  west.  Her  eonnnandtjr  had  mistaken  the  island  of  Cul)a  for 
tliat  of  !^t.  Domingo,  and  had  been  (;ompelled  to  j)ass  through  th(!  old 
(haniu'l  to  get  into  the  gulf.  He  made  a  largo  bay,  in  the  twenty-ninth 
(hjiree  of  latitude,  and  discovering  he  had  lost  his  way  wandered  for 
several  days.  His  misfortune  was  increased  by  a  contagious  disease 
hreaking  out  among  the  convicts.  Five  of  his  oflicers,  liellisle,  Allard, 
Delisle,  Legendre  and  Corlat,  thought  it  less  dangerous  to  land,  with 
provisions  for  eiglit  days  and  their  arms,  than  to  continue  on  board. 
Thev  hoped  to  meet  some  Indian  who  might  guide  them  to  the  settlements 
of  the  French  ;  they  were  disappointed.  All,  except  Bollisle,  fell  victims 
to  hunger  and  fatigue :  after  burying  the  last  of  his  (U)mpanions,  he 
wandered  for  several  weeks  on  the  sliore,  living  on  shell  ti.sh  and  roots. 
.\t  last  he  fell  in  with  three  Indians  wdio  stripped  him  and  led  him 
ii  prisoner  to  their  village,  in  which  he  was  detained  for  eighteen  months ; 
lie  sutl'ered  much  from  hunger,  fatigue  and  the  cruelty  of  his  captors.  At 
hist,  one  of  the  latter  stole  a  small  tin  box,  in  which  Bellisle  kept  his 
eoinmission  and  some  other  papers.  It  was  ])urchased  by  an  Indian  of 
the  Assinais  tribe,  and  accidentally  shown  to  St.  Denys,  who  prevailed  on 
some  of  them  to  go  and  contract  for  Bellislo's  ransom.  He  was  thus 
released  and  found  his  way  to  Natchitoches,  where  after  staying  a  while 
to  recover  his  strength,  he  was  furnished  the  means  of  reaching  Biloxi. 

Pauger,  having  completed  the  survey  of  the  passes  of  the  Mississijipi, 
returned  and  made  his  report  to  Bienville.  He  found  the  bar  a  de})osit 
of  mud,  about  three  hundred  feet  wide,  and  about  twice  that  in  length.  It 
iijipeared  to  him  it  was  occasioned  by  the  current  of  the  river  and  the 
Hux  of  the  sea  which,  greatly  obstructing  the  current,  caused  the  river  to 
overflow.  He  took  notice  that  the  stream,  being  very  muddy,  left  on  its 
shores  and  islands,  heaps  of  timber,  covered  by  annual  layers  of  mud ;  the 
smaller  timber  filling  up  the  interstices.  In  this  manner,  islands  and 
new  land  along  the  shore  were  incessantly  formed  ;  and  after  a  few  years, 
canes  and  willows  began  to  rise  on  the  crust  formed  by  several  layers. 
He  expressed  his  ojiinion,  that  with  little  trouble,  by  giving  a  jiroper 
ilireetion  to  the  floating  timl)er,  dykes  might  be  foi'med  along  one  of  the 
channels,  and  by  sinking  old  vessels,  so  as  to  stop  the  others,  the  velocity 
of  the  water  might  be  increased  in  the  former,  and  a  very  great  deptn 
ohtained  in  time ;  an  operation  which  he  said  was  now  forming  in  some 
parts  of  the  passes — one  of  which  he  had  noticed  the  preceding  year, 
when  he  found  on  it  but  ten  or  eleven  feet  of  water,  and  eight  months 
after,  from  thirteen  to  fourteen ;  while  a  liar  had  extended  to  the  island 
of  the  Balize,  which  was  one  hundred  and  eighteen  feet  in  width,  and 
doiihle  that  in  length  with  an  eminence  in  the  middle,  before  which  ships 
might  ride  in  eighteen  feet  of  water. 

In  the  spring,  a  Guineaman  landed  two  hundred  and  ninety  negroes, 
j  and  reported  that  another  had  caught  fire  at  the  distance  of  sixty  leagues 


TiSW) 


•? 


hi 


^14 


M,, 


Ik     [: 


111 


ISI J  I' 


m 


j'ifKi  Ol-rtju.lil 


142 


irrs'i'ouv  (»[••  i.diisiANA. 


from  the  slirtrc;   part  of  tlic  crew  had  mmvimI  tlicmsclvcs  in  (l><   h)i\fr  lion) 
tlir  rest   |)('risli('(|. 

Acfounts  wtTc  rcrcived  fnmi  the  IllinuiM  that  a  party  of  thre    huiwlnd 
Spaniiinls  liad  iiiiin'hcd  from  Santa  Vr  to  the  upper  part  of  tl»«>  nrovitivc, 

lilc  thcv  expected  a  Meet  would  attack  it  on  the  shore.     Seven! .  oft 


^       .    .        . 

only  had   persevered  in  tlie  attempt,  ^'uiih'il   hv  I'adouca  Indian 


directed  them  s<i  northerly  that   tlwv   reach 


I  tl 


WJK, 

le  river  of  the  ('auscvj 


near  the   Missouri,  where  they  fell  amonir   Indians,  allies  of  the  KniK'li 
h(»  destroyed  them  all,  except  their  chief",  tlu-  swiftness  of  whose  linrx 


w 


Heeured  Ins  s 


1  h 


atetv 


On  the  fourth  of  Juno,  two  hundred  and  lifty  [»aHsenp;ers,  eliicHv 
(Jermans,  came  in  a  company  ship.  .Marifiny  <le  Mandeville,  who  jiiii| 
<rone  to  France,  where  lio  luid  ohtained  the  cross  of  St.  Louis  and  tlw 
command  of  Fort  CoiKh',  returned  in  ht'r,  accompanied  l»y  d'Arenshniir^'. 
a  Swedish  ollieer,  and  three  others. 

By  this  vessel  the  colonists  learnt  the  failure  and  sudden  depiirtiiiv 
from  France  of  the  celchrated  haw.  This  jrave  room  to  the  appreheiisidii 
tiiat  the  settlement  of  the  province  nn^dit  lie  ahan(h)ned  or  [irosecutid 
with  less  vijzor. 

Another  (Juint^aman  landed  three  Innidrcfl  nejiroes  a  few  <lavs  aftei'. 


John  haw,  of  Lauriston,  in  North  Jiritain,  was  a  (lelehrated   ii 


iiaiicicr. 


who  havinjr  grained  the  eontich'uoe  of  the  Duke  of  Orleu'is,  rej^eiit  nf 
France,  settled  at  I'aris;  where,  unih'r  the  auspices  of  jjc  verniuent,  ln' 
estahlished  a  hank,  witli  a  capital  of  twelve  luuuh'ed  thousand  dollius. 
Soon  after,  {jjovernment  hecame  largely  interested  in  it,  and  it  assumed  tlic 
name  of  the  Royal  Hank.  The  orijiinal  projector  continued  at  the  heml 
of  its  atl'airs  and,  availinp;  himself  of  the  thirst  for  s))eeulation  wliich  its 
success  excited,  formed  the  scheme  of  a  large  eommereial  company  to 
which  it  was  intended  to  transfer  all  the  j»rivileg(;s,  possessions  and  ctWrU 
of  the  foreign  trading  conipanies  that  had  heen  incorj)orate(l  in  Fr 


IIKT, 


'lit, 


riie  royal  hank  was  to  he  attached  to  it.  The  regent  gave  it  letters  pat( 
under  the  style  of  the  Western  Company.  From  the  nnghty  stream  thiit 
travers(>s  Louisiana,  Law's  undertaknig  was  called  theMississi])pi  sclunio. 
The  exclusive  trade  to  China  and  all  the  East  Indies  was  afterwards 
granted  to  the  company  now  called  the  India  Company.  Chanccllur 
d'Aguessau  o])i)Osed  the  plan  with  so  much  earnestness,  that  the  nircut 
took  the  seals  Irom  him  and  exiled  him  to  his  estate. 

The  stockholders  flattered  themselves  that  the  vast  (piantity  of  laml. 
and  the  valuahle  projuTty  the  com])any  ))ossessed,  would  enahle  it  to 
make  jinifits  far  exceeding  those  of  the  most  succe  .sful  advcntuni", 
Accordingly,  till' directors  de(dared  a  dividend  of  two  hundred  per  cciit. 
The  delusion  was  so  complete  that  the  sto(dc  rose  to  sixty  times  its  ori^jiiiiil 
cost.  The  notes  <»f  the  hank  took  the  place  of  the  i)ai)er  securitii'' 
government  had  issued,  and  so  great  was  the  demand  for  them,  that  nil 
the  metallic  medium  was  paid  into  the  hank. 


On  (lie  f. 

director,  ()i 

( iiiiMcJl,  lai 

liiiisliriant, 

Tlie  conip 

ill  l.inuisiaii, 

tatioiis  of  M 

"11  tlic  gulf  I 

la  Ifarp<'  cai 

and   inspect 

ailniinistrato 

liiiflcniaiiie  ji 

The  aiTix'u, 

to   Mienville, 

(XcliKlcd  fror 

rank  of  a   ca 

<i>iiiin,'ind  of 

(irctciisions  t( 

Tliree  hund 

Tlu'occupal 
"nlcrs  of  wlii, 

a  |iirniature  o 
[  rc.|uiring  a  uh 
it'  any,  none  h 
of  [irotecting  { 
flic  soil  to  the 
ill  the  neigh |)( 
iijilicared  to  pn 
'"iild  he  eont( 
''"salle  had  tal 
"hich  Jiis  life 
Niorificed.  LaJ 
'"'patient  to  av 
iiit'.'i.sr.re. 

Beranger  was 
'  'f  l>ay ;  fifteei 
tlicir  use. 

,  The  weaknesf- 
'ji  the  ()j)inion  , 
ff  he  was  star 

[''"'"otfittend  h 
His  instruct!. 

1"'^'  countrv,  an 

(""spiououspar 
l''""ity  and  good  \ 
I'liot  any  Spanis 

|"'e  commandant 
Ipo.ssession  taken 
['"■listed  on  the  ri 


m 


Ixiat ; 

ii'lvt'd 

I"  \\\<\n 
*.   will. 

'roncli. 
i'  ImrM' 

cliictly 
lit)  liii(l 
md  tlic 
islxiuri:, 

•\iiirtuiv 

after, 
inauc'u'r, 
.'(fcnt  lit' 

lUMlt.   Ill' 

,  dollars, 
uniod  till- 
the  heail 
wliich  its 
iipiviiy  ti> 
\(l  ctl'ccls 
I  Franc'. 
|rs  patent, 
roam  that 
i  sclu'iiit'. 
ftcrwards 
hancclliir 
\\w  rciifiit 

(»r  lauil. 
li1)U"  it  t" 
/enturcrs. 

|)('i'  cent. 
[s  orijiiU"! 
IsiH'uritii"' 
li,  that  all 


('  II  A  PTKl:    X. 

On  flic  liftrcntli  of  July,  l)uvt'rv;i<'i',  wlm  hatl  liitdy  l»('<'n  ajipointcd 
|)irt('t(ir,  Ordoini.'ilriir,  ('((iMiuiiiHlaiit  nl'  tli<'  .Mnriiit' aiid  i'rcsidciit  of  the 
louin'ih  landed  at  I'cnsacola.  lie  l»r<)ii^dit  crossc-s  of  St.  hitui.s  fitr 
llnishriaiit,  Cliatcaumit' and  St.  Dcnys. 

The  company  more  intent  on  extcndinji  than  improving  its  posscs.-iions 
ill  l.oiiii^iana,  liad  dcteiniined,  notwithstandinjj;  tint  unanimous  n'|)ro.s(!n- 
tiitiiiiis  of  IJicnville  and  all  the  cidonial  otiiccr,-),  to  have  an  cstaldishment 
nil  the  ;j;iih  t'»  the  West  of  the  Mississippi.  I<^tr  thi~  purpose  iJernanl  de 
l;i  llarpe  eamc!  over  with  l)u vernier,  havin«i  luudi  appointed  commandant 
jiiid  insjK'etor  of  eonnneree  at  the  hay  of  St.  Hernard.  Masilliere. 
iiiliiiiiiistrator  <tf  tlie  grant  of  the  Mar«piis  de  Me/ieres,  Di'smarches, 
Dudcniaine  and  Duplcsne,  Ids  associates,  ac<'ompanit'(l  iiim. 

The  arrival  of  Duvergier  with  su(di  ample  powers  gave  niU(di  uneasiness 
til  Hieuvillc,  wh(t  while  ho  remaine(l  in  connnand,  could  not  hrook  to  Ih 
excluded  from  the  jtresideucy  uf  the  council.  I'hatc'augue,  who  had  the 
nmk  of  a  captain  in  the  royal  luivy,  thought  hinis(df  injureil  Iiy  the 
(oiiiinand  of  the  navy  l»eing  given  to  another,  and  Dtdornu'  imagined  his 
iii't'tensions  to  the  ollice  of  ordonnateur  had  been  overlooked. 

Thre(!  hundred  negroes  arrived  fntrn  Africa  on  the  l.')th  of  \ugust. 

The  occupation  of  the  hay  of  St.  liernard,  notwithstanding  the  positive 
iiidcrs  of  whi(di  iiaharpe  was  the  hearer,  was  still  viewed  in  liouisiana  as 
;i  liiemature  o|)eration  attended  with  a  eonsiderahle  and  usidess  expense;, 
rciiuiring  a  nund»er  of  men  who  could  not  \v(dl  he  si>are(l,  and  pronnsing, 
if  any,  none  hut  very  ])reearious  and  distant  advantages.  The  ditliculty 
lit'  protecting  and  supplying  so  distant  a  post,  the  extreme  barrenness  of 
the  soil  to  the  extent  that  hud  been  explored,  the  ferocity  of  the  Indians 
ill  the  neighl)()rhoo(l,  sonu;  of  whom  were  said  to  he  anthroj)ophagi, 
iililiearod  to  present  insurniountal)le  ob.staeles  while  no  prol)able  advantage 
iimld  he  contemplated,  hut  the  preservation  of  the  })ossossion,  which 
hasalle  had  taken  of  that  part  of  the  country,  thirty-six  years  before,  in 
which  his  life  and  tliat  of  the  greatest  part  of  his  followers  had  been 
sifrifieed.  Laharjie  was  now  arrivetl  with  a  commission  of  which  he  was 
impatient  to  avail  himself,  and  Bienville  gave  his  reluctant  assent  to  the 
measure. 

Berangor  was  directed  to  carry  the  new  commanchmt  and  thirty  men  to 
tholiay;  fifteen  barrels  of  flour  and  as  many  of  meat  were  spared  for 
their  use. 

The  Weakness  of  the  detachment  and  the  smallnoss  of  the  supply  (both, 
ill  the  opinion  of  Laharpe,  inadequate)  furnished  him  irrefragabh;  proof 
that  he  was  starting  on  an  expedition  in  which  the  best  wishes  of  Bienville 
ilifl  not  attend  him.     He  weighed  anchor  on  the  twenty-si.xth  of  August. 

His  instru(;tions  from  the  company  were  to  take  formal  possession  of 
the  country,  and  to  set  up  a  post  with  the  arms  of  France  on  some 
(inispieuous  part  of  the  shore — to  build  a  fort  and  secure  by  treaties  the 
iimity  and  good  will  of  as  many  of  the  Indian  tribes  as  he  (H)uld.  If  he 
met  any  Spanish  force  in  the  country,  he  was  directed  to  represent  to 
the  commandant  that  it  belonged  to  the  crown  of  France,  by  virtue  of  the 
Jiossession  taken  by  Lasalle  in  1685,  and  in  case  he,  or  any  other  stranger, 
ini^isted  on  the  right  of  staying,  to  remove  him  by  force. 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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WnSTIt.N.Y.  14SM 
(716)  •72-4503 


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144 


HISTORY  OF   f/)UI8IAN'A. 


The  order  of  the  council  for  the  removal  of  headquarters  to  Biloxi  was 
now  executed,  and  Bienville,  with  hiw  staff  removed  thither,  leaving; 
Marigny  in  command  at  Fort  (.'onde. 

Since  the  departure  of  Law  from  France,  the  affairs  of  the  company  thorc 
had  fallen  into  great  confusion  and  disorder,  and  very  little  attention  was 
given  to  the  supplies  that  were  needed  in  Louisiana.  None  being  procured 
by  agri(!ulture,  provisions  became  extremely  scarce.  To  provide  against 
tne  distress  of  impending  famine,  such  of  the  troops  as  could  be  spaml 
from  the  service  oi  the  posts,  were  sent,  in  small  detachments,  to  Pearl 
river,  Pascagoula  and  among  the  Indians,  to  procure  their  subsistence  by 
fishing  and  hunting.  Their  unskilfulness  in  this  mode  of  seeking  sustenance 
made  it  necessary  to  have  recourse  to  impressment.  This  measure  caused 
great  murmurs  among  the  planters ;  but  the  scarcity  of  provisions  was 
productive  of  more  dreadful  consequences  among  the  soldiers.  Twenty-six 
men,  who  were  in  garrison  at  Fort  Toulouse,  on  the  river  of  the  Alibamons, 
exasperated  by  hunger  and  distress,  mutinied,  and  rising  against  Marchand, 
their  commander,  marched  off  with  their  arms  and  baggage,  in  the 
expectation  of  finding  their  way  to  the  back  settlements  of  Carolina. 
Villemont,  the  lieutenant,  imme<iiately  rode  to  the  village  and  prevailed 
on  tlie  Indians  to  go  and  waylay  the  deserters ;  they  were  overpowered 
by  the  savage  assailants,  but  not  without  great  carnage.  Sixteen  were 
killed,  and  two  only  escaped.  The  other  eight  being  made  prisoners  were 
brought  to  Fort  Louis  and  soon  after  executed. 

In  the  latter  part  of  September,  the  colony  was,  in  some  measure,  relieved 
by  the  arrival  of  a  ship  from  France,  with  provisions.  She  brought 
accounts  that  the  regent  nad  placed  the  affairs  of  the  company  under  the 
direction  of  three  commissioners.    They  were  Ferrand,  Faget  and  Machinet. 

Laharpe,  returned  from  the  bay  of  St.  Bernard  on  the  third  of  October. 
He  ireported  he  had  proceeded  three  hundred  miles  westerly  from  the 
Mississippi.  On  the  27th  of  August  he  had  entered  in  a  bay  in  latitude 
29.5.  which  he  took  for  the  one  he  was  sent  to.  He  found,  on  the  bar,  at 
its  entrance,  eleven  feet  of  water,  and  having  crossed  it  he  sailed  westerly; 
the  sounding  gave  all  along  from  fifteen  to  twenty  feet.  There  was  a  small 
island  at  the  entrance  of  the  bay.  Bellisle,  Laharpe's  lieutenant,  having 
gone  on  shore  on  the  29th,  met  a  party  of  Indians,  about  forty  in  number, 
many  of  whom  offered  to  come  on  board.  He  suffered  six  of  them  to  enter 
his  boat ;  others  followed  in  four  canoes.  They  were  entertained  on  board 
of  the  vessel,  and  among  other  presents  a  dog,  a  cock  and  a  tew  hens 
were  given  them ;  they  seemed  greatly  pleased  with  them. 

On  the  next  day,  Bellisle  having  again  landed  with  a  few  soldiers,  amis 
met  by  some  of  these  Indians,  who  led  him  to  their  village.  The  French 
were  hospitably  received,  and  made  a  few  presents  to  their  hosts ;  and  the 
soldiers,  with  a  view  of  showing  them  the  effects  of  gunpowder,  made  n 
discharge  of  their  pieces. 

Bellisle  visited  the  Indians  again  on  the  next  day.    He  told  them  the 
intention  of  the  French,  in  coming  to  the  bay,  was  to  settle  and  live  in 
friendship  with  the  natives,  and    afford  them  protection  against  their  j 
enemies.    They  replied  they  would  communicate  this  to,  and  consult  their 
countrymen. 

On  the  second  of  September,  the  Indians  continuing  to  evirce  great 
reserve,  the  vessel  proceeded  farther  westerly.    Laharpe  and  Bellisle  went  i 
several  times  ashore,  attended  by  a  tew  soldiers,  to  view  the  country, 


.1  was 

'  there 
)n  was 
rtcureil 
xgainst 
spared 
o  Pearl 
snee  by 
tenance 
cavised 
ons  was 
enty-ijix 
l)amons, 
irchan<l, 
>,  in  the 
;;;arolina. 
prevailed 
rpowered 
;een  were 
ners  were 

e,  relieved 
e  brought 
under  the 
[Machinet. 
■  October. 

from  the 
n  latitude 
the  bar,  at 
.westerly; 
ras  a  small 
nt,  having 
In  number. 
Imu  to  enter 
jd  onboartl 

a  few  hens 


ildiers,  wai* 
he  French 
and  the 
made  a 


IS 

Iter, 


H  them  the 

and  live  in 

lainst  their 

msult  their 

Iviice  great 

lellisle^e"^ 
country) 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


145 


without  seeing  any  Indians.  Sailing  N.  W.  and  N.  N.  W.  for  two  leagues, 
they  came  to  an  island,  at  the  distance  of  a  musket  shot  from  the  main. 
Here  a  number  of  Indians  came  on  board,  while  many  others  appeared  on 
the  shore  on  horseback,  ranged  in  battle  array.  This  induced  Laharpe  to 
forbear  landing.  The  vessel  proceeded  to  another  island  near  the  main, 
and  sailing  farther  on  they  found  a  river  flowing  through  a  wide  prairie. 
The  river  was  wide,  its  water  excellent  and  the  current  slow. 

Sailing  along  the  coast  several  miles  farther,  they  cast  anchor  at  night 
before  a  cluster  of  cabins.  Laharpe  and  Bellisle  going  ashore  on  the  next 
day,  were  coldly  received.  The  squaws  began  to  yell,  striking  their  sides 
and  screaming  horridly.  The  men  asked  Laharpe  for  some  goods ;  he 
answered  all  the  goods  the  French  had  brought  were  still  on  board  of  their 
vessel  and  the  men  in  the  boat  had  come  with  no  other  intention  than  to 
see  the  country  and  pay  the  inhabitants  a  friendly  visit:  they  were 
answered  one  should  not  come  empty  handed  among  strangers.  A 
vehement  debate  ensued,  which  inducea  the  French  to  apprehend  that 
they  would  be  massacred.  The  party  who  were  for  moderate  measures,  at 
last  prevailed  and  the  French  were  presented  with  some  dried  meat  and 
roots. 

Laharpe  having  repeated  his  intention  of  settling  on  the  coast,  the 
Indians  expressed  their  absolute  disapprobation  of  it ;  urging  that  they 
were  afraid  of  the  French,  notwithstanding  he  represented  to  them  their 
opposition  would  bring  down  against  them  the  Assinais  and  other  tribes, 
allies  of  his  nation.  They  persisted  in  asserting  their  fixed  determination 
not  to  allow  him  to  settle,  and  their  wish  that  the  vessel  would  depart. 

According  to  the  observation  Laharpe  made,  the  shore  of  the  bav 
extended  to  the  south  in  a  series  of  hills  and  prairies,  interspersed  with 
well  timbered  land.  In  the  bottom  of  the  bay  he  saw  a  river,  the  mouth 
of  which  appeared  to  be  about  one  hundred  yards  wide. 

On  the  fifth,  a  number  of  Indians  came  on  board  unarmed.  Laharpe 
was  unable  to  prevail  on  them  to  consent  to  his  making  a  settlement  in 
their  country. 

Finding  that  the  number  of  Indians  on  the  bay  was  considerable,  and 
that  but  little  dependence  could  be  placed  in  his  soldiers,  he  united  with 
his  lieutenant  in  the  opinion  that  it  would  be  imprudent  to  attempt  to 
force  himself  upon  the  natives ;  but  he  took  the  ill  judged  resolution  to  carry 
oil'  a  few  of  them  by  stratagem,  in  the  hope  that  the  manner  in  which  they 
would  be  received  at  Fort  St.  Louis  and  the  view  of  the  establishment 
of  the  French  there,  might  operate  on  their  minds,  so  as  to  conquer  their 
obstinacy,  and  dispose  their  countrymen  to  forbear  any  further  opposition 
to  the  settlement  of  the  French  among  them. 

Accordingly,  he  detained  twelve  of  nis  visitors,  as  hostages  for  some  of 
his  men  who  were  sent  ashore  for  water,  dismissing  the  other  Indians  with 
presents.  He  learned  from  his  captives  that  their  nation  was  at  war  with 
the  Assinais  and  the  Adayes,  and  that  a  number  of  Spaniards  had  lately 
passed  through  their  country  with  large  droves  of  cattle. 

The  water  being  brought,  the  anchor  was  weighed  and  the  vessel  went 

,  into  deep  water.    At  night  the  Indians  manifested  their  uneasiness,  and 

wished  to  be  sent  ashore,  but  were  told  to  wait  till  the  morning. 

I    At  sunrise  Laharpe  sent  nine  of  them  into  the  cabin  and  made  a  few 

soldiers  stand  by  with  fixed  bayonets,  to  prevent  any  of  them  to  come  out. 

I  This  precaution  excited  great  alarm  among  them,  and  they  manife8t.jd 

so 


m,<ff^' 


m 


146 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


ail    mS  fitai  J^'' '>' ■ 


their  apprehension  that  their  destruction  was  intended.  They  were  told 
not  to  feur  anything  for  themselves  or  their  companions — that  they  would 
be  carried  to  the  chief  of  ihe  French,  in  order  tnat  he  might  learn  from 
them  the  motives  of  their  jieople  in  preventing  his  warriors  from  settling 
among  them,  after  receiving  thej)re8ents  he  had  sent  them — that  they 
would  be  treated  kindly  and  allowed  soon  to  return. 

The  Indians  on  deck  were  now  furnished  with  a  canoe  to  reach  the 
shore.  Laharpe  made  them  a  few  presents,  and  recommended  to  them 
not  to  allow  the  Spaniards  to  settle  in  their  country.  Immediately  on 
their  leaving  the  vessel,  the  guard  was  removed, .the  Indians  in  the  cabin 
allowed  to  come  on  deck,  and  a  boat  was  sent  on  shore  to  set  up  a  post  on 
a  point  of  land,  with  a  leaden  plate  on  which  the  arms  of  France  were 
engraven. 

The  Indians  on  board  still  imagined  they  were  to  be  landed ;  but  on  the 
return  of  the  boat,  they  discovered  their  error,  and  endeavored  by  various 
means  to  induce  Laharpe  to  change  his  determination ;  sometimes  telling 
him,  if  he  kept  in,  he  would  run  on  the  shoals ;  at  other  times  offering  to 
conduct  him  to  places  where  good  oysters  were  to  be  had,  or  to  point  out 
spots  in  which  treasures  were  hidden. 

According  to  the  information  of  the  Indians,  and  the  judgment  of 
Laharpe,  the  bay  he  came  from  was  the  one  Don  Martin  de  Alacorne 
discovered  in  1718,  which  he  placed  in  twenty-nine  degrees,  five  minutes, 
and  which  he  called  del  Spiritu  Santo. 

Bienville  highly  disapproved  the  conduct  of  Laharpe  in  decoying  these 
Indians,  and  gave  orders  to  carry  them  back  immediately ;  but  while 
preparations  were  making,  they  escaped  and  sought  their  home  by  land. 

No  further  attempt  to  settle  the  bay  of  St.  Bernard  appears  ever  to  have 
been  made  by  the  French.  Laharpe  was  greatly  mortified  at  the  aban- 
donment of  the  plan.  He  thought  considerable  advantages  might  have 
been  derived  from  it,  as  the  situation  of  the  bay  afforded  safe  harbors  and 
a  great  facility  to  commerce  with  the  Spaniards,  and  its  navigable  rivers 
invited  population.  The  scarcity  of  provisions,  arms  and  ammunition  in 
the  colony,  the  smallness  of  its  military  force,  in  relation  to  the  many 
posts  to  be  protected,  were  considered  by  the  colonial  administration  as 
insuperable  obstacles. 

On  the  da^  after  Laharpe's  return,  Bienville  learnt  by  dispatches  from 
the  commissioners,  that  he  was  restored  in  the  presidency  of  the  council, 
and  they  had  resolved  that  the  principal  establishment  of  the  colony 
should  be  removed  to  New  Orleans.  They  also  directed  him  to  order  a 
survey  of  the  river  of  the  Arkansas,  with  the  view  of  ascertaining  how  far 
it  was  navigable.  It  seems  the  council  of  the  company  in  France  still 
thought  it  their  interest  to  extend  its  possessions  in  Louisiana,  rather  j 
than  to  avail  themselves  of  the  advantages  the  part  now  occupied  | 
presented.  They  flattered  themselves  that  by  pursuing  their  discoveries  i 
to  the  west,  mines  of  the  precious  metals  might  be  reached,  or  a  trade 
with  the  Spaniards  insured.  The  latter,  however,  were  not  inattentive  to  | 
the  views  of  the  French. 

St.  Denys,  who  commanded  at  the  fort  of  Natchitoches,  was  appri 
by  a  trader  from  the  Adayes,  that  the  Marquis  de  Gallo,  lately  appointed 
governor  of  the  province  of  Texas,  had  come  among  these  Indians,  with  j 
four  hundred  horsemen,  and  about  fifty  thousand  dollars  worth  of  goods,: 
he  had  also  a  large  number  of  wagons  loaded  with  provisions  and  effects. 


He  gave  ou 
■  td 


e  told 
would 
1  from 
ettUng 
t  they 

ich  the 
Lo  them 
tely  on 
le  cabin 
post  on 
ice  were 

it  on  the 
r  various 
38  telling 
Bering  to 
)oint  out 

^ment  of 
Alacome 
minutes, 

ying  these 

but  while 

le  by  land. 

irer  to  have 

b  the  aban- 

light  have 

anwrs  and 

;able  riven 

munition  in 

3  the  many 

istration  as 

iches  from 
the  council, 
I  the  colony 
ii  to  order  a 
ling  how  fet 
iFrance  still 
liana,  rather 
|w  occupiw 
discoveries 
i,  or  a  trade 
lattentiveto 


ras  a' 


rndian8,vntM 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


147 


and  effects. 


He  had  begun  to  burn  bricks  for  a  fort  which  he  intended  to  build 
immediately.  The  unpleasant  information  was  received  at  the  same  time 
that  the  Chickasaws  had  murdered  two  Canadians. 

In  pursuance  of  the  orders  of  the  commissioners,  Delorme  removed  to 
New  Orleans  on  the  first  of  November. 

Laharpe,  finding  himself  unemployed  by  the  determination  of  the 
colonial  administrators  to  suspend  the  execution  of  the  plan  of  settling 
the  bay  of  St.  Bernard,  offered  his  services  to  Bienville  for  the  execution 
of  the  orders  of  the  commissioners  in  regard  to  the  river  of  the  Arkansas. 
Notwithstanding  this  measure  was  positively  ordered  by  the  commis- 
sioners, the  company's  agent  opposed  it  strenuously.  Bienville  however, 
considered  it  as  one  of  vital  importance.  He  was  anxious  to  establish  a  post 
in  that  part  of  the  province,  to  protect  the  commerce  with  the  Illinois, 
and  facilitate  the  introduction  of  cattle  from  the  Spanish  provinces. 

Laharpe  was  detached  with  sixteen  men  for  tnis  service.  He  was 
directed  after  having  rested  his  men,  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  to  ascend 
its  main  branch  as  high  as  he  could,  to  take  notice  of  every  island  and 
creek,  to  look  for  mines,  and  in  case  he  discovered  any  to  bring  some 
of  the  ore.  In  case  of  any  attempt  on  the  part  of  the  Spaniards  to  effect  a 
settlement  on  any  of  these  streams,  the  same  instructions  were  given  him, 
as  when  he  went  to  the  bay  of  St.  Bernard,  to  insist  on  the  possession, 
taken  by  Lasalle  in  1678,  when  he  descended  the  Mississippi. 

In  December  father  Charlevoix  reached  Louisiana  from  Canada,  by  the 
way  of  the  Illinois.  He  stopped  at  the  fort  of  the  Yazous,  spent  the 
Christmas  holidays  at  the  Natchez,  and  floated  down  to  New  Orleans, 
which  he  reached  on  the  sixth  of  January. 

He  gave  out  that  he  had  the  king's  order  to  seek  a  northwest  passage  to 
China,  and  to  inq^uire  into  the  state  of  the  southern  province ;  but  as  he 
produced  no  official  letter,  not  much  credit  was  given  to  his  assertion.  He 
was  however  treated,  wherever  he  went,  with  considerable  attentioil 

New  Orleans,  according  to  his  account,  consisted  at  that  time  of  one 
hundred  cabins,  placed  without  much  order,  a  large  wooden  warehouse, 
two  or  three  dwelling  houses,  that  would  not  have  adorned  a  village,  and 
a  miserable  storehouse,  which  had  been  at  first  occupied  as  a  chapel ;  a 
shed  being  now  used  for  this  purpose.  Its  population  did  not  exceed  two 
hundred  persons. 

The  father  stopped  at  the  island  of  the  Balize,  which  had  just  been 
formed.  He  chaunted  a  high  mass  on  and  blessed  it,  according  to  the 
ritual  of  his  church.  He  gave  it  the  name  of  Toulouse  island,  which  it 
does  not  appear  to  have  long  retained. 

The  only  settlements  then  begun  below  the  Natchez  were  those  of  St. 
Reine  and  Madam  de  Mezieres,  a  little  below  Pointe  Coupee — that  of  Diron 
d'Artaguette,  at  Baton  Rouge — that  of  Paris  near  bavou  Manchac — that 
of  the  Marquis  d'Anconis,  below  Lafourche — that  of  the  Marquis  d'Ar- 
I  tagnac,  at  Cannes  Brvlees — that  of  de  Meuse  a  little  below,  and  a  plantation 
of  three  brothers  of  the  name  of  Chauvin,  lately  come  from  Canada,  at  the 
Tchapitoulas. 

Charlevoix  reached  Fort  St.  Louis  of  the  Biloxi  on  the  thirty-first  of 
[January,  and  left  it  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  March  for  Hispaniola. 
Duvergier  returned  to  France  in  the  same  month. 
Loubois,  a  knight  of  St.  Louis,  arrived  soon  after  and  took  the  command 
I  of  Fort  St.  Louis,  and  Latour  received  the  commission  of  lieutenant- 


.V- 


iA 


4  Uu 


•i-l. 


148 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


iW'ff; 


ed  for  publication  a  set  of  rules  they  had 
of  the  company's  concerns  in  Louisiana. 


general  of  the  province,  much  to  the  mortification  of  Bienville  and 
Chateaugue. 

The  Commissioners  forwarded 
adopted  for  the  management 

They  provided  that  negroes  should  be  sold  at  six  hundred  and  seventy 
livres,  or  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  dollars,  payable  in  three  annual 
instalments,  in  rice  or  tobacco. 

Rice  was  received  at  twelve  livres  or  three  dollars  the  barrel,  and  tobacco 
at  twenty -six  livres  or  six  dollars  and  fifty  cents. 

Wine  was  sold  at  twenty-six  livres  or  six  dollars  and  fifty  cents  the 
barrel,  and  brandy  at  one  hundred  and  twenty  livres  or  thirty  dollars  the 
quarter  cask. 

A  copjper  coinage  had  lately  been  struck  for  the  use  of  the  king's 
colonies  in  America,  and  ordered  to  be  used  in  the  payment  of  the  troops. 
It  was  declared  a  lawful  tender  in  the  company  stores. 

The  province  for  civil  and  military  purposes  was  now  divided  into  nine 
districts.  Alibamons,  Mobile,  Biloxi,  New  Orleans,  Natchez,  the  Yazous, 
the  Illinois  and  Wabash,  Arkansas  and  Natchitoches.  A  commandant 
and  judge  was  directed  to  be  appointed  in  each. 

For  religious  purposes  there  were  three  principal  divisions.  The  first 
was  under  the  care  of  the  capuchins,  and  extended  from  the  mouth  of  the 
Mississippi  to  the  Illinois.  The  barefooted  carmelites  attended  to  the 
second,  which  included  the  civil  districts  of  Biloxi,  Mobile  and  Alibamons. 
The  Wabash  and  Illinois  formed  the  last,  confided  to  the  Jesuits. 
Churches  and  chapels  were  directed  to  be  built  at  convenient  distances. 
Before  this  time  in  many  places  large  wooden  crosses  were  raised  at 
convenient  places,  and  the  people  assembled  around  them,. sheltered  by 
trees,  to  unite  in  prayer. 

The  Chickasaws  continued  their  hostilities :  they  attacked  a  Canadian 
pirogue,  descending  the  Mississippi,  near  Fort  Prudhomme  and  killed  two 
of  the  men. 

In  the  month  of  May,  Fouquet  brought  to  Biloxi  the  portion  of  the  late 
copper  coinage  for  the  province. 

La  Renaudiere,  an  omcer,  who  had  been  sent  at  the  head  of  a  brigade 
of  miners  by  the  directors,  now  led  them  up  the  Missouri.  Their  labor 
had  no  other  effect  than  to  show  how  much  the  company  was  imposed  on 
and  the  facility  with  which  the  principal  agents  themselves  were  induced 
to  employ  men  without  capacity  and  send  them  to  such  a  distance  and  at 
an  enormous  expense. 

Since  the  failure  of  Law  and  his  departure  from  France,  his  grant  at  the 
Arkansas  had  been  entirely  neglected,  and  the  greatest  part  of  the  settlers 
whom  he  had  transported  thither  from  Germany,  finding  themselves 
abandoned  and  disappointed,  came  down  to  New  Orleans  with  the  hone 
of  obtaining  a  passage  to  some  port  of  France,  from  which  they  might  be 
enabled  to  return  home.  The  colonial  government  being  unable  or 
unwilling  to  grant  it,  small  allotments  of  land  were  made  to  them  twenty 
miles  above  New  Orleans,  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  on  which  they  settled 
in  cottage  farms.  The  Chevalier  d'Arensbourg,  a  Swedish  officer,  lately 
arrived,  was  appointed  commandant  of  the  new  post.  This  was  the 
beginning  of  the  settlement  known  as  the  Grerman  coast,  or  the  parishes 
of  St.  Charles  and  St.  John  the  Baptist.  These  laborious  men  supplied 
the  troops  and  the  inhabitants  of  New  Orleans  with  garden  stuff.    Loading 


le  and 

ley  had 
aisiana. 
seventy 
!  annual 

tobacco 

ents  the 
dlars  the 

16  king's 
le  troops. 

into  nine 
3  YazouB, 
imandant 

The  first 
ith  of  the 
,ed  to  the 
Llibamons. 
le  Jesuits, 
distances. 

raised  at 
leltered  by 

Canadian 
killed  two 

of  the  late 

a  brigade 
heir  labor 
mposed  on 
ere  induced 
mce  and  at 

grant  at  the 
the  settlers 
themselves 
th  the  hone 
y  might  M 
;  unable  or 
hem  twenty 
they  settled 
— fficer,  lately 
his  was  the 
the  parishes 

en  supplied 
Loading 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


149 


their  pirogues  with  the  produce  of  their  week's  work,  on  Saturday  evening, 
they  floated  down  the  river  and  were  ready  to  spread  at  sunrise  on  the 
first  market  that  was  held  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  their  supplies 
of  vegetables,  fowls  and  butter.  Returning,  at  the  close  of  the  market, 
they  reached  their  homes  early  in  the  night,  and  were  ready  to  resume 
their  work  at  sunrise ;  having  brought  the  groceries  and  otner  articles 
needed  in  the  course  of  the  week. 

The  island  which  father  Charlevoix  had  lately  blessed  and  to  which  he 
had  given  the  name  of  Toulouse,  having  been  examined  under  the  orders 
of  Bienville,  by  Pauger,  appeared  to  be  a  convenient  place  for  the 
residence  of  pilots.  To  afford  the  entrance  of  the  river  some  protection, 
a  battery  was  now  raised  on  it,  with  barracks,  a  magazine  and  cnapcl,  and 
a  small  garrison  was  sent  there. 

Laharpe  returned  from  his  expedition  to  the  river  of  the  Arkansas,  on 
the  20th  of  May ;  he  had  reached  the  Natchez  on  the  seventeenth  of 
January  and  found  Fort  Rosalie  a  heap  of  rotten  timber ;  Manneval,  who 
commanded  it,  had  only  eighteen  soldiers.  He  staid  but  one  day  with 
him  and  met,  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  of  the  Yazous,  two  Canadian 
pirogues,  loaded  with  50,000  lb.  weight  of  salt  meat.  They  had  killed 
eighteen  bears  about  the  head  point  of  Point  Coupee. 

Laharpe  reached,  nine  miles  up  Yazou  river,  a  settlement  called  Fort 
St.  Peter,  commanded  by  de  Grave.  There  were  not  more  than  thirty 
acres  of  arable  land  near  the  fort ;  the  rest  was  nothing  but  stony  hills. 
On  digging  turf  and  clay,  it  was  found  the  water  was  bad  and  the  place 
sickly. 

A  little  above  the  fort  Were  villages  of  the  Coroas,  OfFogoulas  and  Oatsees, 
Their  huts  were  scattered  on  small  hillocks  artificially  made  in  the  valley. 
Their  whole  population  did  not  exceed  two  hundred  and  fifty  heads. 
About  one  hundred  miles  to  the  northeast,  were  the  Chouactas,  about 
forty  in  number,  and  still  higher  the  Chachoumas,  who  numbered  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty.  In  high  water,  these  villages  were  inaccessible  by 
land.  Nine  miles  higher  were  the  Outaypes,  a  very  small  tribe,  and  fifteen 
miles  farther  the  Tapouchas,  near  the  Choctaws. 

Laharpe  left  the  Yaiou  river,  on  the  fifteenth  day  of  February,  and 
ascending  the  Mississippi  one  hundred  and  sixty-four  miles,  came  to  the 
lower  branch  of  the  river  of  the  Arkansas.  He  found  its  current  extremely 
rapid,  and  stopped  a  little  above  its  mouth,  near  that  of  a  stream  coming 
from  the  northwest  from  the  Osages.  The  large  quantity  of  rock  in  its 
bed  prevented  its  navigation. 

The  first  village  was  reached  on  the  first  of  March.  It  consisted  of  forty- 
one  cabins  and  three  hundred  and  twenty  persons.  Laharpe  found  here 
Duboulay,  who  was  there  since  the  month  of  September ;  having  been 
sent  thitner  from  the  fort  of  the  Yazous,  to  protect  these  Indians,  and  the 
boats  from  the  Illinois,  which  commonly  stopped  at  this  place,  to  procure 
I  provisions. 

The  Arkansas  were  not  pleased  at  the  arrival  of  the  French  among  them 
I  nor  disposed  to  afford  to  their  leader  any  information  of  the  topography  of 
their  country.  They  saw  with  pain  his  preparations  to  visit  ana  form 
I  alliances  with  the  tribes  in  the  west,  and  exerted  themselves  to  dissuade 
him  from  it;  telling  him  that  his  party  was  in  great  danger  of  being 
I  murdered  by  the  Osages.  They  reiused  to  accommodate  him  with  a 
Ipirogue,  although  there  were   upwards  of  twenty,  fastened  before  the 


t  '*-»' 


.3  ia 


L  IS 


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It  <•     > 


lit 


it 


150 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


village,  and  he  found  also  great  difficulty  in  procuring  provisions.  He 
next  proceeded  to  Law's  grant;  it  lay  N.  N.  W.  from  the  village, on  the 
right  side  of  the  river,  at  the  distance  of  about  seven  miles.  The  buildingR 
had  been  erected  about  a  mile  from  the  water.  There  remained  but 
forty  persons  of  all  ages  and  sexes ;  they  had  a  small  clearing  sown  with 
wheat. 

On  the  third  he  sent  to  the  upper  village  for  provisions.  The  Indians 
of  it  came  from  the  Caenzas  a  nation  who  dwelt  on  the  Missouri.  This 
settlement  was  insulated,  and  had  a  population  of  about  four  hundred 
persons.  Having  obtained  what  he  wanted,  he  sent  five  of  his  men  for- 
ward, directing  them  to  halt  on  the  second  day  and  wait  for  him.  He  set 
off  on  the  next,  with  the  rest,  in  all  twenty-two  men,  including  Prudhorame 
and  four  others,  whom  he  had  taken  at  the  fort  of  the  Yazous. 

Proceeding  the  distance  of  two  hundred  and  thirty  miles,  he  came  to  a 
remarkable  rock  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  mixed  with  iaspered  marble, 
forming  three  steep  hillocks,  one  hundred  and  sixty-nine  feet  high.  Near 
it  is  a  quarry  of  slate,  and  at  its  foot  a  beautiful  cascade  and  basin.  The 
water  of  the  river  for  the  first  ninety  miles  is  reddish ;  it  afterwards  becomes 
so  clear  as  to  be  potable. 

The  party  proceeded  seventy  miles  farther;  but  the  current  growing 
extremely  rapid  and  disease  prevailing  among  the  soldiers,  Laharpe 
determined  to  return,  much  against  his  inclination ;  as,  according  to  his 
reckoning,  he  was  within  three  hundred  miles  of  a  nation,  whom  he  visited 
in  1717,  while  he  was  stationed  at  the  Cadodaqueous.  He  saw  red  and 
white  morillos  in  abundance. 

After  making  a  chart  of  the  river,  for  three  hundred  and  fifty  miles  from 
the  first  village,  he  landed  and  visited  several  nations  on  the  west  side  of 
the  river,  and  spent  some  time  in  exploring  the  country  on  the  opposite 
shore.  He  then  descended  the  river  to  Law's  grant,  where  a  boat  had  just 
arrived  from  New  Orleans  with  provisions.  They  were  so  needed  that 
the  Germans  were  making  preparations  to  abandon  the  settlement. 

In  floating  down  the  Mississippi,  Laharpe  was  near  being  surprised  by 
a  party  of  the  Chickasaws. 

Peace  had  in  the  meantime  been  made  between  France  and  Spain,  and 
on  the  thirty-first  of  May,  a  Spanish  vessel  from  Vera  Cruz  landed  Don 
Alexander  Wauchop,  a  captain  of  the  royal  navy  of  Spain,  at  the  Biloxi. 
He  was  bearer  of  dispatches  to  Bienville  from  the  Marquis  de  Valero, 
viceroy  of  Mexico,  enclosing  an  official  copy  of  the  late  treaty,  which 
contained  a  clause  for  the  restoration  of  Pensacola,  of  which  Don  Alex- 
ander was  sent  to  take  possession. 

Father  Charlevoix  returned  on  the  fourth  of  June ;  the  vessel  in  which 
he  had  sailed  for  St.  Domingo  having  been  wrecked  on  the  Martyr  islands, 
on  the  fourteenth  of  April.  He  sailed  soon  after  for  the  place  of  his 
destination. 

A  large  party  of  the  Chickasaws  attacked,  in  the  month  of  July,  the 
Indians  on  Yazou  river,  near  Fort  St.  Peter,  robbed  them  of  their 
provisions  and  scalped  a  sergeant  of  the  garrison  and  his  wife  in  their 
own  cabin,  within  a  musket  shot  of  the  fort.  In  apprising  Bienville  of  thi? 
irruption,  de  Grave,  the  commandant  of  Fort  St.  Peter,  added  there  were 
several  parties  of  the  hostile  Indians  hovering  in  the  woods,  with  a  view  of 
surprising  the  Coroas,  Ofibgoulas  and  Yazous,  These  had  sent  their 
women  and  children  into  the  fort. 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


151 


The  beginning  of  August,  Bienville  removed  his  headquarters  to  New 
Orleans.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  month  he  was  visited  by  a  deputation 
of  the  Itomanas,  a  tribe  on  the  western  side  of  the  Mississippi,  who  had 
gtopi)ed  in  tne  village  of  Colapissas,  whose  chief  falling  sicK  during  their 
visit,  his  countrymen  attributed  his  malady  to  a  spell  cast  on  him  by  their 
guests.  They  followed  them  to  New  Orleans,  and  solicited  Bienville's 
interference,  in  order  to  obtain  the  removal  of  the  spell. 

The  company,  at  home,  were  still  less  intent  to  promote  agriculture  in 
the  parts  of  Louisiana  occupied  by  the  French,  than  on  the  discovery  of 
mines  of  the  precious  metals,  and  the  extension  of  trade  with  the  most 
remote  nations  of  Indians.  Yielding  to  the  representations  of  Boismont, 
an  officer  heretofore  attached  to  the  garrison  of  Fort  Ghartres  of  the 
Illinois,  who  had  made  several  expeditions  up  the  Missouri,  and  having 
gone  over  had  been  made  a  knight  of  St.  Louis,  they  sent  him  to  New 
Orleans  and  directed  Bienville  to  furnish  him  a  detachment,  pirogues, 
arms,  ammunition  and  provision,  that  he  might  build  a  fort  and  begin  a 
settlement  on  the  banks  of  that  river.  He  landed  early  in  September, 
bringing  to  the  colonists,  as  a  spiritual  relief,  three  father  capuchins  and 
one  lay  brother. 

In  their  dispatches,  the  commissioners  announced  to  Bienville  that  the 
company  expected  he  should  consider  himself,  not  only  as  the  commandant 
general  of  its  forces  in  Louisiana,  but  also,  principal  director  of  its  concerns, 
and  as  responsible  for  their  success — that  if  they  prospered,  he  should 
have  all  the  credit  of  it,  but,  in  case  of  their  miscarriage  the  loss  of  the 
regent's  favor. 

They  inclosed  to  him  a  printed  copy  of  a  royal  proclamation,  published 
on  the  twenty-first  of  May,  announcing  the  failure  of  the  bank  established 
by  Law.  On  the  following  day  its  notes  became  absolutely  worthless. 
By  its  failure  an  immense  number  of  individuals  were  ruined,  and  many 
rich  families  reduced  to  abject  poverty.  To  soothe  the  general  interest, 
d'Aguesseau  was  recalled  from  exile,  and  the  seals  were  returned  to  him. 
About  the  same  time  the  British  nation  was  gulled,  nearly  in  the  same 
manner,  but  not  to  the  same  extent,  by  what  was  called  the  south  sea 
bubble. 

A  number  of  pirogues  having  been  built,  Boismont  led  his  detachment 
to  the  Missouri. 

A  most  destructive  hurricane  desolated  the  province  on  the  ek  v  -ith  of 
September.  The  church,  hospital,  and  thirty  houses  were  level:  :  -o  the 
ground  in  New  Orleans ;  three  vessels  that  lay  before  it  were  diiven  on 
shore.  The  crops  above  and  below  were  totally  destroyed,  and  many 
houses  of  the  planters  blown  down.  It  prevailed  with  great  violence  at  the 
:  Natchez  and  Biloxi.  Three  vessels  that  were  at  ancnor  before  the  last 
place,  were  driven  high  up  on  the  shore.  Famine  threatened  the  colony 
with  its  horrors,  and  the  chief  dispatched  vessels  in  seach  of  provisions  to 
Vera  Cruz,  Havana  and  St.  Domingo. 

Hitherto,  apprehension  in  regard  to  Indian  hostility,  had  been  confined 
Ito  one  quarter,  and  the  Chickasaws  alone  excited  the  alarm  of  the  French^ 
iDutisne  an  officer  of  the  garrison  of  Fort  Rosalie,  came  to  New  Orleans  in 
■the  latter  part  of  the  month,  with  distressing  accounts  from  that  quarter. 
I  A  sergeant  having  quarrelled  with  an  Indian,  an  affray  ensued.    The 

nrd  at  the  fort  turned  out  to  quell  it.    They  were  attacked  by  a  numerous 
y  of  Indians,  on  whom  they  at  last  fired,  killing  one  of  them  and 


'.'  ■  I.  til 


■'■■■■?  ■     .      '  ti  y  ■     •:•*    '•.(.'Wi 

■  '.  ■     ''■,'■'^0■"Ht5l 


«'\r'%;i:i 


M£i^fc«i 


'■*i: 


V4-'  a 


152 


HI8T0RV  OF  LOUISIANA. 


I';    ;■;  ■ 


% 


wounding  tinother.  A  few  days  after,  Guenot,  the  director  of  the  grant  of  8t. 
Catharine,  was  fired  on  in  the  road  and  wounded  ;  and  on  the  next,  the 
Indians  attacked,  and  attempted  to  earrv  away,  a  curt  loaded  with 
provisions,  and  guarded  by  a  few  soldiers.  Hiding  themselves  under  hi|;h 
grass,  they  fired  and  killed  a  negro,  and  wounded  another.  A  partv  of 
eighty  of  them,  a  few  days  after,  attacke<l  the  settlement ;  but  were  repulKwl 
with  the  loss  of  seven  men.  They  had  taken  two  planters,  whose  heads 
they  had  cut  off;  they  also  carrietl  away  a  considoraole  number  of  horsen, 
cattle  and  hogs. 

Two  sons  of  the  Natchez  were  on  a  visit  to  Bienville,  when  Dutisne 
reached  New  Orleans.  Instead  of  sending  at  once  a  strong  force  to  chastiKe 
the  offending  Indians,  presents  were  made  to  these  chiefs,  who  promised 
to  go  and  put  a  stop  to  tlie  disorder. 

Disease  added,  in  the  fall,  its  horrors  to  those  of  impending  dearth ;  hut 
the  colonists  were  in  some  degree  relieved  by  the  appearance  of  an  unex- 
pected crop  of  rice.  The  ^ain  scattered  by  the  hurricane  had  taken  root. 
and  promised  a  comparative  abundance. 

The  directors  who  had  remained  at  the  Biloxi,  now  joined  Delorme  at 
New  Orleans. 

The  scarcity  of  provisions  created  such  distress,  that  several  of  the 
inhabitants  seriously  thought  of  abandoning  the  colony ;  and  a  company 
of  infantry,  who  had  staid  behind  at  the  Biloxi  being  ordered  to  New 
Orleans  were  embarked  on  board  of  a  schooner ;  but,  as  soon  as  she  sailed, 
the  captain  and  officers  forced  her  master  to  sail  for  Charleston— where 
they  landed  with  their  arms  and  baggage. 

Kenaud,  one  of  the  directors  of  the  company's  concerns,  had  gone  to 
the  neighborhood  of  the  Missouri,  whither  he  was  industriously  engaged 
in  a  search  after  mines.  In  the  belief  that  several  existed  on  the  shore? 
of  the  Mississippi,  Missouri,  Marameg  and  the  river  of  the  Illinois,  he 
procured  from  Boisbriant  six  grants  of  land  on  these  streams,  each  three 
miles  in  front  on  the  water,  with  a  depth  of  eighteen. 

The  land  in  Louisiana  had  appeared  very  favorable  to  the  culture  of 
indigo ;  and  measures  were  taken  by  the  company,  at  the  solicitation  of 
the  planters  to  supply  them  with  seed. 

Laharpe  on  his  return  from  Pensacola,  where  he  had  been  to  bring  back 
the  troops  and  effects  of  the  company,  on  the  Spaniards  taking  {wssession 
of  the  place,  reported  that  Wauchon,  who  remained  there  in  command, 
had  begun  a  settlement  on  the  island  of  St.  Rose,  where  his  force  was  to 
stay  till  he  was  reinforced  by  a  sufficient  number  to  allow  a  removal  to 
the  main :  the  island  being  more  easily  defensible,  the  post  at  the  bay  of 
St.  Joseph  had  been  abandoned. 

The  Spaniards  being  badlv  supplied  with  {)rovisions,  Wauchop  made 
application  to  the  French  ror  flour;  intimating  that,  if  he  could  be  I 
accommodated,  he  would  send    for  it  to  New  Orleans,  and  probably  I 
improve  the  opportunity  of  paying  his  respects  to  Bienville  there,  as  he 
was  authorized  by  the  viceroy  to  receive  the  arms  taken  at  Pensacola;  fori 
the  restoration  of  which  a  clause  had  been  inserted  in  the  late  treaty. 
The  council  advised  Bienville  to  decline  the  honor  of  the  intended  visit; 
it  bein^  thought   imprudent  to  allow  the   governor  of  Pensacola  to  I 
reconnoitre  the  passes  of  the  Mississippi,  while  they  were  unguarded  by 
any  Ibrt,  or  to  oecome  acquainted  with  the  state  of  the  forces  of  the  | 


^v 


HISTORY   OF  LOUISIANA. 


168 


tiad  gone  to 

sly  engaged 

\  the  shore? 

Illinois,  he 

each  three 


colony.    The  flour  was  accordingl"  sent  to  Mobile  where  Wauchop  was 
n'oiu'sted  to  send  and  receive  it. 

While  the  Spaniards  were  thus  resuming  possession  of  I'ensacola  in  the 
flint,  they  were  reinforcing  their  garrisons  of  the  west,  in  the  scattered 
posts  of  the  province  of  Texas.  St.  Denvs,  in  a  letter  from  Natchitoches 
of  the  sixteenth  of  January,  informed  liienvillu  the  Marquis  de  Gallo 
had  lately  received  five  hundred  soldiers. 

On  the  other  hand,  accounts  were  received  that  the  Chickasaws  had 
lately  been  defeatetl  in  a  pitched  battle  by  the  Choctaws,  in  which  the 
former  had  sustained  a  loss  of  four  hundred  men. 

The  distresses  that  had  followed  in  France  the  failure  of  Law's  scheme. 
were  now  most  heavily  felt.  Louisiana  (b'enly  participated  in  them,  and 
the  Fron(;h  cabinet  thought  of  no  better  T>ian  of  afl'ording  relief  to  the 
colonists  than  an  alteration  of  the  value  ot  money. 

The  first  attempt  was  bv  a  rise  at  the  rate  of  eighty-seven  and  a  half 
per  cent.  The  dollar  of  Mexico  was  the  only  silver  coin  in  circulation  in 
the  province;  its  value  was  accordingly  raised  from  four  livres,  at  which 
it  was  then  received  in  payment  to  seven  and  a  half;  so  that  the  creditor 
of  a  sum  of  four  thousand  livres,  or  one  thousand  dollars  before  the  edict 
which  bears  date  the  twelth  of  January,  1723,  was  compelled  to  accept  in 
discharge  five  hundred  and  thirty  dollars  and  a  third. 

Matters  remained  thus  during  one  year.  Experience  showed  the 
measure  adopted  was  not  the  right  one.  As  a  rise  had  proved  disastrous, 
it  was  thought  a  fall  or  reduction  would  have  the  contrary  effect.  But, 
as  in  the  natural  body,  disease  comes  on  rapidly,  and  the  cure  proceeds 
slowly,  it  was  thought  best  that  the  healing  of  the  political  should  be 
gradually  effected.  Accordingly,  by  an  edict  of  the  twenty-sixth  of 
February,  in  the  following  year,  a  reduction  of  six  and  two-thirds  per 
cent,  was  ordered,  and  the  value  of  the  dollar  was  brought  down  from 
oeven  and  a  half  to  seven  livres.  Thus,  the  creditor  of  a  sum  of  four 
thousand  livres  before  the  rise,  who  had  not  been  tendered  after  it,  five 
hundred  and  thirty-three  dollars  and  a  third,  was  now  permitted  to 
demand  five  hundred  and  sixty-two  dollars  and  eighty-seven  cents  and  a 
half. 

But,  this  small  and  tardy  relief  was  paid  for  by  those  who  had 
contracted  between  the  publications  of  the  two  edicts.  He  who,  on  the 
twenty-fifth  of  February,  had  made  a  note  for  seven  thousand  five  hundred 
livres,  which  could  be  discharged  by  the  payment  of  one  thousand  dollars, 
was,  after  the  publication  of  the  last  edict,  compelled  to  pay  an  advance 
of  seventy  dollars  and  upwards. 

I  What  was  intended  for,  and  was  called  a  healing  process,  was  the 
administration  of  poison  in  lieu  of  a  remedy ;  the  doses  were  not  strong, 
but  came  in  rapid  succession.  Within  sixty  days,  on  the  second  of  May, 
a  new  edict  proclaimed  a  further  reduction  of  twenty  per  cent. ;  the  value 
of  the  dollar  being  lowered  to  five  livres  and  twelve  sous. 
Within  six  months,  a  farther  reduction  of  twenty  per  cent,  was  operated : 

and  the  value  of  the  dollar  was  reduced  by  an  edict  of  the  thirtieth  of 

October,  to  four  livres  and  a  half.    Thus,  within  less  than  ten  months, 
I  was  the  money  raised  in  its  value  eighty-seven  and  a  half  per  cent,  and 
[gradually  reduced  to  its  original  rate. 
Public  and  private  distresses  are  curable  by  the  same  remedies  only : 


^;2:2 


IM 


IIIHTOUY   OF    LOriHIANA. 


f(»r  the  fornuT  in  only  th(»  iiccuiinilatioti  «)f  the  lattor.     A  violent  nicdicinc 
oftrM  iiijurt's  tln'  niituial,  ho  do  violent  nieaHures  the  political  hody. 

Iiid(den<'e,  improvidence  and  extravagance,  at  times,  occjinion  private 
distress,  and  this  th«'  nuldic.  Industry,  economy  an«l  order  alone  inn 
r(»li('ve  the  first ;  and  it  the  latter  lie  eurahle  l>y  the  same  means  oidy,  it  in 
vain  to  resiirt  to  alterations  in  the  value  of  money,  a  paper  currency,  or 
tender  laws — indeed  to  any  such  artificial  remedies*  I^oans  are  palliHtivcx 
only,  and  fre<pientlv  injurious  ones.  They  may,  for  a  moment,  initinutc 
the  ('fleet  of  the  <lisease;  hut  they  foment  the  cause,  which  should  lie 
removed,  if  a  radical  cure  ho  intended.  If  the  extravagant,  the  imnrovidcnt 
and  the  i<lle  he  iiuhilped,  there  can  he  l)Ut  little  hope  of  their  necomiiii; 
economical,  provident  and  lahorious. 

The  conipanv,  with  the  view  of  nroviding  for  the  spiritual  wants  of  the 
U))i»er  part  of  t)ie  province,  in  which  clergymen  wore  most  wanted,  onterod 
into  arrangements  with  the  order  of  the  Jesuits,  hy  which  curates  and 
missionaries  were  ohtained.  Persons  professing  any  other  religion  tlnin 
the  catholic,  wore  not  treated  with  equal  charity,  and  the  snirit  of  intol- 
erance dictate<l  an  edict,  in  the  month  of  March,  hy  which  tne  exerciHcof 
any  other  religion  was  ])rohihited  in  Louisiana,  and  Jews  were  directed  tn 
he  exi)elled  from  it,  as  enemies  of  the  Christian  name.  A  hlack  code  for 
the  government  of  the  slaves  was  given  to  the  colony  this  vear. 

(Jross  infidelities  having  heen  committed  in  the  transmission  of  letter^ 
and  packets  in  Louisiana,  the  king,  hy  an  edict  of  this  summer,  denounced 
against  persons,  intercepting  letters  and  paekets  in  the  colony,  or  opening 
them  and  disclosing  their  contents,  a  fine  of  five  hundred  livres,  and  the 
offender,  if  holding  the  king's  commission  was  to  be  cashiered,  othenvisie 
put  in  the  pillory. 

The  colonists  considered  the  preservation  of  horses  and  cattle  as  an 
object  of  primarv  importance;  and  the  superior  council  had  framed 
regulations  for  ihis  purpose,  as  well  as  for  the  propagation  of  these  animnk 
They  had  proved  ineffectual :  tfie  interposition  of  tne  royal  authority  had 
been  solicited,  and  by  an  edict  of  the  twenty-second  of  May,  the  punisli- 
ment  of  death  was  denounced  against  any  person  killing  or  wounding 
another's  horses  and  cattle.  The  killing  of  one's  own  cow  or  ewe,  or  the 
female  young  of  these  animals,  was  punished  by  a  fine  of  three  hundred 
livres. 

This  was  a  most  flagrant  instance  of  the  abuse  of  the  punishment  of 
death.  It  is  inflicted  for  the  wounding  of  an  animal ;  neither  does  the 
legislator  stop  to  distinguish  between  the  most  deadly  stroke  and  the 
slightest  solution  of  contiguity.  i 

In  no  period,  in  the  annals  of  Louisiana,  does  the  province  appear  to  | 
have  engrossed  so  much  legislative  attention.      Louis  the  fifteenth  had 
some  time  in  the  preceding  year,  reached  his  thirteenth,  declared  himself 
of  age,  and  assumed  the  government  of  his  dominions.      Happy  the  I 
country  when  legislation  is  never  confided  to  a  boy ;   happier  tnat,  in 
which  it  is  only  trusted  to  representatives  chosen  by  the  people,  and  foraj 
very  limited  period. 

Lachaise  and  Perrault,  lately  appointed  commissioners  to  examine ! 
make  a  report  concerning  the  agents  and  clerks  of   the  conipanv  it 
Louisiana,  reached  New  Orleans  in  the  fall,  with  two  capuchins.    Lachaise  | 
was  a  nephew  of  father  Francois  de  la  Chaise,  an  eminent  Jesuit,  v 
being  confessor  to  Louis  the  fourteenth,  had  the  firmness  to  withholiil 


iil)Holutio 
(■i'li'l>rate< 
rhilii) 
iiMiiiarcn 
to  HUpcrst 
alKlicatcd 
(dointer.    ' 
royal  nion 
and  Icavii 
nitli  renov 
sccotid  reif 
The  supt 
liy  Luchais 
Fa/cndc  ai 
Fleuriau  h 
Ifenerul,  an( 
With  the 
an  edict  oft 
monthly  sei 
or  twice  a  W( 
try  causes  ii 
hundred  livr 
The  pro  vis 
the  wants  of 
it  was,  findir 
iiiul  nn'ssioni 
treaty  with  tl 
By  this,  th 
the  niissionai 
hundred  livre 
was  dividetl  1 
The  Jesuits 
order  m  the 
missionary  in 
at  the  fort  on 
missionary  at 
whose  duty  i 
Chickasaws,  t( 
these  Indians  I 
whom  was  to 
not  to  be  alteri 
Father  Petitl 
to  reside  in  nJ 
there,  without  f 
.engaged  to  fj 
""■his  accomil 
puch  priests  of] 
The  order  wi 
ississippi,  wit 
Manters.  l 

The  Jesuits 
company,  and 


I1I8TOUY  OP   lAU'lHIANA. 


1 


O'} 


u'dicini' 
y. 

Urivatc 
ono  Clin 
nly,  it  if 
rmrv,  or 
nlUativcs 

initiKutc 
houlfi  U' 
hrovidont 
bcconnng 

ntH  of  tbc 
(l,entoro(l 
irnto8  nml 
gion  tliiin 
t  of  intol- 
jxerciHo  of 
(UrecU'tl  to 
r>k  code  for 

n  of  letters 
,  denouncod 
or  opening 
res,  and  tiie 
[1,  otherwise 


[cattle  as  an 
had  framed 
icse  animal?, 
ithority  had 
the  punisb- 
,r  wounding 
ir  ewe,  or  the 
iree  hundred 

nishment  of 
,her  does  tiie 
ike  and  the 

Ice  appear  to 
fefteenth  had 
fared  himself 
]  Happy  tiie 
kpier  that,  in 
pie,  and  for  a  I 

examine  s 
company  in 
ng.    Lachaisl 
It  Jesuit,  who.  I 
towithhoW 


tiliK(dutioii  from  his  royal   |)cnitent  till   hi;  uhan<loiu>«l  or   married   the 
rt'li'lirated  nuidame  dt'  Mainti'iion. 

Pliilip  the  fifth  of  Spain  ^avc  to  the  world  tho  rare  H)M'cta('lo  of  a 
niDnarcn  reliiiquishiii^  and  roaHHumiii^  a  crown  within  one  year.  A  on>y 
to  MUpcrntition,  mclaiuholy  and  Huspioion,  lu>  imitated  Charles  the  hrst; 
altdicati'd  the  throne  in  favor  of  Louis,  his  ohlcst  son,  and  retired  into  a 
Ilointer.  The  new  kin^;;  tlyi»K  a  few  months  after^  from  the  small  pox,  the 
rovul  monk  threw  oil' the  cowl,  with  the  same  facilitv  as  he  had  the  diadem, 
ami  Icavinj?  in  the  ronvent  his  su]^>erstition,  suspicions  and  melancholy, 
with  renovated  vigor,  successfully  directed  the  destinit^s  of  Spain  during  a 
st'cciiul  reign. 

The  superior  council  now  held  its  Bessions  in  New  Orleans,  i)r(!sidetl  t>ver 
liy  Lachaise,  who  had  succeeded  Duvergier  as  ordoiinateur.  lirusle.  Perry, 
Fazen<lc  and  Fleuriau  had  lately  been  called  to  seats  in  that  trilnmal. 
Fleuriau  had  succeeded  Cartier  de  la  fieaune  in  the  ofHce  of  attorney 
general,  and  Rossart  was  clerk  of  that  tribunal. 

With  the  view  of  providing  for  a  speedy  determination  of  small  suits, 
an  edict  of  the  month  of  December,  1725,  directed  that  indei)en<lently  of  the 
monthly  sessions  of  tho  council,  particular  ones  should  be  hidden,  once 
or  twice  a  week,  by  two  of  its  members,  chosen  and  removal  >le  by  it,  to 
trv  rauses  in  which  the  value  of  the  matter  in  dispute  did  not  exceed  one 
hundred  livres,  or  about  tweny-two  dollars. 

The  provision  lately  made  for  clergymen  having  proven  insufficient  for 
the  wants  of  the  colony,  and  the  bishop  of  Quebec,  within  whoso  diocese 
it  was,  finding  it  inconvenient  to  send  the  necessary  number  of  curates 
and  missionaries  to  the  upper  district,  the  company  entered  into  a  new 
treaty  with  the  Jesuits,  on  tlie  twentieth  of  February,  1726. 

By  this,  that  of  1724  was  annulled.  Father  Beaubois,  the  superior  of 
the  missionaries,  who  had  come  over  in  that  year,  was  allowed  eighteen 
hundred  livres  for  his  services,  and  a  gratification  of  three  thousand  livres 
wuB  divided  between  his  associates  for  their  past  services. 

The  Jesuits  engaged  to  keep  constantly,  at  least  fourteen  priests  of  their 
order  in  the  colony,  viz :  a  curate  and  missionary  at  Kaskaskias ;  a 
missionary  in  the  village  of  the  Brochigoinas ;  a  chaplain  and  missionary 
at  the  fort  on  the  Wabash ;  a  missionary  at  the  Arkansas  ;  a  chaplain  and 
missionary  at  fort  St.  Peter,  among  the  Yazous ;  another  missionary  there, 
whose  duty  it  was  to  endeavor  to  penetrate  into  the  country  of  the 
Chickasaw's,  to  propagate  the  Catholic  religion,  and  promote  union  between 
these  Indians  and  the  French  ;  two  missionaries  at  the  Alibamons,  one  of 
whom  was  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  Choctaws.  These  locations  were 
not  to  be  altered  without  the  governor's  consent. 

Father  Petit,  the  superior  of  the  Jesuits  in  the  province,  was  permitted 
to  reside  in  New  Orleans,  but  not  to  perform  any  ecclesiastical  functions 
there,  without  the  license  of  the  superior  of  the  Capuchins.  The  company 
engaged  to  furnish  him  with  a  chapel,  vestry  room,  and  a  house  and  lot 
for  his  accommodation,  that  of  a  missionary,  and  the  temporary  use  of 
such  priests  of  his  order  as  might  arrive  in  New  Orleans. 

The  order  was  to  have  a  grant  of  land  of  ten  arpents  in  front  on  the 
iMississippi,  with  the  ordinary  depth,  and  negroes,  on  the  same  terms  as  the 

lianters. 
The  Jesuits  were  to  be  conveyed  to  Louisiana  at  the  expense  of  the 

ompany,  and  a  yearly  salary  of  six  hundred  livres,  one  hundred  and 


/7^j 


^th 


'•">. 


M  ■'■i, 


^ 

mt 


-:•  U 


►:-3«a 


i ' 


liftm  jk") 


'\4 


156 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


thirty-three  dollars  and  thirty-three  cents,  was  to  be  paid  to  each,  with  an 
addition  of  two  hundred  livres,  forty-four  dollars  and   forty-four  cents 
during  each  of  the  first  five  years ;  every  missionary  was  to  have  an  outfit 
of  four  hundred  and  fifty  livres,  or  one  hundred  dollars  and  a  chapel. 

Money  or  goods  were  furnished  at  each  mission  for  building  a  church 
and  presbytery. 

Jesuit  lay  brothers  were  to  receive  their  passage,  and  a  gratification  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty  livres,  thirty-three  dollars  and  thirty-three  cents 
but  no  salary. 

The  churches  and  presbyteries,  built  at  Kaskaskias  and  the  village  of 
the  Michigourras,  were  given  to  the  order. 

The  treaty  received  the  king's  approbation  on  the  seventeenth  of  Augu 

Similar  arrangements  were  made  with  the  Capuchins,  those  with  the 
Carmelites  having  been  annulled. 

All  the  lower  part  of  the  province  was  put  under  the  ecclesiastical  care 
of  the  Capuchins.  Father  Bruno,  their  superior  in  Louisiana,  received  the 
appointment  of  vicar-general  of  the  bishop  of  Quebec.  A  convent  was  built 
for  them  in  New  Orleans,  on  the  square,  immediately  below  the  church. 
The  superior,  aided  by  two  monks  as  his  vicars,  acted  as  curate  of  the 
parish ;  a  third  was  chaplain  to  the  military  force  in  New  Orleans,  and 
another  at  the  Balize.  Curates  were  stationed  at  Mobile  and  Biloxi,  the 
German  coast  and  Natchitoches. 

For  the  purpose  of  providing  for  the  education  of  young  girls  and  the 
care  of  the  hospital,  the  company  entered  into  an  agreement  with  sisters 
Marie  Francoise  Tranchepain  St.  Augustine  and  Mary  Ann  Le  Boulanger, 
St.  Angelique,  Ursuline  nuns  of  the  convent  of  Rouen,  on  the  thirteenth 
of  September,  by  which  these  ladies,  assisted  by  mother  Catherine 
Bruscoli  of  St.  Amand,  undertook  to  pass  over  to  Louisiana  with  several 
other  nuns  of  their  order.  The  company  engaged  to  provide  for  the 
wants  of  the  hospital,  and  the  subsistence  and  maintenance  of  the  nuns. 
The  king  gave  his  assent  to  this  arrangement  on  the  eighteenth  of  August. 

During  the  fall,  Perrier,  a  lieutenant  of  the  king's  ships,  having  been 
appointed  commandant  general  of  Louisiana,  reached  New  Orleans,  and 
snortly  after  Bienville  sailed  for  France.  We  have  seen  that  in  1698  he 
came  over  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  with  Iberville,  his  brother ;  he  was  then 
a  midshipman;  and  four  years  after  he  succeeded  Sauvolle,  another 
brother,  in  the  chief  command  of  the  province,  which  with  little 
interruption  he  exercised  till  this  period. 

George  the  first,  of  great  Britain,  died  on  the  eleventh  of  June,  1727,  in 
his  sixty-seventh  year,  and  was  succeeded  by  George  the  second,  his 
eldest  son. 

The  Jesuits  and  Ursuline  nuns  arrived  this  summer  in  a  company  ship. 
The  fathers  were  placed  on  a  tract  of  land  immediately  above  the  city, 
which  is  now  the  lowest  part  of  the  suburb  St.  Mary.    A  house  and  chapel 
were  erected  on  it  for  their  use.    They  improved  the  front  of  their  land 
by  a  plantation  of  the  myrtle  wax-shrub.    The  nuns  were  for  the  present 
lodged  in  town,  in  a  house  on  the  northern  corner  of   Chartres  a 
Bienville  streets,  but  the  company  soon  after  laid  the  foundation  of  a  very  j 
large  edifice  for  a  nunnery,  in  the  lowest  square  on  the  levee.    The  ladies  | 
removed  to  it  in  the  latter  part  of  1730,  and  occupied  it  until  1824. 
was   till  the    construction  of  the  new  convent  the  largest   house  in  | 
Louisiana.    A  military  hospital  was  built  near  it. 


A  goveri 

the  Jesuit.' 

Iwlow  the  ( 

in  1818,  Xh 

and  the  oh 

Barracks 

the  cathedi 

were  built  < 

The  land 

to  annual 

Mississippi 

midway  bet 

of  the  ienerf 

the  third  frc 

small  one,  w 

the  street,  so 

this  way  a  c 

In  the  beg 

poor  girls  sh] 

whom  it  had 

had  supplied 

articles  of  ck 

from  those  wl 

Till  they  coul 

of  the  nuns. 

To  the  culti 
fig  tree  had 
Hispaniola. 
land,  which  h 
to  be  regarded 
l»en  paid  to  s 
I  "'hich  they  h 
confusion  litig 
I  the  king's  coui 
,    AH  orders  oi 
w)ui8iana,  bef( 
and  followed  b 
J    Landholders 
declaration  of  I 
I  senior  member] 
Ipenaltyof  afiii 
to  comply  witlJ 

I  to  others.  f 

Grants  of  ml 
iississippi,  bell 
fn  cases,  m  whil 
Ifecessary  to  hal 
■beterprotectioi 
i  Lands,  therefl 


vith  an 
•  cents, 
n  outfit 
pel. 
,  church 

ition  of 
ee  cents, 

illage  of 

;  Augv  .. 
with  the 

itical  care 
leived  the 
was  built 
le  church, 
ate  of  the 
leans,  and 
Biloxi,  the 

rls  and  the 
vith  sisters 
Boulanger, 
:  thirteenth 

Catherine 
ith  several 
ide  for  the 

the  nuns. 

of  August, 
laving  been 

(rleans,  and 
in  1698  he 

ie  was  then 

[le,  another 

with  little 


ine 


..   ,1727,in 
1  second,  his 

ipany  ship. 
Ive  the  city, 
_  and  chapel 
If  their  land 
the  present 
thartres  and 
Ion  of  a  very 
The  ladies 
Itil  1824.  ft 
[st  house  IB 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


157 


A  government  house  was  erected  immediately  below  the  plantation  of 
the  Jesuits,  and  two  very  long  warehouses  were  built  in  the  two  squares 
ImjIow  the  church,  on  the  levee ;  one  of  them  was  nearly  consumed  by  fire 
in  1818,  the  other  is  now  occupied  by  the  United  States.  This  building 
and  the  old  convent  are  probably  the  two  oldest  edifices  in  the  state. 

Barracks  were  built  on  each  side  of  the  place  d'armes,  the  square  fronting 
the  cathedral.  A  house  for  the  sessions  of  the  superior  council  and  a  jail, 
were  built  on  the  square  immediately  above  the  church. 

The  land  on  which  the  city  stands,  till  protected  by  a  levee,  was  subject 
to  annual  inundations,  and  a  perfect  quagmire.  The  waters  of  the 
Mississippi  and  those  of  the  lakes  met,  at  a  high  ridge  formed  by  them, 
midway  between  the  bayou  St.  John  and  New  Orleans,  called  the  highland 
of  the  lepers.  To  drain  the  city  a  wide  ditch  was  dug  in  Bourbon  street, 
the  third  from  and  parallel  to  the  river ;  each  lot  was  surrounded  by  a 
small  one,  which  was  in  course  of  time  filled  up,  except  the  part  fronting 
the  street,  so  that  every  square  instead  of  every  lot,  was  ditched  in.  In 
this  way  a  convenient  space  was  drained. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  winter,  a  company  ship  brought  a  number  of 
poor  girls  shipped  by  the  company.  They  had  not  been  taken,  as  those 
whom  it  had  transported  before,  in  the  houses  of  correction  of  Paris.  It 
had  supplied  each  of  them  with  a  small  box,  cassette,  containing  a  few 
articles  of  clothing.  From  this  circumstance,  and  to  distinguish  them 
from  those  who  had  preceded  them,  they  were  called  the  girls  de  la  cassette. 
Till  they  could  be  disposed  of  in  marriage,  they  remained  under  the  care 
of  the  nuns. 

To  the  culture  of  rice  and  tobacco,  that  of  indigo  was  now  added ;  the 
fig  tree  had  been  introduced  from  Provence,  and  the  orange  from 
Hispaniola.  A  considerable  number  of  negroes  had  been  introduced,  and 
lana,  which  hitherto  had  been  considered  as  of  but  little  value,  began 
to  be  regarded  as  of  great  relative  importance.  Much  attention  had  not 
been  paid  to  securing  titles ;  much  less  to  a  compliance  with  the  terms  on 
which  they  had  been  granted.  This  began  to  create  confusion,  and 
confusion  litigation :  for  the  purpose  of  stopping  this  evil,  in  its  beginning, 
the  king's  council  published  an  edict  on  the  tenth  of  August,  1728. 

All  orders  of  the  directors  of  the  company  in  France,  issued  to  those  in 
I  Louisiana,  before  the  last  of  December,  1723,  not  presented  to  the  latter 
and  followed  by  possession  and  the  required  improvement,  were  annulled. 
Landholders  were  required  to  exnibit  their  titles,  and  to  make  a 
declaration  of  the  quantity  of  land  claimed  and  improved  by  them,  to  the 
senior  member  of  the  superior  council,  within  a  limited  time,  under  the 
penalty  of  a  fine  of  two  hundred  dollars,  and  in  case  of  continued  neglect, 
I  to  comply  with  these  requisites,  the  land  was  to  be  resumed  and  granted 
1  to  others. 
Grants  of  more  than  twenty  arpents  in  front,  on  either  side  of  the 
lississippi,  below  bayou  Mansnac,  were  to  be  reduced  to  that  front,  except 
[in  cases,  in  which  the  whole  front  had  been  improved ;  it  was  thought 
Inecessary  to  have  a  denser  population  above  and  below  the  city,  for  its 
"^tter  protection  and  security. 

Lands,  therefore  granted,  were  required  to  be  improved,  by  one-third  of 
fhe  quantity  in  front  being  put  in  a  state  to  be  ploughed  and  cultivated ; 
i)ut  the  two  chief  officers  of  the  colon;'  were  authorized,  on  application,  to 


:ti!i!'! 


itta.  '^hM^'H 


i^  P 


mm. 


158 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


make  exceptions  in  favor  of  such  landholders  who  having  large  herds  of 
cattle,  kept  their  land  in  pasture. 

The  depth  of  every  grant  was  fixed  at  between  twenty  and  one  hundred 
arpents,  according  to  its  situation. 

The  company,  as  lords  of  all  the  land  in  the  province,  were  authorized  to 
levy  a  quit  rent  of  a  sou  (a  cent)  on  every  arpent,  cultivated  or  not,  and 
five  livres  on  every  negro,  to  enable  it  to  build  churches,  glebes  and 
hospitals. 

Grantees  were  restrained  from  aliening  their  land  until  they  had  made 
the  requisite  improvements. 

Hunting  and  fishing  were  permitted ;  provided  no  damage  was  done  to 
plantations  and  enclosures,  and  no  exclusive  right  thereto  was  to  be 
granted. 

The  company  were  empowered  to  grant  the  right  of  patronage,  to 
persons  binding  themselves  to  build  and  endow  churches. 

At  the  departure  of  Bienville,  the  colony  had  made  verv  rapid  strides, 
and  reached,  in  comparison  to  preceding  years,  a  very  nigh  degree  of 
relative  prosperity.  During  the  short  space  of  eleven  years,  since  it  passed 
under  the  care  of  the  company,  agriculture  had  engaged  the  attention  of 
European  capitalists ;  eignteen  hundred  negroes  had  been  introduced  from 
Africa,  and  twenty-five  hundred  redemptioners  brought  over ;  the  military 
force  was  increased  to  upwards  of  eight  hundred  men.  But  the  moment 
was  approaching  when  Louisiana  was  to  receive  a  verv  severe  check, 
which  was  to  cause  her  to  retrograde,  as  fast  as  she  had  aavanced.  In  the 
concerns  of  communities,  as  in  those  of  individuals,  the  tide  of  prosperity 
does  not  always  flow  uninterruptedly ;  adversity  often  causes  it  to  ebb. 
and  a  change  of  fortune  is  often  experienced,  at  the  moment  a  reverse 
appears  less  to  be  dreaded. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

The  Chickasaws  instigated,  as  French  writers  urge,  bv  the  English  of 
Carolina,  now  meditated  the  total  ruin  of  Louisiana,  and  the  destruction 
of  every  white  individual  in  it.  They  had  carefully  concealed  their  design 
from  the  Illinois,  the  Arkansas  and  the  Tunicas,  whose  attachment  to  the 
French  they  knew  to  be  unshakeable.  All  the  other  tribes  had  been 
engaged  in  the  plot.  Each  was  to  fall  on  the  settlement  of  the  Frenciii 
designated  to  it,  and  the  attacks  were  to  be  simultaneous.  Even  tiie 
Choctaws,  the  most  numerous  nation  in  the  neighborhood  and  that  on 
whom  the  French  placed  the  greatest  reliance,  had  been  gained  though 
partially  only. 

Their  villages  were  divided  into  two  distinct  settlements.  The  eastern 
or  the  great,  and  western  or  the  little  nation.  The  former  had  refused 
to  join  in  the  conspiracy ;  but  they  kept  it  secret,  till  it  would  have  been 
too  late  to  have  warded  off  the  blow,  if^it  had  been  struck  at  the  time. 

Perrier  was  informed  that  these  Indians  had  some  misunderstanding  | 
with  Diron  d'Artaguette  (the  son  of  the  former  commissary  ordonnateur)  i 
successor,  in  the  command  of  Fort  Conde  of  Marigny  de  Mandeville,  who 
had  died  during  the  preceding  year,  after  having  received  the  appointment 


rds  of 

mdred 

rized  to 
)t,  and 
68  and 

1  made 

done  to 
i8  to  be 

nage,  to 

I  strides, 
egree  of 
it  passed 
intion  of 
jced  from 
e  military 
[  moment 
ire  check, 
d.    In  the 
prosperity 
it  to  ebb. 
a  reverse 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


159 


English  of 
destruction 

[heir  design 
iwenttothe 

had  been 
the  French 

Even  the 
ind  that  on 
lied  though 

iThe  eastern 
lad  refused 
have  been 
10  time. 
Iderstanding  | 
rdonnateui) 
Seville,  vhol 
ippointment  | 


of  Major  General  of  the  troops.  He  therefore  desired  the  attendance  of  the 
head  men  of  every  village  oi  both  nations,  at  New  Orleans. 

In  this  interview,  he  succeeded  in  removing  all  grounds  of  complaint. 
The  head  men  of  the  western  villages  left  him  determined  to  break  the 
promise  they  had  given  to  the  Chickasaws  to  fall  on  the  settlement  of 
Mobile,  but  equally  so  to  deceive  him  and  have  the  part,  that  had  been 
cast  off  to  them  in  the  dire  tragedy,  performed  bv  the  Natchez,  in  the  hope 
of  reaping  a  double  advantage  from  the  French,  for  their  assistance ;  in 
the  pillage  made  on,  and  the  prisoners  taken  from  the  Natchez,  whose 
discomfiture  they  considered  as  certain. 

Perrier  had  been  sensible,  from  his  arrival  in  the  colony,  of  the  necessity 
ot  strengthening  distant  posts.  The  province  had  indeed  many  forts ;  but 
none  of  any  importance,  except  that  of  Mobile.  The  others  were  heaps  of 
rotten  timber,  and  hardly  one  of  them  was  garrisoned  by  more  than  twenty 
men.  He  had  frequently  represented  his  dangerous  situation  to  the 
company  and  solicited  a  reinforcement  of  two  or  three  hundred  men.  His 
fears  had  been  considered  as  chimerical.  It  was  thought  he  desired  only 
to  increase  his  command,  or  sought  to  embroil  the  colony  in  war,  in  order 
to  display  his  skill  in  terminating  it. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  execution  of  the  plan  of  the  Chickasaws  had 
Iteen  abandoned  or  delayed.  Perhaps  they  nad  discovered  symptoms  of 
defection,  in  the  behavior  of  the  Choctaws.  The  indiscretion  and  ill 
conduct  of  Chepar,  who  commanded  at  Fort  Rosalie  in  the  country  of  the 
Natchez,  induced  these  Indians  to  become  principals,  instead  of  auxiliaries 
in  the  havoc. 

This  officer,  coveting  a  tract  of  land  in  the  possession  of  one  of  the  chiefs, 
had  used  menaces  to  induce  him  to  surrender  it,  and  unable  to  intimidate 
the  sturdy  Indian,  had  resorted  to  violence.  The  nation  to  whom  the 
commandant's  conduct  had  rendered  him  obnoxious,  took  part  with  its 
injured  member — and  revenge  was  determined  on.  The  suns  sat  in  council 
to  devise  means  of  annoyance,  and  determined  not  to  confine  chastisement 
to  the  offender ;  but  having  secured  the  co-operation  of  all  the  tribes  hostile 
to  the  French,  to  effect  the  total  overthrow  of  the  settlement,  murder  all 
white  men  in  it,  and  reduce  the  women  and  children  to  slavery.  Messengers 

were  accordingly  sent  to  all  the  villages  of  the  Natchez  and  the  tribes  in 

their  alliance,  to  induce  them  to  get  themselves  ready  and  come  on  a  given 
I  day  to  begin  the  slaughter.  For  this  purpose,  bundles  of  an  ec^ual  number 
I  of  sticks  were  prepared  and  sent  to  every  village  with  directions  to  take 
j  out  a  stick  every  day,  after  that  of  the  new  moon,  and  the  attack  was  to 
I  be  on  that,  on  which  the  last  stick  was  taken  out. 

This  matter  was  kept  a  profound  secret  among  the  chiefs  and  the  Indians 
j  employed  by  them,  and  particular  care  was  taken  to  conceal  it  from  the 


women.  One  of  the  female  suns,  however,  soon  discovered  that  a 
momentous  measure,  of  which  she  was  not  informed,  was  on  foot.  Leading 
lone  of  her  sons  to  a  distant  and  retired  spot,  in  the  woods,  she  upbraided 
Ihim  with  his  want  of  confidence  in  his  mother,  and  artfully  drew  from 
jhim  the  details  of  the  intended  attack.  The  bundle  of  sticks  for  her  village 
Ihadbeen  deposited  in  the  temple,  and  to  the  keeper  of  it,  the  care  had 
jheen  entrusted  of  taking  out  a  stick  daily.  Having  from  her  rank  access 
|to  the  fane  at  all  times,  she  secretly,  and  at  different  moments,  detached 
|one  or  two  sticks  and  then  threw  tnem  into  the  sacred  fire.  Unsatisfied 
ifith  this,  she  gave  notice  of  the  impending  danger  to  an  officer  of   the 


m4i^'^ 


f^'  -a 


r    I 


"W^ 


160 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


Sarrison,  in  whom  she  placed  confidence.      But  the  information  was  either 
isbelieved  or  disregarded. 

An  accidental  circumstance  concurred  to  destroy  the  intended  concert 
by  hastening  the  attack  without  preventing  its  success.  In  the  latter  part 
of  November,  1729,  several  boats  reached  the  landing  from  New  Orleans 
loaded  with  a  considerable  qaantity  of  goods,  provisions  and  ammunition! 
Deceived  by  the  artifice  of  the  female  sun,  or  tempted  by  the  arrival  of  the 
boat,  the  Natchez  in  the  neighborhood  determined  on  a  sudden  attack 
before  the  day  that  had  been  designated. 

For  this  purpose,  a  number  of  them  equal  to  that  of  the  French  in  the 
fort  and  on  the  two   grants,  went  into  these  places,  while  another  party 

{)retending  th?y  were  preparing  for  a  great  hunting  expedition,  asked  the 
oan  of  a  few  pieces  and  offered  to  pay  for  some  powder  and  shot.  Thev 
bartered,  in  this  way,  a  quantity  of  corn  and  fowls.  A  supply  being  thus 
obtained,  the  attack  was  begun  at  nine  o'clock,  each  Indian  among  the 
French  falling  on  his  man.  Before  noon,  upwards  of  two  hundred  of  the 
latter  were  massacred,  ninety-two  women  and  one  hundred  and  fifty-five 
children  were  made  prisoners. 

The  principal  persons  who  then  fell  were  Chepar,  the  commandant, 
Laloire,  the  principal  agent  of  the  company  in  the  post,  Kollys  father  and 
son,  who  having  purchased  Hubert's  grant,  on  St.  Catharine  Creek,  had 
just  arrived  to  talce  possession  of  it,  Bailly,  Cordere,  Desnoyers,  Longpre, 
and  father  Poisson,  the  Jesuit,  missionary  of  the  Yazous,  who  wa? 
accidentally  there.  Two  white  men  only  were  spared  ;  a  carpenter  and  a 
tailor — the  Indians  imagining  they  might  be  useful.  No  injury  was  done 
to  any  negro. 

During  the  massacre,  the  great  sun  with  apparent  unconcern,  smoked 
his  pipe,  in  the  company's  warehouse.  His  men  bringing  the  heads  ofthe 
officers,  placed  that  of  Chepar  near  him,  and  those  of  the  rest  around  it. 
Their  bodies  and  those  of  the  other  Frenchmen  were  left,  the  prey  of 
vermin  and  buzzards. 

The  savage  foe  ripped  open  the  bellies  of  pregnant  women,  and  killed 
those  who  had  young  children,  whose  cries  importuned  them. 

As  soon  as  the  Great  Sun  was  informed  there  did  not  remain  a  vhite  | 
man  alive,  except  the  carpenter  and  tailor,  he  ordered  the  pillage  to  be„ 
The  warehouse,  fort,  dwelling  houses  and  the  boats  were  ransacked ;  the  I 
negroes  being  employed  in  bringing  out  the  plunder.    It  was  immediately 
divided,  except  the  arms  and  ammunitions  which  were  kept  for  public  use.  i 

As  long  as  the  liquor  lasted,  the  nights  were  spent  in  gambols  and 
carousing,  and  the  days  in  barbarous  and  indecent  insults  on  the  mangled  j 
bodies  of  the  victims. 

Two  soldiers  who  were  accidentally  in  the  woods  during  the  tragedy. 
heard  of  it  on  their  way  back,  and  set  off"  by  land  to  carry  the  sad  tidingnj 
of  it  to  New  Orleans.  Perishing  with  hunger,  fatigue  and  cold,  they  I 
approached  late  at  night,  during  a  heavy  rain,  a  cabin,  from  which  theirl 
ears  were  saluted  with  the  yells  of  Indians ;  they  determined  on  entering  I 
it,  rather  than  to  remain  exposed  during  the  rest  of  the  night  to  the! 
pelting  tempest,  and  were  agreeably  surprised  to  find  themselves  with  a| 
party  of  Yazous,  returning  from  a  friendly  visit  to  the  Oumas.  ( 

They  were  supplied  with  a  pirogue,  blankets  and  provisions  and  I 
requested  to  assure  Perrier  the  Yazous  would  ever  remain  steadfast  in  theirl 


HISTORY  OK   LOUISIANA. 


161 


i8  either 

concert, 
tter  part 
Orleans, 
mnition. 
al  of  the 
n  attack, 

ich  in  the 
ler  party 
asked  the 
ot.  They 
leing  thus 
imong  the 
[red  of  the 
,d  fifty-five 

nmandant, 
father  and 
Creek,  had 
s,  Longpre, 
J,  who  was 
enter  and  a 
:y  was  done 

jrn,  smoked 

heads  ofthe 

gt  around  it. 

the  prey  of 

1,  and  killed 

lain  a  v?hit« 
ige  to  begin, 
isacked ;  the 
I  immediately 
jr  public  use. 
[gambols  and 
'the  mangled 

the  traeedy. 

Je  sad  tiding? 

Id  cold,  they  I 

which  theirl 

on  entering! 

[night  to  the  I 

Helves  with  aj 

ks. 

j-ovisions 
idfastintheiij 


friendship  for  the  French,  that  they  would  proceed  up  the  river  and  warn 
every  white  man  they  should  meet  of  the  impending  danger. 

This  humane  disposition,  however,  vanished  when  on  their  reaching 
the  Natchez,  presents  were  made  them  of  a  part  of  the  spoil.  They 
sutfered  themselves  to  be  prevailed  on  to  imitate  the  latter. 

Father  Soulet,  the  missionary  of  the  Natchez,  was  returning  from  an 
excursion  in  the  woods,  when  he  was  shot  near  his  cabin.  His  negro 
attempted  to  prevent  the  pillage  of  his  goods ;  but  the  Indians  immediately 
ilis])atohed  him. 

They  proceeded,  on  the  next  day,  to  Fort  St.  Peter,  of  the  Yazous. 
There  were  but  fourteen  men  in  it  under  the  orders  of  the  Chevalier  des 
Roches.  They  were  massacred  with  their  chief.  Two  women  and  five 
children  were  carried  into  slavery. 

Some  of  the  Indians  had  put  on  the  chaplain's  clothes  and  even  the 
sacerdotal  vestments.  These  headed  their  countrymen  back  to  the  village 
(if  the  Natchez,  who  soon  discovered  from  the  fantastic  dress  and  gestures 
of  the  Yazous,  that  they  had  imitated  their  example  and  destroyed  every 
white  man  among  them. 

Father  Doutrelau,  the  missionary  of  the  Arkansas,  availing  himself  of 

the  leisure  of  the  hunting  season,  to  make  a  trip  to  New  Orleans,  was 

descending  the  river  having  left  his  mission  on  new  year's   day.      He 

intended  to  stop  and  say  mass  at  father  Soulet's,  of  whose  death  he  was 

1  ignorant ;  »but  being  unable  to  arrive  in  time,  he  had  stopped  at  the  mouth 

i  of  the  little  river  of  the  Yazous,  and   begun  his  arrangements  for  the 

celebrating  of  the  holy  mysteries.    He  was   dressing  his  altar  when  a 

nirogue  full  of  Indians  approached.    On  being  hailed  they  answered  they 

jvvie  Yazous  and  friends  of  the  French.    They  came  ashore  and  shook 

hands  with  the  holy  man  and  his  companions.     A  flock  of  ducks  passing 

over,  the  father's  fellow    travellers  fired  at  them  without  taking  the 

I  precaution  of  reloading  their  pieces;  this  imprudence  did  not  escape  the 

[attention  of  the  Indians,  who  placed  themselves  behind  them,  as  if 

[intending  to  join  in  their  devotions.    The  first  psalm  was  hardly  finished 

[Wore  a  discharge  of  the  pieces  of  the  Indians  wounded  the  father  in  the 

and  killed  one  of  the  men  who  were  waiting  on  him.    The  other 


larm, 

[Frenchmen,  seeing  their  companion  dead  and  the  father  wounded,  imagined 
[lie  liad  met  the  same  fate,  fled  to  their  pirogue ;  but,  his  wound  being  a 
Itlesh  one  only,  he  soon  rose  and  running  to  the  river  with  the  sacerdotal 
pstments  oii,  got  on  board.  The  Indians  fired  again ;  one  of  the  men 
nad  his  thigh  broke  and  the  father  received  another  small  injury. 

The  pirogue  was  drifting;  the  Indians,  running  along  the  shore, 
fontinued  their  fire,  but  without  doing  any  more  mischief.  The  French 
popped,  as  soon  as  they  were  out  of  the  reach  of  a  ball,  to  wash  the 
pounds  of  their  men,  ana  then  pushed  for  the  settlement  of  the  Natchez. 
On  their  arrival,  seeing  the  houses  burnt  or  thrown  down,  they  did  not 
lufi'er  themselves  to  be  prevailed  on  to  land,  by  the  invitation  of  the 
Indians  who  hailed  them,  and  soon  substituted  the  fire  of  their  arms  to 
lie  calls  of  friendship  and  hospitality.  They  determined  on  avoiding 
per  shore,  till  they  reached  ^^ew  Orleans,  and  began  to  apprehend  that 
I  their  arrival  there  they  would  find  it  necessary  to  drift  to  the  Balize. 
In  the  event  of  the  dire  catastrophe,  which  began  at  the  Yazous,  having 
Vtinued  down  to  the  lower  settlement  on  the  river,  they  hoped  to  find, 
i  board  of  the  shipping,  some  person  escaped  from  the  general  massacre. 


•a>*,/*Jj 


i*|t     -i 


162 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


As  they  approached  bayou  Tunica,  they  rowed  close  to  the  opposite 
shore,  l)ut  wijre  discovered,  and  a  pirogue  left  the  landing  to  reconnoitre 
them.  They  pulled  faster,  but  it  gained  on  them :  on  hearing  French 
spoken  on  board,  joy  succeeded  to  alarm.  Crossing  the  stream  with  their 
countrymen,  they  .soon  found  themselves  in  the  middle  of  a  small  force 
gathered  from  Pointe  Coupee,  Baton  Rouge  and  Manshac.  They  were 
friendly  received  :  surgeons  attended  their  wounds,  and  all  were  accom- 
modated with  room,  in  a  large  and  commodious  boat  that  was  going  to 
New  Orleans  for  provisions. 

As  soon  as  information  of  the  massacre  reached  the  city,  Perrier 
dispatched  one  of  the  company  ships  that  were  in  the  colony,  to  France, 
for  troo))S  and  succor.  He  sent  couriers  to  the  Illinois,  by  Red  river  and 
to  Mobile,  the  Choctaws  and  the  country  watered  by  the  Tennessee  ami 
Kentucky  rivers,  on  the  other  side.  Emissaries  went  also  to  the  Indian 
tribes  in  alliance  with  the  French.  Every  house  in  the  city,  and  the 
plantations  near  it,  was  sunplied  with  arms  and  ammunition  out  of  the 
company's  magazine,  ancl  the  two  remaining  ships  were  directed  h 
proceed  as  far  as  bayou  Tunica,  for  the  reception  and  safety  of  women  and 
children  in  the  last  extremity.  The  city  was  surrounded  by  a  wide  ditch. 
and  guards  were  put  at  each  corner.  There  were  then  small  forts  at  the 
Tchapitoulas,  Cannes  Brulees,  the  German  Coast,  Manshac  and  Pointe 
Coupee. 

Perrier  had  collected  about  three  hundred  soldiers ;   having  sent  for 
those  at  Fort  St.  Louis  and  Fort  Conde.      Three  hundred  men  of  the  | 
militia  had  joined  this  force,  and  he  was  preparing  to  march  at  their  head 
when  it  was   discovered  that  the   negroes   on  the  plantations  evinced 
symptoms  of  an  intention  of  joining  the  Indians  against  their  masters,  in 
the  hope  of  obtaining  their  liberty,  as  some  had  done  at  the  Natchez. 
There  were  then  nearly  two  thousand  blacks  in  the  colony,  a  number  equal  i 
to  one-half  of  the  French,  but  the  most  of  them  were  in  or  at  a  short  i 
distance  above  the  city,  where  their  numbers  perhaps  preponderated  over 
that  of  the  French.      The  company  had  a  gang  of  two  hundred  and  sixty  | 
on  their  plantation,  and  there  were  less,  but  yet  very  considerable  gangs 
on   some  of  the  principal   grants.      A  few   parties   of  vagrant  Indian?  | 
were  hovering    around  the  city,  and  greatly  excited  the  alarms  of  its 
inhabitants.     Perrier,  therefore,  gave  the  command  of  this  small  array  to  I 
the  chevalier  de  Loubois,  and  sent  onwards  an  officer  of  the  name  of 
Mispleix,   to  procure  information  of  the  strength  and  motions  of  the  I 
enemy. 

Lessuer,  who  had  gone  to  the  Choctaws,  collected  seven  hundred  warriors| 
of  that  nation  and  led  them  across  the  country. 

Mispleix  landed  at  the  Natchez  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  January,  withl 
five  men.  The  Indians  had  noticed  the  approach  of  this  small  party ;  tliejl 
fired  on  it  and  killed  three  men  and  made  Mispleix  and  the  other  tffo| 
prisoners. 

Loubois  was  advancing ;  his  force  had  been  swelled  at  bayou  Tunica  bjj 
the  militia  of  Manshac,  Baton  Rouge  and  Pointe  Coupee  and  a  few  Indians.! 
The  Natchez,  apprised  of  this  by  their  runners,  dispatched  some  of  their| 
chiefs  to  meet,  and  offer  peace  to  Loubois. 

Their  pretensions   were  high ;    they  required  that  Broutin,  who  IwJl 
before  been  in  command  at  Fort  Rosalie,  and  the   principal  chief  of  1 
Tunica  Indians  should  be  sent  as  hostages.    They  demanded  forthel 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


1«8 


opposite 
onnoitre 
;  French 
'ith  their 
iivU  force 
hey  were 
e  acconi- 
i  going  to 

^,  Perricr 
to  France, 
river  luvl 
lessee  and 
the  Indian 
y.  and  the 
out  of  the 
iirected  to 
women  and 
wide  ditch, 
forts  at  the 
and  Pointe 

ing  sent  for 
men  of  the 

it  their  head 

ons  evinced 

,r  masters,  in 
,he  Natchez. 
umber  equal  I 
or  at  a  short 
derated  ovei 
ed  and  sixty 
erable  gangs 
ant  Indians 
Aarms  of  its 
mall  army  to 
the  name  of  I 
tions  of  tlie| 

idred  warriors! 

January,  with 
[ll  party;  they 
Ithe  other  tw«| 

/ou  Tunica  by 

[a  few  Indians. 

some  of  then 

Itin,  who  hail 
xl  chief  of 
landed  fovtH 


ransom  of  the  women  and  children  in  their  possession,  two  hundred  barrels 
of  powder,  two  thousand  flints,  four  thousand  weight  of  balls,  two  hundred 
knives  and  as  many  axes,  hoes,  shirts,  coats,  pieces  of  linen  and  ginghams, 
twenty  coats  laced  on  every  seam,  and  as  many  laced  hats  with  plumes, 
twenty  barrels  of  brandy,  and  as  many  of  wine.  /  Their  intention  was  to 
have  murdered  the  men,  coming  up  with  these  goods. 

On  the  day  after  the  departure  of  these  chiefs,  they  burnt  Mispleix  and 
his  two  companions. 

Losueur,  with  his  Choctaw  force,  which  on  the  way  had  been  increased 
to  twelve  hundred,  arrived  on  the  twenty -eighth,  in  the  evening.  Runners, 
whom  he  had  sent  ahead,  met  him  with  the  information,  that  the  Natchez 
were  not  at  all  aware  of  his  approach,  quite  out  of  their  guard,  and 
spending  their  time  in  dancing  and  carousing.  The  intelligence  soon 
spreading  in  Lwubow'  camp,  he  was  absolutely  unable  to  retain  his  Indians, 
lis  he  was  ordered  to  do,  until  he  was  joined  by  Loubois,  with  the  army 
from  New  Orleans. 

At  daybreak  on  the  twenty-ninth,  the  Choctaws,  in  spite  of  their  leader's 
entreaties,  fell  on  the  Natchez,  and  after  a  conflict  of  about  three  hours, 
brought  away  sixty  scalps  and  eighteen  prisoners — they  liberated  the 
carpenter  and  tailor,  with  fifty-one  women  and  children,  and  one  hundred 
ana  six  negroes.  They  had  only  two  men  killed  and  eight  wounded. 
.\fter  the  battle  they  encamped  on  St.  Catharine's  Creek. 

The  issue  of  this  attacic  inspired  the  Natchez  with  terror.  They 
upbraided  the  Choctaws  for  their  perfidy  and  treachery ;  attesting  their 
solemn  promise  to  join  in  the  conspiracy  and  afford  their  aid,  in  the  total 
destruction  of  the  French. 

Loubois  came  up  on  the  eighth  of  February.    The  six  hundred  men  of 

the  regular  force  and  militia,   he   had  taken  at  New  Orleans,  had  been 

joined  on  the  way  to  bayou  Tunica  by  one  hundred  others,  and  had  found 

there  two  hundred  French ;  and  three  hundred  Indians   of  the  Oumas, 

Chetimachas  and  Tunicas  had  joined  the   army  on  its  march  to  the 

iXatchez,  so  that  it  consisted  of  upwards  of  fourteen  hundred  men  mostly 

Iwhite. 

The  impatiences  and  indocility  of  the  friendly  Indians,  the  now  great 

elative  number  of  the  red  people,  the  fatigue  of  the  march,  the  scarcity  of 

immunition,  which  the  Indians  either  wasted  or  purloined,  the  strong 

resistance  of  the  Natchez,  who  had  entrenched  themselves  and  fought  like 

fiesperadoes,  induced  Loubois,  on  the  seventh  day  after  the  opening  of  the 

trenches,  to  listen  to  the  proposals  of  the  besieged,  who  threatened,  if  he 

rsisted,  to  burn  the  white  women  and  children  still  in  their  possession, 

md  offered  to  surrender  them,  if  the  eleven  field  pieces  he  had   were 

ithdrawn.    There   were    not  in  the  whole  army  one  man  that  could 

lanage  them,  and  the  only  hope  entertained  of  them  was,  that  they  might 

are  the  Indians. 

On  the  twenty-fifth,  the  terms  were  accepted ;  and  all  the  prisoners  being 
nt  to  Loubois'  camp,  the  army  moved  to  the  bluff  and  erected  a  small 
irt  to  keep  the  Indians  in  awe,  and  protect  the  navigation  of  the  river. 
Loubois  deemed  it  necessary,  before  the  departure  of  the  army,  to  make 
example  of  three  of  the  negroes,  who  had  been  the  most  active  and 
krward  in  inducing  the  rest  to  join  the  Natchez.  They  were  accordingly 
Vlivered  to  the  Choctaws,  who  burnt  them  with  a  cruelty  that  inspired 


,AV<»ff  <<-•'/' 


BJ  <?* 


tii^ 


^. 


H^5 


J  "1 


164 


HISTORY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


fiSb.,.: 


wBm 

r 

i^ral^^wl! 

m. 

hBK  Hmu^l^l^v  ' 

1 

s^, 


the  others  witli  the  greatcj-^t  horror  for  the  Indians,  and  the  resort  to  wliith 
certainly  found  an  anology  in  the  eircuniwtanoes  of  the  ease. 

The  inhabitants  ot  New  Orleans  received  with  open  arms,  in  the  hosom 
of  their  families,  the  widows  and  children  of  their  friends,  who  had  fnllon 
under  the  tomahawk  of  the  Natcliez.  Benevolence  relieved  their  wants, 
and  t(nidernes8  ministered  those  succors,  which  protracted  captivity  and 
sufferings  called  for.  The  nuns  opened  their  cloister  to  the  orphanH  of 
their  sex  ;  thttse  of  the  other  were  divided  into  the  families  of  the  easy  and 
affluent,  and  many  a  matron  listened  to  solicitations  to  j)ut  an  early  end 
to  her  widowhood. 

The  Chickasaws  had  offered  an  asylum  in  their  nation  to  the  Natchez; 
it  ha '  ''cen  accepted  l>y  a  number  of  them.  Having  thus  aided  theenoniies 
of  tl  .  rench,  they  sought  to  increase  their  number,  and  sent  emissaries 
to  t  Illinois  to  induce  them  to  join  in  the  common  cause.  These 
Indians  replied  they  would  assist  their  white  friends  on  the  Mississippi 
with  all  their  might,  and  they  sent  a  deputation  to  Perrier  to  assure  him 
of  the  dependence  he  could  put  in  their  nation,  of  their  sorrow  at  the 
catastrophe  at  the  Natchez,  and  their  readiness  to  lose  their  lives  in  the 
defense  of  his  countrymen. 

They  returned  in  tnc  latter  part  of  June  to  join  the  Arkansas,  in  order 
to  fall  on  the  Yazous  and  Coroas.  A  party  of  the  latter,  going  to  tlic 
Chickasaws,  were  met  by  one  of  the  Tchaoumas  and  Choctaws,  whd 
killed  eighteen  of  them,  and  released  some  French  women  and  chihireii 
they  were  carrying  away.  A  few  days  after,  a  number  of  Arkansas  fell  on  | 
a  party  of  Yazous,  scalped  four  men,  and  took  four  women,  whom  thev 
led  into  cai)tivity.  lleturning  homewards  they  met  several  Canadian 
families  going  to  New  Orleans ;  they  bewailed  with  them  the  disaster  of 
their  countrymen,  and  particularly  the  death  of  father  Poisson,  who  had 
been  their  missionary  before  he  moved  to  the  Yazous ;  they  vowed  that,  i\f 
long  as  an  Arkansas  lived,  the  Natchez  would  have  an  enemy. 

While  the  northernmost  tribes  remained  thus  attached  to  the  French, 
the  smallest  ones  near  the  sea,  received  emissaries  from  the  Chickasawii, 
and  suffered  themselves  to  be  deluded,  so  far  as  to  admit  among  thcniselvesi 
parties  of  wandering  Indians,  who  much  distressed  the  planters  and  greatly 
alarmed  the  inhabitants  of  the  city. 

The  Chouachas,  a  very  small  tribe,  who  originally  occupied  the  margin 
of  lake  Barataria,  had  removed  to  that  of  the  Mississippi,  a  little  below  the 
city,  near  the  English  turn,  and  had  proved  themselves  useful  to  the 
French  when  they  began  to  occupy  the  ground  on  which  New  Orleans  now 
stands.  They  were  suspected  of  being  under  the  influence  of  the 
Chickasaws,  and  had  become  obnoxious  to  the  colonists.  Their 
annihilation  was  judged  indispensable  to  the  tranquillity  of  the  country  andj 
was  determined  on.  The  slaves  of  the  neighboring  plantsitions  werei 
incautiously  employed  in  this  service,  under  the  idea  that  the  warfare 
would  sow  between  them  and.th'e  Indians,  the  seeds  of  such  mutual  hatred 
as  would  ever  prevent  a  coalition  between  the  red  and  the  black  people. 
The  negroes  acquitted  themselves  with  great  fury,  indiscriminatelyj 
massacreing  the  young  and  the  old,  the  male  and  the  tenderer  sex. 

On  the  tenth  of  August,  the  people  of  New  Orleans  received  the  plea?antj 
intelligence  of  the  arrival  at  tne  Balize  a  few  days  before,  of  a  companv'sj 
ship  with  troops  and  succor,  under  the  orders  of  Perrier  de  Salvert, 
brother  of  the  commandant  general.    Much  of  their  joy  however  «i 


a  hated  w 
marines  c 
The  coi 
troops,  an 
liarely  ex( 
had  JH^en 
theestabii 
Chagrin 
e-xdirsion 
On  his  r 
man,  not  i 
musket  on 
from  this  ai 
and  from  tl 
Most  oft) 
had  crosset 
U'ashitas  to 
The  dej)ai 
The  negroei 
returning  to 
chain,  and  til 
pive  u  hope  I 
French.    Bu 
of  their  leade 
The  Arkan 
now  sent  a  Ci 
Beaulieu  to  ti 
"liich  the  en^ 
Perrier  de 
thirteenth  of 
marines,  a  few 
The  comnianc 
'•irger  than  t 
commanded  t 
"lid  fifty.     T 
continue  to  be 
The  army  t 
%ou  Mansh 
consisted  of  al 
Lesueur  wa.sl 
he  received  tl 
t'oulange  and  , 
'he  twenty-fivel 
"ounded."-  Thf 
!'"t  not   hearil 
"nmediately  cJ 
Perrier,  havil 
,%Ped  at  BaJ 
Rendezvous  the! 
joined  the  armf 
■  ™8  whole  fd 
"seended  Red 


g,  m  order 
)ing  to  tlic 
ctaw8,  who 
id  children 
.nsas  fell  on 
whom  they 
\\  Canadian 
I  disaster  of 
)n,  who  had 
iwed  that,  a? 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


161^ 


iilmted  when  it  became  known  that  there  were  but  three  oompanieK  of 
marines  on  board,  each  o^sixty  men. 

The  company  kept  in  the  province  six  hundred  and  fifty  men  of  French 
troouH,  and  two  hundred  of  tne  Swiss.  With  this  reinforcement,  the  t()tal 
liareiy  exceeded  one;  thousand  men — a  rehitively  i)owerful  body,  if  there 
hud  Inten  but  one  settlement  to  protect;  but  a  very  insuthcient  one,  while 
the  establishments  were  sprinkled  over  a  wide  extended  territory. 

Chagrined  at  this  disapnointment,  the  commandant  general  made  an 
excursion  to  Mobile  to  seek  aid  among  the  friendly  tribes  near  Fort  Conde. 

On  his  return,  he  issued  a  proclamation  conjuring  every  able  bodied 
man,  not  already  under  arms,  to  buckle  a  knapsa(;k  on  his  back,  put  a 
musket  on  his  shoulder  and  join  the  army.  But  little  could  be  expected 
from  this  appeal ;  the  whole  nnlitia  from  the  Alibamons  to  the  (!adodaquiou8 
ami  from  tlie  Balize  to  the  Wabash,  not  exceeding  eight  hundred  men. 

Most  of  the  Natchez  Indians,  who  had  not  gone  over  to  the  Chickasaws, 
had  crossed  the  Mississippi,  and  marched  through  the  country  of  the 
Washitas  to  the  neighborhood  of  the  Natchitoches,  and  on  Black  river. 

The  departure  of  the  army  was  delayed  by  a  most  distressing  event. 
The  negroes  who  had  been  employed  in  destroying  the  Chouaches,  in 
returning  to  their  labors,  began  to  feel  more  sensibly  the  weight  of  their 
chain,  and  the  success  of  the  ferocity  they  had  exercised  against  the  Indians 
liave  a  hope  that  liberty  might  be  the  result  of  a  similar  attemnt  upon  the 
French.  But,  their  views  were  discovered,  and  the  arrest  ana  execution 
of  their  leaders  warded  for  a  while  the  impending  blow. 

The  Arkansas  had  promised  to  come  down  and  join  Perrier's  force.  He 
now  sent  a  Canadian  of  the  name  of  Coulangue  to  meet  them,  and  directed 
Beaulieu  to  proceed  to  Red  river  and  obtain  information  of  the  spot  to 
which  the  enemy  had  retired,  his  force  and  intended  movements. 

Perrier  de  Salvert  with  the  vanguard  of  the  army,  embarked  on  the 
thirteenth  of  November.  It  consisted  of  the  three  companies  of  the 
marines,  a  few  volunteers  and  Indians ;  in  all  about  two  hundred  and  fifty. 
The  commandant  general  set  off  two  days  after  with  the  main  body,  not 
larger  than  the  van,  composed  of  regulars  and  volunteers.  Benac,  who 
commanded  the  militia,  led  the  rear,  which  did  not  exceed  one  hundred 
and  fifty.  The  late  alarm  rendered  it  necessary  that  the  forts  should 
continue  to  be  well  garrisoned  to  insure  tranquillity  and  awe  the  slaves. 

The  army  stopped  on  the  right  side  of  the  Mississippi,  opposite  to 
Bayou  Manshac,  where  a  Colapissa  chief  led  forty  warriors.  It  now 
consisted  of  about  seven  hundred  men. 

liesueur  was  sent  forward  and  ordered  to  ascend  Red  river.  On  his  way 
he  received  the  painful  intelligence  of  the  Natchez  having  surprised 
Coulange  and  Beaulieti,  killed  the  former  and  wounded  the  latter.  Of 
the  twenty-five  men  who  accompanied  them,  sixteen  had  been  killed  or 
wounded.'  The  Arkansas  had  come  down,  according  to  their  promise ; 
mi  not  hearing  of  the  army,  grew  impatient  and  returned.  He 
[iraniediately  communicated  the*  intelligence  to  his  chief. 

Perrier,  having  ordered  the  army  to  proceed  to  the  mOuth  of  Red  river, 
I  stopped  at  Bayou  Tunica,  to  join  the  Indians  who  had  been  directed  to 
Irendezvous  there;  one  hundred  and  fifty  warriors  only  met  him.  He 
I  joined  the  army  with  these  on  the  fourth  of  January. 
I  His  whole  force  now  consisted  of  about  one  thousand  men.  He 
lascended  Red  and  Black  rivers,  and  on  the  twentieth  came  in  sight  of 


*-«►,■»  *;'•- 


'ill 


S.:'; 


?-fc.--.»;t-ii| 


im 


HISfOKY  OF   LOriHIANA. 


i 


one  of  tlie  enemy's  fortH,  on  the  banks  of  the  latter.  The  tnuiehes  wcic 
ininjediately  opened  and  the  artillery  landed  on  the  following  day.  On 
the  next,  the  enemy  made  a  sally,  wounded  an  ofllieer,  and  killed  a  soldier 
and  a  negro.  On  the  twenty-fifth,  a  white  flag  was  hoisted  on  the  fort  ami 
a  smaller  (me  displayed  on  the  trenches  ;  soon  after  an  Indian  came  out 
with  a  ealumet,  suing  for  peace  and  offering  to  surrender  every  negro  ju 
the  fort.  Perrier  told  him  ho  would  receive  the  negroes,  aiuJ  if  the  Indians 
wished  for  peace  they  should  send  the  chiefs  to  speak  with  hiui.  The 
messenger  replied  the  chiefs  would  not  come  out ;  out  if  Perrier  wouM 
come  forth  to  the  head  of  the  trenches,  the  chiefs  would  meet  him  there. 
He  was  directed  to  go  and  fetch  the  negroes,  and  an  answer  would  he  given 
on  his  return. 

Half  an  hour  after,  he  brought  eighteen  negro  men  and  one  woman,  and 
said  the  chiefs  would  not  come  out — that  peace  was  wanted,  and  if  the 
army  would  return,  hostilities  would  cease.  Perrier  replied  no  proposal 
would  be  listened  to  until  the  chiefs  came  to  speak  with  him,  anu  if  they 
did  not,  the  attack  Avould  be  resumed,  and  quarters  given  to  no  one. 

The  messenger  went  back  and  returning  soon  after,  said  the  warriors 
insisted  on  the  chiefs  not  coming  out,  and  except  on  this  head  wore  ready 
to  accede  to  any  proposition.  Perrier  told  him  the  cannon  was  ready,  an!| 
he  still  insisted  on  the  chiefs  coming  out — that  if  they  compelled  him  to 
fire,  he  would  not  stop  till  the  fort  was  blown  to  atoms,  and  no  one  would 
be  spared. 

On  the  man's  return,  a  Natchez  Indian,  of  the  name  of  St.  Come,  a  m\ 
to  the  head  female  sun,  and  as  such  heir  to  the  sunship,  who  had  always 
been  on  a  friendly  footing  with  the  French,  came  to  Perrier's  camp :  ho 
told  him  that  now  as  peace  was  made,  the  French  army  should  return, 
that  he  grieved  much  at  the  conduct  of  his  nation,  but  everything  ought 
to  be  forgotten ;  especially,  as  the  prime  mover  of  all  the  mischief  had 
fallen  in  the  attack  of  the  Choctaws.  Perrier  told  him  he  was  glad  to  see 
him,  but  he  desired  to  see  the  great  sun  also,  but  wouM  not  l)e  played 
with,  and  he  hoped  no  Natchez  Indian  would  approach  him  accept  in  the 
company  of  the  latter,  as  he  would  order  any  one  to  be  fired  on,  who  would 
come  with  any  other  proposal. 

St.  Come  took  leave,  and  half  an  hour  after  returned  with  the  head 
sun,  and  another  chief,  called  the  chief  of  the  flour,  who  was  the  prinn' 
mover  of  all  the  mischief;  St.  Come  having  sought  to  screen  him. 

The  (Jreat  Sun  assured  Perrier  he  had  no  hand  in  the  massacre  of  the 
French,  and  was  very  much  pleased  at  the  opportunity  of  treating  with 
him  ;  St.  Come  exculpated  him.  The  chief  of  the  flour  said  he  was  sorry 
for  what  had  happened.  As  they  were  exjjosed  to  the  rain,  which  was 
now  increasing,  Perrier,  pointing  to  a  cabin  near  them,  bid  them  to 
take  shelter  in  it ;  on  their  doing  so,  he  ordered  four  men  to  guard  the 
door,  and  directed  Lesueur  and  two  officers  attentively  to  watch  theiii. 

Lesueur,  speaking  their  language,  went  in,  and  attempted  to  get  into  a 
conversation  with  them  ;  but  they  kept  a  stubborn  silence  and  lay  down 
to  sleep.  The  other  two  officers  did  the  same  on  their  rising,  Lesueur 
went  to  rest  towards  midnight.  About  three  hours  after,  he  was 
awakened  by  a  sudden  noise,  and  saw  the  Great  Sun  and  St.  Come, 
endeavoring  to  escape  from  the  sentry — the  officers  and  the  two  other 
soldiers  had  gone  in  pursuit  of  the  chief  of  the  flour,  who,  having  eluded 


HISTORY   OF    I-OITI8IANA. 


ler 


tln'ir  vipilnnco,  hnd  fled  ;  Li'sueur  pointing  hiw  i)iHt<)l  at  the  two  oaptivuH, 
tiii'V  refrained  from  any  furtlier  utttMiipt  to  CHeape. 

At  daybreak,  an  Indian  came  from  the  fort  to  visit  the  (treat  8un  : 
\)v\n)t  eon<lueted  to  the  cabin,  he  tohl  him  the  chief  of  the  flonr  havin),; 
nnched  the  fort  had  called  apart  ten  warriorn,  an<l  asHured  them  Perrier 
\viis»  determined  on  burning  tliem  all ;  that  for  hiw  part  he  had  made  up 
Ills  mind  no  longer  to  remain  exposed  to  fall  into  his  hands,  and  advised 
tluin  to  look  for  their  own  satety  with  him.  Accordingly  they  had 
followed  him,  Avith  their  women  and  children,  while  the  rest  lost  in 
(Klil)cration  the  favorable  moments,  and  at  <laybreak  found  their  flight 
«U!*  no  longer  possible.  The  Great  Sun  observed  this  chief  was  an 
usuri>er. 

I'errier  bid  his  prisoner,  towards  the  evening,  to  send  word  to  his 
|)((H)le  to  come  out  with  their  women  and  children,  and  he  would  snare 
their  lives,  and  prevent  his  Indians  from  hurting  them.  This  was  a«me 
liy  the  messenger  of  the  morning ;  but  compliance  was  refused. 
"In  the  morning,  the  Great  Sun's  wife  and  some  other  members  of  his 
tiimily  visited  him.  Perrier  received  them  well,  because  they  had  afllorded 
protection  to  the  French  prisoners.  Sixty-five  men  and  about  two 
innulred  women  came  in  towards  noon. 

Word  was  sent  to  those  in  the  fort  that  if  they  did  not  leave  it,  the 
(iinnon  would  be  fired  and  no  one  spared.  The  Indians  replied  the  fire 
iiii|?ht  begin,  and  thev  did  not  fear  death.  They  were  restrained  by  the 
far  of  falling  into  the  hands  of  Perricr's  Indians  if  thev  went  out  in 
small  parties,  or  of  being  discovered  by  the  French  if  they  went  out 
tdfrother. 

The  cannonade  now  began  :  a  heavy  rain  was  falling,  and  it  blew  very 
haril.  The  besieged  flattered  themselves  with  the  idea  the  inclemency 
of  the  weather  would  i)revent  the  passes  being  strictly  guarded ;  they 
were  not  deceived.  At  dusk  the  cannon  was  stopped  :  towards  eight  at 
ni^ht,  an  officer  reported  that  the  enemy  was  flying ;  the  cannonade  was 
iKiw  resumed,  but  it  was  too  late — a  part  of  the  army  went  after  the  foe 
and  brought  in  upwards  of  one  hunared ;  Perrier  vainly  tried  to  induce 
his  Indians  to  give  the  chase ;  they  answered  those  should  do  so  who 
had  suffered  the  Natchez  to  escape.  The  fort  was  now  entered  and  no 
(ine  found  in  it  but  a  decrepit  old  man,  and  a  woman  who  had  just  lain  in. 
There  remaining  now  no  enemy  to  fight,  the  prisoners  to  the  number  of 
four  hundred  and  twenty-seven,  were  secured  and  embarked.  The  army 
set  off"  on  the  twenty-seventh  and  reached  New  Orleans  on  the  fifth  of 
February. 

The  Great  Sun,  and  the  other  prisoners,  were  sent  immediately  to 
Hispanolia,  where  they  were  sold  as  slaves. 

The  war  was  not,  however,  at  an  end,  Lesueur  had  ascertained  that  the 
I  Natchez  were  not  all  in  the  fort  Perrier  had  besieged.  They  had  yet 
upwards  of  two  hundred  warriors,  including  the  Yazous  and  Coroas,  and 
[unequal  number  of  young  lads  capable  of  bearing  arms.  A  chief  had 
lately  gone  to  the  Chickasaws  with  forty  warriors  and  many  women : 
limother  was  with  seventy  warriors,  and  upward  of  a  hundred  women  and 
jmany  children  on  lake  Catahoulou,  to  the  westward  of  Black  river.  There 
jivere  twentv  warriors,  ten  women  and  six  children  on  the  Washita :  the 
jstrength  of  the  party  who  had  gone  towards  the  Natchitoches  was  not 


m 

,,„.  ,»>■ -I*! 


J' 


l(W 


IIIHTOKY   OF    LO(?I8IANA. 


In  the  inennwhilo,  the  coinpuny  HndiitK  thomHclvoH  much  (iiHiippointiii 
in  the  hope  they  had  cnturtainod  of  thu  proHtH  of  their  conunerce,  and  tli<> 
udvunta^eH  they  had  iniaginud  would  ruHult  from  their  charter ;  ulariiitil 
at  the  ^reat  Iohh  thuy  had  HUHtainod  utthe  Natchez,  and  the  Krealexpcino. 
neccHHary  to  ho  incurred  in  the  protection  and  defeuHO  •)f  the  province,  if 
they  retained  the  j)08Ht  ssion  of  it,  Hoheited  on  tl»e  twenty-Hecona  of  Juuuiirv, 
17M2,  the  kinj^'H  leave  to  surrender  the  country  and  their  charter.  By  n'l, 
arrent  of  the  council  of  the  following  day,  and  letters  patent,  whi(;h  iKHUcd 
thereon,  on  the  tenth  of  Anril,  the  retroccHHion  nuule  oy  the  company  of 
the  property,  lonlnhip  an<l  jurisdiction  of  the  province  of  L(»uiHianu'  and 
its  <lependencies,  to^Kether  with  the  country  of  the  Illinois,  and  tht- 
exclusive  commerce  to  those  places,  was  accepted. 

The  arrest  declares  the  coinmerco  of  the  retroceded  countries  free,  for 
the  future,  to  all  the  kind's  subjects. 

This  ended  the  f?overnment  of  the  western  company.  It  lasted  duriiiK 
about  fourteen  years — nearly  one-half  of  the  time  elapsed  since  Ibervillf 
had  laid  the  foundation  of  a  French  colony  on. the  gulf  of  Mexico. 

When  the  company  received  its  charter,  the  settlements  in  the  widt! 
extended  country  ceded  to  it,  were  confined  to  a  very  narrow  space  at  the 
Biloxi,  Mobile  river,  Bhin  and  Dauphine  islands.  Two  very  small  fortifi- 
cotions  had  been  erected  on  the  Mississippi — the  one  near  the  sea,  tin; 
other  at  the  Natchez,  and  one  at  the  Natchitoches  on  Rod  river. 

Agriculture  had  har<lly  reared  its  head,  though  rice  was  sowed  in  the 
swamps.  Horticulture  supplied  the  tables  of  a  few  with  vegetablen,  and 
enabled  some  of  the  rest  to  procure  a  little  money  by  supplying  the 
Spaniards  at  Pensacola. 

Now  all  the  original  settlements  had  considerably  extended  their  liinits, 
a  new  one  had  been  formed  at  the  Alibamons.  On  the  Mississippi,  the 
foundation  of  New  Orleans  was  laid :  although  there  was  no  plantation 
below  it,  a  considerable  one  with  a  gang  of  upwards  of  one  hundred  slavts 
had  been  formed  opjjosite  the  city,  and  there  were  many  smaller  but  still 
considerable  ones  at  Tchapitoulas  and  Cannes  Brulees.  A  vast  number  of 
handsome  cottages,  lined  both  sides  of  the  river  at  the  German  Coa,«*t; 
grantees  of  wide  tracts  had  transported  a  white  population,  and  sent 
negroes  to  Manshac,  Baton  Rouge  and  Point  CoujMje,  and  we  have  seen  a 
smart  settlement  had  risen  at  Nat«!hez,  the  rival  of  N(!w  Orleans.  Hinhi  r 
up,  small  colonies  had  gone  to  the  Yazous  and  Arkansas ;  while  othtr^ 
had  descended  from  Canada  to  the  Wabash  and  the  Illinois. 

To  the  culture  of  rice,  that  of  indigo  and  tobacco  had  been  added ;  \\w 
forests  yielded  timber  for  various  uses  and  exportation  :  wheat  and  fioiir 
came  already  down  from  the  Illinois ;  a  smart  trade  was  carried  on  with 
the  Indians  at  Natchitoches,  Mobile,  Alibamons  and  the  Cadadoquious.far 
beyond  the  westernmost  limits  of  the  present  state.  Provision  had  beni 
made  for  the  regular  administration  of  justice ;  churches  and  cha|)elg  hml 
been  built  at  convenient  distances,  and  without  jMirhaps  any  exception, 
every  settlement  had  its  clergyman,  under  the  superintendence  of  a  vicar- 
general  of  the  bishog  of  Quebec,  of  whose  diocese  Louisiana  made  apart, 
A  convent  had  been  built,  the  nuns  of  Avhich  attended  to  the  relief  ol  the 
sick  of  thegttrrison,  and  to  the  education  of  the  young  persons  of  their 
sex.  The  je^its  had  a  house  in  New  Orleans ;  a  kind  of  entrepot  of  their  j 
order,  from  which  their  priests  were  located  among  the  neighboring  triben , 


lilHTOKY   OF    LoriHIANA. 


U\\) 


,if  IixliauH,  or  Hont,  iim  octiuHioiml  (MiiiKHiiriuH,  totlir  inoKttliHtiint  ;aiiii  thoho 
men  iittt'inlt'*!  to  the  odiiciitiini  of  youth. 

Tlit>  monopoly  which  thutMiinpuiiy  and  Oroxtit  hiuiiMijoyiMl  iiml  Ktri(!tlv 
(iiforci'tl,  had  (*ho<'k«'(l,  uiid  it  iimy  h'^  sai<l  tU^Htroyod,  th<'  incipient  traife 
the  ('olony  had  before  the  iieai'e  of  I'tnu  lit ;  Itut  tlie  produce  of  tlie  tilled 
liinil  and  the  f  irentn,  the  liideH.  Hkinn,  furs  iiiid  p'UrieH,  which  were  ohtaincd 
t'niiii  tin'  Indiann,  for  ^oodH,  which  Wate  easily  pfoi  <ire<l  in  the  conipuny'H 
wurclioUHeH  at  the  Biloxi,  New  Orlonnw,  tlic  Niif'hcz  and  the  Illinois,  and 
whicii  were  di(*poH((d  of  at  an  enorni<»tiM  advaiu  e.  cnahled  the  company  to 
ilifiuoso  of  connuh'rahle  <iuantitieH  of  nwr'liandise. 

The  Hums,  spent  hv  the  company  in  thr  *  ilony  Hutficed  t(»  furnish  the 
inliiibitantH  with  a  circulating  medium.  It  had  a  commandant  general, 
two  kint^H  lioutenantH,  a  commiHHary  ordonnateur,  hIx  hundred  and  fifty 
men  of  French,  and  two  hundred  of  SwIhh  troopH  in  its  jiny  HesideH  a 
nuiiil>t'r  of  directorn,  agentw  and  clerks,  it  supported  upwards  oi  thirty 
ilt>r|iym»!n. 

According  to  the  system  of  all  commercial  companies,  the  supreme 
iiuthority  in  the  province  resided  in  the  directors  and- agents  of  the 
onrporation ;  and  the  military,  incessantly  ccmtrolled  by  men  whose 
pursuit  was  wealth,  not  glory,  lost  their  activity  and  zeal.  A  conflict  of 
powers  necessarily  created  dissensions  and  animosities,  fatal  to  the  interest 
iif  the  company  and  the  province. 

It  cimnot,  however,  be  denied,  that  while  Louisiana  was  part  of  the 
iloiniuions  of  France,  H  never  prospered  but  during  the  fourteen  years  of 
the  company's  privilege. 

The  wnite  population  was  raised  from  seven  hundred  to  upwards  of  five 
thousand,  and  the  black  from  twenty  to  two  thousand. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

Salmon,  who  on  the  deatli  of  Lachaise,  had  succeeded  him  in  the  office  of 
Commissary  Ordonnateur.  havinp  been  appointed  the  king's  commissioner, 
received  possession  of  Louisiana  in  his  name,  from  the  company. 

The  crown  had  purchased  all  the  property  of  the  corporation  in  the 

province.    It  was  not  considerable,  and  the  appraised  inventory   of  it, 

lamounted  only  to  two  hundred  and  sixty-three  thousand  livres  ;  not  equal 

jin  value  to  sixty  thousand  dollars.    It  consisted  of  some  goods  in  the 

Iwarehouses,  a  plantation  opposite  the  citv,  which  was  partly  improved  as 

la  brick  yard,  on  which  were  two  hundred  and  sixty  negroes,  fourteen 

[horses  and  eight  thousand  barrels  of  rice. 

The  negroes  were  valued  at  an  average  of  seven  hundred  livres  or  one 

hundred  and  sixty-three  dollars  and  a  third;  the  horses  at  fifty-seven 

livres  or  twelve  and  a  half  dollars,  and  the  rice  three  livres  or  sixty  cents 

pnd  a  third,  the  hundred  weight.    At  these  prices,  nineteen  hundred 

bight  of  rice  were  given  for  a  horse ;  at  the  present  value  of  rice,  four 

[ents  a  pound,  the  animal  was  worth  seventy-six  dollars,  and  the  negro 

jiearly  one  thousand. 

I  The  company  had  contracted  a  considerable  debt  with  the  planters,  and 
bbtained  on  the  fourteenth  of  February,  an  arrest  of  the  king's  council, 
nhibiting  creditors  in  Louisiana  from  suing  in  France.    Brusle  and  Bru, 


•  A^'^',1 


ii"  ,' 


^J 


l>iS^ 


170 


HISTORY   OF    LOl'ISIANA. 


i 


ftf* 


I    '        Mil! 


'J  I 


i 

^P      < 

r 

'a 

ffi^    *1   i 

1 

Hlii^  ' 

^       1 

Si 
.11     i 

aSSmmm 

11 

»i'!f  ' 

mfflg^ff 

m 

^iikst 

1 

R 

1 

■1 

H 

llH 

two  memliers  of  the  superior  council,  wore  apjminted  commissioners  to 
receive  claims  against  it,  in  the  provinc^e. 

In  order  to  facilitate  the  commerce  of  the  colony,  the  king,  by  an 
ordinance  of  the  fourth  of  August,  dispensed  the  vessels  of  his  sul)jo('tfi 
trading  thither,  with  the  obligation  of  transporting  redemi)tionerH  ami 
muskets,  which  was  imposed  on  those  tra<hng  to  his  other  Anierioan 
colonies. 

The  late  change  in  the  government  of  the  province  requiring  one  in  the 
organization  of  the  superior  council,  this  was  effected  by  the  king's  letter 
])atcnt  of  the  seventli  of  May,  Tlie  members  of  this  tribunal  were 
declared  to  l)e  the  Governor  (ileneral  of  New  France,  of  which  Louisiana 
continued  to  constitute  a  part,  the  Governor  and  the  Commissary  of 
Louisiana,  the  king's  lieutenants  and  the  town  major  of  New  Orleans,  six 
councillors,  an  attorney  general  and  clerk. 

The  members  of  the  council,  at  this  time,  were  Perrier,  Commandant 
General;  Salmon,  Conmiissary  Ordonnateur ;  Loubois  and  d'Artaguette. 
the  king's  two  lieutenants;  Benac,  town  major  of  New  Orleans  ;  Fazendo, 
Brusle,  Bru,  Lafreniere,  Prat  and  Raguet,  Councillors  ;  Fleuriau,  Attorncv 
(ieneral,  and  Rossart,  clerk. 

The  Natchez  Indians  continued  to  wage  war  with  the  western  parts  of 
the  province.  The  chief  of  the  dour,  Avho  had  effected  his  escape  from 
Perrier's  camp,  on  lilack  river,  and  who  had  afterwards  left  the  fort  with 
some  warriors,  their  women  and  children,  had  heen  joined  by  tho.^c 
whom  he  had  left  there,  and  had  not  fallen  intotheiianos  of  the  French. 
After  wandering  awhile  among  the  Washitas,  this  party,  increased  In- 
other  individuals  of  their  nation,  proceeded  to  the  Nacnitoches.  St.  Denys, 
who  commanded  there,  having  early  information  of  the  approach  of  the 
Natchez,  and  finding  his  garrison  weak,  dispatched  messengers  to  New 
Orleans,  the  Cadodaquious  and  Assinais,  to  solicit  succor.  Accordinglv 
Loubois  left  New  Orleans  with  sixty  men  of  the  garrison  ;  but  as  he 
entered  Red  river,  accompanied  by  one  hundred  Indians,  whom  he  hail 
taken  at  the  Tunicas,  he  was  met  a  little  helow  Black  river,  early  in 
November  by  Fontaine,  who  was  sent  by  St.  Denys  to  Perrier.  From  hiii: 
lioubois  learned  the  Natchez  had  attacked  the  fort,  being  about  twn 
hundred  ;  but  they  had  been  repulsed. 

The  Natchitoches  had  made  a  show  of  resistance ;  but  having  but  forty 
warriors,  they  had  been  compelled  to  desist,  after  having  lost  four  men. 
The  Natchez  took  possession  of  their  village ;  St.  Denys  had  been 
reinforced  by  his  allies,  on  Red  river  and  the  Opelousas.  With  hi? 
garrison,  a  few  Spaniards  and  these  Indians,  he  sallied  out,  forced  an 
intrenchment  the  Natchez  had  made  around  their  camp,  and  killed 
ninety-two  of  them,  among  whom  were  all  their  chiefs.  The  rest  fled  into 
the  woods,  and  St.  Denys'  Indians  were  in  pursuit  of  them  when  Fontaim 
left  the  fort. 

With  far  less  means  than  the  commandant  general  on  Black  river.  St, 
Denys  had  effected  in  much  less  time  a  more  brilliant  and  useful 
exploit.  It  put  an  end  to  the  war  of  the  Natchez.  The  survivors  of  tlii' 
nation  sought  an  asylum  among  the  Chickasaws,  with  whom  they  became  j 
incorporated.  These  Indians  had  hitherto  pretended  to  remain  neutral: 
but  now  excited  by  a  number  of  English  traders,  who  had  settled  anions:  j 
them,  avowed  themselves  the  open  enemies  of  the  French. 

There  Avere   at  the    Natchez,   on    the   plantations  of   the   French, 


HISTORY  OP   LOUISIANA. 


171 


iicrs  til 

,  by  i\n 
nibjeotj' 
ers  and 
luerican 

le  ill  thf 
j>;'8  letter 
lal  were 
iouisiana 
is^avy  of 
eana,  six 

iniandant 

rtaguette, 

Fazende, 

,  Attorney 

n  parts  of 

cape  froni 

e  fort  with 

I  by  thoM' 

he  Freneh. 

creased  i)y 
St.  Denys, 

pach  of  tht' 

ors  to  New 
cconlingly 
hut  as  he 

lorn  he  hail 

er,  early  ill 
From  him 
about  t\v(i 

ig  but  forty 
it  four  men. 
had  been 
With  hi? 
:,  forced  an 
and  killod 
rest  fled  into 
,en  Fontaini 

ick  river.  ?t 
and  useM 
/ivor?  of  tk 

Ithev  heeanie 

lain  neutral; 

littled  anioiiii 

French,  ? 


considerable  number  of  negroes ;  nearly  all  of  whom  had  joined  the 
murderers  of  their  masters  in  order  to  gain  their  freedom,  and  had 
followed  their  new  friends  among  the  Chickasaws.  This  eircumHtance, 
andtheir  consequent  emancipation,  was  known  to  their  former  companions 
Ivho  had  been  recaptured  or  surrendered,  and  presented  to  them  the 
evidence  of  the  possibility  of  their  own  release  from  bondage ;  they 
became  restless,  indocile,  and  fit  subjects  to  be  wrought  upon,  by 
lersuasion.  In  the  hope  of  exciting,  through  them,  the  other  slaves  in 
the  colony,  to  finish  the  work  begun  at  the  Natchez,  several  of  the  most 
artful  negroes,  among  the  Chickasaws,  were  sent  to  Mobile,  New  Orleans 
and  along  the  coast,  to  sow  the  seeds  of  rebellion  among  the  people  of 
their  color  in  those  places.  These  emissaries,  being  unable  to  show 
thouiselves  openly,  haa  no  success  on  the  plantations,  where  the  gangs 
!>oin{i  small,  the  slaves  were  fearful.  It  was  in  vain  urged  upon  them, 
the  monieiit  was  arrived  to  rid  themselves  of  their  masters,  and  secure 
their  ow'n  freedom  by  removing  to  the  Chickasaws  or  the  English,  in 
Carolina. 

On  the  plantation  opposite  the  city,  lately  the  property  of  the  company, 
liut  now  of  the  king,  there  were  upwards  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  hands. 
Several  of  these  were  seduced,  anci  the  contagion  spread  with  considerable 
rapidity  up  the  coast,  where,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  city,  there  were  some 
estates  witn  gangs  of  from  thirty  to  forty  slaves. 

Meetings  were  held  without  the  notice  of  the  French ;  the  blacks 
improving  the  opportunity,  imsuspectingly  furnished  them  by  their 
owners,  to  assemble  in  nightly  parties  for  dancing  and  recreation. 

At  last,  a  night  was  fixed  on,  in  which,  on  pretexts  like  these,  the 
blacks  of  the  upper  plantations  were  to  collect  on  those  near  the  city,  at 
one  time,  but  on  various  points,  and  entering  it  from  all  sides,  they  were 
to  destroy  all  white  men,  and  securing  and  confining  the  women  and 
children  in  the  church,  expecting  to  possess  themselves  of  the  king's 
arms  and  magazine,  and  thus  have  the  means  of  resisting  the  planters 
when  they  came  down,  and  carrying  on  conflagration  and  slaughter  on 
I  the  coast.  They  hoped  to  induce  or  compel,  by  a  show  of  strength,  the 
[timorous  of  their  'lolor,  who  had  resisted  the  temptation  to  swell  their 
[number,  and  with  them  join  parties  of  the  Chickasaws,  who  they  were 
iisHured  would  advance  to  receive  and  protect  them.  Fortunately,  the 
hiuitions  of  an  incautious  fellow  were  noticed  by  a  negro  woman,  belonging 
|tii  a  Dr.  Brasset ;  she  gave  such  information  to  her  master  as  led  to  the 
discovery  of  the  plot.  Four  men  and  a  woman,  who  were  the  principal 
liilients  in  it,  were  detected  and  seized.  The  men  were  broken  on  the 
peel  and  their  heads  stuck  on  posts,  at  the  upper  and  lower  end  of  the 
ity,  the  Tchapitoulas  and  the  king's  plantation  :  the  woman  was  hung. 
This  timely  severity  prevented  the  mischief. 

The  king  extended  further  encouragement  to  the  trade  of  the  province, 

sy  an  arrest  of  his  council  of  the  thirteenth  of  September,  exempting 

[mm  all  duties  of  exp')rtation,  all  merchandise  shipped  by  his  subjects 

Louisiana,  and  all  duties  of  importation  the  merchandise  of  its  growth, 

produce  or  commerce. 

Shortly  after,  provision  was  made  for  its  protection  and  defense,  and 
[n  arrest  of  the  thirtieth  of  November  ordered  a  military  force  to  be  kept 
lere,  consisting  of  eight  hundred  men ;  six  hundred  and  fifty  of  whom 
[ere  to  be  detached  from  the  regiment  of  Karrer. 


Ill 


^jl 


'!/. 


1     (' 


■i^' 


i#! 


M     I 


Im.     '.1    ^  .  ^     i 


172 


HISTORY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


Tho  year  1732  is  remarkable  as  the  period  of  the  settlement  of  the  last 
of  the  British  provinces  in  America,  which  now  constitute  the  United 
•States.  Charity  devised  the  plan  and  furnished  the  means  for  its 
execution.  A  society,  formed  in  London,  selected  a  large  unoccui)ied  tract 
of  land  betAveen  the  rivers  Savannah  and  Alatamaha,  a  kind  of  neutral 
ground,  which  separated  the  provinces  of  South  Carolina  and  Florida, 
as  a  spot  on  which  the  suffering  poor  might  find  an  easy  and  quiet 
existence. 

The  abolition  of  the  company's  exclusive  right  to  the  trade  of 
Louisiana,  and  the  encouragement  lately  given  to  its  commerce  excited 
the  industry  of  the  merchants  in  several  of  the  seaports  of  France  and 
her  colonies  ;  and  several  vessels  from  St.  Maloes,  Bordeaux,  Marseilles 
and  Cape  Francois,  came  to  New  Orleans  in  the  course  of  the  following 
year. 

The  death  of  Augustus,  king  of  Poland,  in  1738,  for  awhile  disturbed 

j  "^  "y^       the  tranquillity  of  Europe.     Louis  XV.  supported  the  claim  to  the  crown 

of  Stanislaus,  whose  daughter  he  had  married  in  1725,  and  was  assisted 

by  Spain,  but  was  opposed  by  the  emperor,  who  upheld  the  pretensions 

of  the  elector  of  Saxony. 

Bienville  was  this  year  re-appointed  governor  of  Louisiana.  He  did 
not,  however,  reach  the  province  until  the  following  year.  The  colonists 
hailed  the  return  of  their  former  chief,  who  had  devoted  the  prime  of  his 
life  to  the  service  of  their  country.  Perrier,  on  his  arrival,  returned  to 
France. 

A  frigate  brought  troops  to  complete  the  peace  establishment  of  the 
province,  according  to  the  arrest  of  the  king's  council  of  the  month  of 
November. 

For  the  double  purpose  of  promoting  the  king's  service,  and  the 
extension  of  agriculture  in  Louisiana,  it  was  provided  by  an  arrest  of  the 
king's  council  of  the  month  of  August,  1734,  that  there  should  be  annually 
granted  to  two  soldiers,  in  each  of  the  companies  of  French  troops 
serving  there,  a  furlough  and  a  tract  of  land,  subject  to  a  yearly  quit  rent 
of  a  sou  for  every  four  acres.  It  was  stipulated  that  the  grantees  should. 
within  three  years,  clear  such  a  part  of  the  land  as  the  governor  should  | 
designate,  and  during  that  period,  their  pay  and  rations  were  continueiJ 
to  them. 

The  Swiss  soldiers  were  likewise  entitled  to  such  a  grant,  at  tlie| 
expiration  of  the  time  for  which  they  had  been  enlisted. 

We  have  seen  the  king  kept  six  hundred  and  fifty  soldiers  in  the  I 
province.  They  were  divided  into  thirteen  conrpanies  of  fifty  men  I 
each,  which  gave  annually  twenty-six  new  farmers.  The  Swiss  companies  j 
gave  four  in  the  same  period. 

In  the  Fren(!h  troops,  the  selection  was  made  by  the  governor,  from  tliej 
soldiers,  who  conducted  themselves  the  best.  This  proved  a  valuablel 
measure,  promoting  good  order  among  the  men,  and  extending  agriculture.f 
Those,  who  thus  quitted  the  sword  for  the  plough,  became  in  time  ttiej 
heads  of  orderly  families,  and  many  of  their  remote  descendants  are  noffj 
persons  of  wealth  and  respectability. 

The  French  and  Spanish  arms  had  this  year  great  success  in  Italy;! 
Don  Carlos,  the  youngest  son  of  Philip  the  fifth,  who  afterwards  wajj 
Charles  the  third  of  Spain,  entered  the  kingdom  of  Naples,  at  the  head  ofj 
thirty  thousand  men,  and  made  himself  master  of  it. 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


173 


•  the  last 
'i  United 

*  for  its 
)ied  tract 
>f  neutral 

Florida. 
md  quiet 

trade  of 
ie  excited 
ranee  and 
Marseilles 

following 

!  disturbed 
I  the  crown 
as  assisted 
pretensions 

a.  He  did 
ic  colonists 
rime  of  his 
returned  tu 

nment  of  the 
e  month  of 

ce,  and  the 
irrest  of  the 
I  be  annually 
•euch  troops 
[rly  qwlt  rent 
itees  should, 
oriior  shouU 
|re  continut'il 

;rant,  at  the 

lldiers  in  the 

of  tifty  men 

liss  companies 

[nor,  from  the  I 
2d  a  val -"' 

"in  time  thel 
iants  are  iwffj 

Icess  in  Italy  i. 
Ifterwards  m 
|at  the  head  ot 


Although  large  quantities  of  coin  were  annually  sent  over  for  the  pay  and 
maintenance  of  the  troops,  and  the  expenses  of  the  colonial  government, 
the  means  of  remittance  which  agriculture  supplied  being  comparatively 
few  and  small,  the  merchants  hoarded  up  for  exportation  all  the  coin  they 
received.  The  province  found  itself  dramed  of  its  circulating  medium,  to 
the  great  injury  to  its  agriculture  and  internal  trade. 

By  an  edict  of  the  king,  which  bears  date  the  nineteenth  of  September, 
173o.  an  emission  of  card  money  to  the  amount  of  two  hundred  thousand 
jivrcs,  a  little  more  than  forty  thousand  dollars,  was  ordered  to  be  struck, 
;iivl  doclarod  reoeivablo  in  the  king's  warehouses  for  ammunition  or 
anything  sold  there,  or  in  exchange,  annually,  for  drafts  on  the  treasury 
of  the  marine  in  France. 

This  measure  had  been  solicited  by  the  colonists  ;  cards  were  accordingly 
struck  of  the  value  of  twenty,  fifteen,  ten  and  five  livres ;  fifty,  twenty-five, 
twelve  and  a  half,  and  six  and  a  quarter  sous — answering  tt)  the  emissions 
of  the  British  provinces  of  four,  three,  two  and  one  dollar,  halves,  quarters 
and  eighths  of  a  dollar. 

They  bore  the  king's  arms,  and  were  all  signed  by  the  comptroller  of 
the  marine,  at  New  Orleans.  Those  of  fifty  sous  and  more  were  also 
fdgned  by  the  governor  and  ordonnateur — the  others  had  the  paraphe  or 
flourish  of  these  two  officers  only. 
The  cards  were  declared  a  tender  in  all  payments  whatever. 
The  Natchez  and  Yazous,  who  had  found  refuge  among  the  Chickasaws, 
now  resumed  their  predatory  war  on  the  distant  settlements  of  the  colony, 
and  greatly  obstructed  its  communication  by  the  Mississippi  to  the 
Illinois,  the  Wabash  and  Canada.  A  number  of  Chickasaws  generally 
accompanied  these  marauding  parties.  As  the  province  could  enjoy  no 
tranquillity  while  such  outrages  were  not  suppressed,  Bienville  sent  an 
officer  to  the  principal  village  of  the  Chickasaws  to  insist  on  the  surrender 
of  the  Natchez.  He  was  informed  these  Indians  could  not  be  given  up, 
as  they  had  been  received  by,  and  incorporated  with  the  Chickasaw 
nation.  He  determined  to  go  and  take  them,  and  ordered  immediate 
preparations  for  an  expedition. 

For  this  purpose,  he  directed  the  Chevalier  d'Artaguette,  who  was  now 
m  command  at  Fort  Ghartres  of  the  Illinois,  to  collect  as  many  French 
and  Indians  as  he  could,  and  march  them  down  to  the  country  of  the 
Chickasaws,  in  order  to  join  the  troops  from  New  Orleans  and  Mobile, 
about  the  tenth  of  May. 

Leblanc,  who  was  the  bearer  of  these  orders  to  the  chevalier,  was  sent 
up  with  five  boats  laden  with  provisions  and  ammunition  for  Fort 
Chartres.  He  successfully  resisted  the  attack  of  a  party  of  the  enemy 
iiear  the  Yazou  river.  He  reached  that  of  the  Arkansas,  where  he 
landed  part  of  the  loading  of  his  boats,  which  had  been  too  heavily  laden. 
On  his  reaching  Fort  Chartres,  one  of  the  boats  was  sent  for  the  provisions 
at  the  Arkansas  ;  but  the  Indians,  who  had  attacked  him  on  his  way 
[  up,  fell  on  this  boat  and  killed  every  man  on  board,  except  a  lieutenant 
called  Dutisne,  who  commanded  the  party,  and  a  half  breed  of  the  name 
1  of  Rosaly. 

In  the  meanwhile,  another  officer  had  gone  among  the  Choctaws,  for 
I  the  purpose  of  inducing  some  of  the  chiefs,  in  the  several  villages  of  that 
1  nation,  to  meet  Bienville  at  Fort  Conde. 
At  this  meeting  the  French  chief  purchased  the  aid  of  his  red  allies, 


'« 


b5i 


'ifl 
m 


Iff 

I 


I  #j( 


174 


HISTORY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


l^. 


j^H 

^B 

jM    J.^ 

'^H 

H 

^^M 

i 

1 

J 

w 

Ijkj 

^S 

Bn 

I^H^p^ 

vKt 

Sri^^^   1; 

n 

^ "%''  '1 

1 

1 

H 

for  a  quantity  of  goods,  a  part  of  which  he  brought  from  New  Orleans 
and  now  delivered  to  them.  The  Choctaw  chiefs  engaged  to  collect  the 
warriors  of  their  nation  and  bring  them  to  the  standard  of  the  French • 
and  Bienville  returned  to  New  Orleans  to  hasten  the  march  of  the  foroe 
he  had  directed  to  be  assembled. 

A  sufficient  number  of  the  militia  was  left  in  the  forts,  and  two 
companies  marched  with  the  regulars  and  some  negroes,  whom  it  was  not 
thought  imprudent  to  trust  with  arms.  This  force  Avas  embarked  on  the 
bayou  St.  John  in  thirty  boats,  and  as  manv  large  i)irogues.  Bienville 
reached  Fort  Conde  with  it  on  the  tenth  of  Afarch. 

He  had  before  sent  a  strong  detachment,  under  the  order  of  Lusser,  to 
throw  up  a  small  work  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  at  the  distance  of  two 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  above  Fort  Conde,  and  on  the  same  side  of  the 
stream,  in  order  to  have  a  safe  place  of  deposit  for  the  provisions,  arms 
and  ammunition  that  had  been  sent  up  for  the  use  of  the  Choctaws, 
Here  some  of  Lusser's  men,  instigated  by  a  sergeant  of  the  name  of 
Montfort,  formed  the  design  of  availing  themselves  of  the  facility 
presented  by  their  great  distance  from  the  settlements  of  the  French,  to 
release  themselves  from  subjection,  by  nmrdering  their  officers  ami 
seeking  refuge  among  the  Chickasaws,  whom  they  were  sent  to  combat, 
or  among  the  English,  in  Carolina,  through  the  desert.  The  plot  was 
luckily  discovered,  at  the  moment  on  which  it  was  to  have  been  executed. 
The  sergeant  and  five  men  were  arrested,  but  Lusser  postponed  their  trial 
till  the  arrival  of  his  chief. 

The  army  had  left  Fort  Conde  on  the  fourth  of  April,  and  reached 
Tombeckbee  on  the  twentieth ;  a  court  martial  immediately  set  on  the 
jrisoners,  and  they  were  shot.  A  few  days  after,  the  Choctaws,  who  hail 
jeen  engaged  as  auxiliaries,  joined  Bienville,  and  he  delivered  to  them  the 
balance  of  the  goods  he  had  promised. 

Incessant  rains  and  inclement  weather  prevented  the  army  from  leaving 
Tombeckbee  before  the  fourth  of  Mjiy,  and  three  weeks  elapsed  before  it 
reached  the  spot  on  which  it  was  intended  to  land.  Some  time  was  now 
spent  in  erectmg  a  shed  for  the  reception  and  protection  of  a  part  of  the 
provisions  and  warlike  stores,  and  a  few  huts  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  sick.  Here  another  party  of  the  Choctaws  joined  the  army;  the 
number  of  these  auxiliaries  was  now  twelve  hundred. 

The  nearest  village  of  the  Chickasaws  wa.s  at  the  distuuce  of  twenty- 
seven  miles  to  the  northeast.  A  sufficient  force  being  left  to  protect  tlic 
sick  and  stores,  the  army  marched  in  two  columns  on  the  twenty-fifth. 
the  Choctaws  were  on  the  flanks.  A  halt  was  made  for  the  night  at  the 
distance  of  seventeen  miles ;  at  daybreak,  the  troops  started  in  perfect 
order  and  silence,  anil  came  in  sight  of  the  village  towards  noon  :  a  strong 
fort  had  been  erected  before  it.  The  Choctaws  yelling  ran  forward,  in  the 
hope  of  surprising  some  of  the  Chickasaws,  but  without  success. 

Bienville,  at  half  past  one,  formed  his  army  into  a  regular  square ;  as 
it  approached  the  fort  in  this  order,  he  ordered  it  to  halt,  and  directed  the 
major  part  of  the  regulars  and  militia  to  form  strong  detachments  and 
march  to  the  attack.  The  British  flag  was  flying  over  the  fort,  and  a  fc«' 
individuals  of  the  nation  were  perceived  in  it.  Fire  had  been  set  to  a  few 
cabins  near  the  fort,  from  which  the  French  might  be  annoyed;  they 
advanced  ten  deep,  shouting  vifc  le  roi,  but  were  much  distressed  by  the 
smoke  from  the  cabins  which  the  wind  blew  in  their  faces.    The  fort  noiv 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


175 


Orleans 
lect  the 
i'rench ; 
he  force 

,ud  two 
,  was  not 
d  on  the 
iit'uvilk" 

usser,  to 
;e  of  two 
le  of  the 
tns,  amis 
;hoctaw(i. 
name  of 
\  facility 
i^rench,  to 
icers  aiul 
o  conibut, 
>  plot  was 
executed, 
their  trial 

.d  reached 

set  on  the 

9,  who  had 

them  the 

oni  leaving 
id  before  it 
le  was  now 
part  of  the 
lodation  of 
army ;  the 

of  twenty- 
protect  till.' 
veutv-tifth: 
light  at  the 
in  \)erfei't 
in:  astronii 
Ivard,  in  the 

square ;  as 
ilirectedtlie 
(hments  awl 
]t,  and  a  few 

set  to  a  few 
loved;  they 

jsed  by  tbe 

'he  fort  now 


began  a  gnllinj?  fire ;  a  lieutenant,  a  sergeant  and  two  men  were  killed, 
and  Renaud  d'Auterivo,  an  officer  of  the  militia,  was  severely  wounded. 
The  Chickasaws  were  in  a  strong  fort,  surrounded  with  a  thiclc  palissado 
full  of  loop  holes  from  which  they  poured  forth  an  incessant  shower  of 
halls;  strong  and  thick  planks  covered  with  earth,  formed  over  the 
italissado,  a  (covering  impenetrable  to  the  grenade.  The  French  were 
unprotected  and  fell  back.  They  soon  advanced  again  ;  but  the  fire  from 
the  fort  made  a  great  havoc,  while  they  fired  in  vain  against  the  palissado. 
At  five  o'clock,  Bienville  seeing  Noyant,  Lusser,  Jussau  and  Girondel, 
four  of  his  best  officers,  and  manv  otners  disabled,  and  the  ammunition 
of  his  men  nearly  exhausted  without  the  hope  of  success,  ordered  a 
retreat,  and  sent  a  strong  detachment  to  support  it.  It  was  made  in  good 
order.  The  loss  was  thirty-two  killed  and  sixty-one  wounded.  The  force 
emploved  joined  the  rest  without  being  able  to  bring  away  the  bodies  of 
their  dead. 

The  evening  was  employed  in  throwing  up  a  small  entrenchment  around 
the  camp.  In  the  morning  the  French  saw  the  bodies  of  their  countrymen, 
who  fell  in  the  battle,  cut  into  quarters  and  stuck  up  on  the  pickets  of  the 
jtalissado  around  the  fort. 

During  this  day,  the  Choctaws  had  several  skirmishes  with  the 
Chickasaws. 

On  the  twenty-ninth,  the  army  began  to  retrograde,  and  encamped  within 
three  miles  only  of  the  field  of  battle,  and  on  the  next  day,  within  the 
?anie  distance  from  their  place  of  landing,  which  they  reached  on  the 
third  day.  Bienville  distributing  the  remainder  of  his  goods  among  the 
Choctaws,  dismissed  them  satisfied.  Taking  in  the  suite  of  the  army  the 
invalids  he  had  left  on  the  river,  he  floated  down  to  Fort  Conde,  where  he 
left  a  reinforcement  in  the  garrison,  and  landed  the  rest  of  his  men  on  the 
lianks  of  the  bayou  St.  John,  in  the  latter  part  of  June. 

A  pergoant  of  the  garrison  of  the  Illinois,  who  had  been  made  a 
prisoner  by  the  Chickasaws,  succeeded  so  far  in  securing  the  good  will  of 
the  Indian  to  whose  lot  he  had  fallen,  as  to  obtain  his  liberty  and  a 
sufficiency  of  provisions  to  enable  him  to  reach  the  settlements  of  the 
French.  He  came  to  New  Orleans  on  the  first  day  of  July.  Bienville 
I  learned  from  him  the  unfortunate  fate  of  the  Chevalier  d'Artaguette. 
This  officer  was  the  youngest  son  of  the  commissary  ordonnateur  of 
hat  name.  He  had  served  with  distinction  during  the  Avar  of  the 
I  Natchez,  and  had  been  left  by  Perrier  to  command  the  fort  which  this 
[(hief  had  directed  to  be  built  near  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Natchez. 
In  compliance  with  the  orders  which  Leblanc  had  brought  him  from 
iBicnville,  he  had  left  his  command  at  Fort  Chartres,  with  twelve  hundred 
linen,  chiefly  Indians.  Warned  by  the  fate  of  Lesueur,  who  having 
jhiought  a  body  of  Choctaws  near  the  fort  of  the  Natchez,  had  been 
linahle  to  contain  their.,  till  the  arrival  of  the  Chevalier  de  Loubois ; 
lirAitaguette,  by  occasionally  slacking  his  march  had  arrived  at  the 
jilaoe  of  rendezvous  mentioned  in  his  orders,  on  the  ninth  of  May ;  the 
fve  of  the  very  day  he  was  directed  to  arrive,  five  daj'S  after  Bienville  had 
p  the  Pinall  fort  at  Tombeckhee.  He  had  encamped  in  sight  of  the 
bemy  till  the  twentieth,  in  anxious  expectation  of  the  arrival  of 
"Bienville,  who  did  not  land  until  four  days  after ;  when  his  Indians,  like 
pile  Choctaws  at  the  Natchez,  grew  impatient  and  unmanageable,  and 
i'i?olutely  insisted  on  being  allowed  to  fight  or  to  withdraw.    Incapable 


.  'J 


176 


HISTORY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


Iti   ii 


w? 


'Uu 


of  restraining  his  turbulent  allies,  he  had  accepted  the  first  alternative 
and  successfully  attacked  the  fort  before  which  he  had  encamped.     Ht' 
drove   the  Chickasaws   from   it   and  the  village  it   ])r(»tected.      In  tlu' 
pursuit,  the  valorous  youth  had  driven  them  to  and  out  of  the  next  fort. 
and  was  chasing  them  to  a  third,  and  perhaps  their  last  entrenchment, 
Avhen  h"   received   a  wound — then   another,  which   threw   him   on  the 
ground  weltering  in  his  blood.      His  Indians,  on  the  fall  of  their  leader, 
retreated  in  all  directions.     Forty-eight  soldiers,  the  whole  of  the  garrison 
of  Fort  Chartres,  which  d'Artaguette  had  been  able  to  bring,  and  father 
Senac,  its  chaplain,  stood  by,  and  for  awhile  defended  their  prostrated 
leader.     But,  what  could  the  deserted  few  do?    They  were  overpowered, 
and  the  Indians  led  their  prisoners  to  the  fort  on  which,  had  fate  si)ared 
d'Artaguette  but  a  few  minutes,  he  would  have  planted  the  white  banner. 
His  companions  washed  and  dressed  his  wounds,  and  his  recovery  was 
speedy.     For  awhile,  the  Chickasaws  treated  their  captives  well :   thev 
knew    Bienville  was    advancing   with    a    strong  force,   and    promised 
themselves  great  advantages  from  the  possession  of  the  Frencn,  ami  at 
least  a  large  ransom.      But  the  reports  of  the  arrival  and  retrograde  of 
the  French  army  were  simultaneous,  and  the  foe,  elated  by  succea.s  and 
security,  dragged  out  his  unlucky  victims  to  a  neighboring  field,  liouml 
the  chevalier  and  the  father  to  the  same  stake,  and  tying  his  courageous 
adherents,   four  by   four  around   their  wordly  and    spiritual  leaders, 
extending  protection  to  the  sergeant  only,  consumed  their  victims  by  a 
slow  and  often  interrupted  fire. 

Vessels  from  France,  St.  Domingo  and  Martinico  frequently  came  to 
New  Orleans;  and  early  in  the  next  year  the  king  extended  a  further 
encouragement  to  the  commerce  of  the  province,  by  permitting  the 
exportation  of  any  article  of  its  produce  to  the  West  India  Islands,  and 
the  importation  of  that  of  these  islands,  to  Louisiana,  during  ten  years. 
The  royal  edict  is  of  February,  1787. 

The  Spaniards  at  this  time  began  to  make  great  depredations  on  the 
commerce  of  Great  Britain  in  the  West  India  seas.  Their guarda  (o.^tas 
seized  a  number  of  vessels  of  that  nation,  which  they  carried  into  the 
ports  of  the  main,  the  island  of  Cuba  and  Hispaniola,  for  condemnation 
under  the  pretense  that  they  were  engaged  in  a  contraband  trade  with 
the  colonies  of  Spain. 

Bienville,  on  his  return  from  the  unsuccessful  expedition  again.st  the 
Chickasaws,  planned  a  new  one,  in  which  he  proi)osed  to  reach  their 
country  by  the  Mississipi)i.  He  comnmnicated  his  views  to  the  mini.stir, 
who  submitted  them  tt)  the  chevalier  de  Beauharnois  (the  father  of  the 
first  husband  of  the  Empress  Josephine)  then  Governor  General  of  New 
France. 

Louis  XV.  was  not  successful,  in  the  war  he  had  undertaken,  to  phiie 
his  father-in-law  on  the  throne  of  Poland.     Tranquillity  was  momentarily  I 
restored  to  Europe  by  the  peace  of  1738,  which  left  the  Elector  of  yaxonv 
in  possession  of  the  crown,  and  T)(m  Carlos,  king  of  Naples.     Stanis^laiis,  | 
however,  was  permitted  to  retain  the  title  of  king,  and  became  Grand 
Duke  of  Lorrain  and  Bar.     While  the  war  that  had  been  wapcd  between  | 
the  emperor  and  the  kings  of  France  and  Spain,  was  thui  Im<  ught  to; 
close,  the  latter  sovereign  began  preparations  for  hostilities  against  Great  I 
Britain,  and  the  garrison  of  St.  Augustine  received  a  very  considerable 
reinforcement,  with  the  view  of  an  attack  on  the  contiguous  new  Britislil 


HISTORY  OP   LOUISIANA. 


it 


urovinoc  of  Georgia,  which  Philip  V.  considered  as  an  encronchnient  on 
the  dominions  of  his  crown,  while  George  II.  sent  six  hundred  men  there, 
nn(l«'r  the  orders  of  ({eneral  Oglethorpe. 

A8  soon  as  liienville  was  informed  tnat  the  minister  ai)pr()ved  his  plan 
(if  an  attack  on  the  Ghickasaws,  with  a  force,  which  was  to  ascend  the 
MisHissippi  from  New  Orleans,  and  come  down  from  Canada  and  the 
Illinois,  he  began  his  preparations.  It  is  not  easy  to  discover  on  what 
^Tound  better  success  was  promised,  in  this  way,  than  by  an  approach  of 
die  enemy's  country  up  the  river  Mobile;  the  greatest  fort  of  the  country 
iifthe  Indians,  was  to  the  west  of  that  river — and  an  army  landed  on  the 
hank  of  the  Mississippi  would  have  to  cross  the  country  of  the  Choctaws, 
in  its*  whole  width.  It  is  true,  the  latter  were  friendly  Indians — l)ut 
tliiiuf?h  this  added  much  to  the  security  of  the  forces,  it  increased  equally 
the  trouble,  fatigue  and  expense.  By  the  Mobile,  the  French  lauded  at 
(iiue  in  the  centre  of  the  enemy's  country. 

In  the  execution  of  his  j)lans,  Bienville  ordered  a  very  strong  detachment 
to  the  river  St.  Francis,  in  the  present  territory  of  Arkansas,  to  be 
immediately  employed  in  building  sheds  for  the  reception  of  the  troops, 
their  provisions,  arms  and  ammunition,  and  a  fort  for  their  protectit)n  ; 
this*  spot  appearing  the  most  convenient  as  a  place  of  deposit,  and  a 
rendezvous  for  the  forces  that  might  come  down  from  Canada  and  the 
Illinois. 

In  the  month  of  May,  of  the  following  year,  three  of  the  king's  ships, 
under  the  command  of  the  chevalier  de  Kerlerec,  landed  at  New  Orleans 
a  few  companies  of  the  marines  who  were  commanded  by  the  chevalier 
lie  Noailles. 

Everything  having  been  previously  arranged,  the  chevalier  de  Noyant, 
sot  off  with  the  vanguard  a  tew  days  after  the  arrival  of  the  reinforcements. 
The  main  body  successively  followed  in  large  detachments,  and  Bienville 
brought  up  the  rear.  The  army  reached  the  river  St.  Francis,  on  the  last 
of  June,  and  without  the  loss  of  much  time,  crossed  the  stream  to  the 
river  Margot,  on  the  opposite  side,  near  the  spot  on  which  the  present 
town  of  Memphis,  in  the  state  of  Tennessee,  stands. 

The  army  was  first  employed  in  providing  the  means  of  conveyance  for 
the  provisions,  arms,  ammunition  and  baggage,  and  in  building  a  fort, 
whieh  being  completed  on  the  fifteenth  of  August,  the  day  on  which  the 
against  the  Ht'atholic  church  celebrates  the  festival  of  the  Assumption  of  the  Virgin, 
reach  their  H'>va!>  eallod  the  fort  of  the  Assumption, 
the  minister,  H  Labuissoniere  who  had  succeeded  the  unfortunate  chevalier  d'Artaguette 
iathev  of  the  Bn  the  command  of  Fort  Chartres,  arrived  a  few  days  after  with  his 
lieral  of  Nt'^"  Hpirrison,  a  part  of  the  militia  of  the  Illinois  and  about  two  hundred 
I  Hndians.    He  was  followed  the  next  week  by  Celeron  and  St.  Laurent,  his 

Iken  to  phiii^  ■ieutenants,  who  commanded  a  company   of   Cadtts,  from  Quebec  and 
luioi'uentuvlly  Blontreal,  and  a  number  of  Canada  Indians. 

Tor  of  i^iixony  H  The  force  from  New  Orleans  consisted  of  the  Louisiana  regulars  and 

Stani!?huii*,  Biilitia,  the  companies  of    marines,    lately   landed    from    France,   and 

L?came  Grand Bpwards  of  sixteen  hundred  Indians.     So  that  Bienville  found  himself  at 

In^cd  between  ^Bie  head  of  upwards  of  twelve  hundred  white  and  double  that  number  of 

T I, j.  light  toaBndian  and  b^ack  troops. 

I  against  OreatH^ This  pompi'.ratively  very  large  army,  unaccountably  spent  six  months 
I  consideraWfBi  making  preparations  for  its  march.  In  the  meanwhile,  the  troops 
Ig  new  Britisl^^tely  arrived  from  France  became  unhealthy  and  many  died — the  climate 


wm 


I 


**' 


,1 .'- 1  ,^  ij'fl 


w'^mi 


178 


HISTORY   OF   LOl'ISIAXA. 


U  1' ' 


had  an  almost  (Miually  iKjlctorious  inHuonce  on  those  from  Cana<la.  The 
provisions  wore  now  exhausted,  and  such  was  the  dearth  of  them,  that 
liorses  were  shiuj^htered  for  food.  Early  the  next  yenr,  the  refiulars  and 
militia  of  (Canada  and  Louisiana,  who  had  escnjjed  the  autumnal  disease 
wen-  prostrated  hy  fannne  and  fatigue,  and  the  chief  was  compelliMJ  u> 
conline  his  call  for  service,  to  his  red  and  black  men.  They  were  his  only 
effectual  force. 

On  the  fifteenth  of  March,  Celeron  marche<l  the  ronnvinder  of  Iijs 
(.'anadian  Cadets  to  whom  about  a  hundred  other  white  soldiers  won 
added.  This  s-uiall  body,  with  the  negroes  and  Indiana,  began  the  nianli 
towards  the  villjigc  of  the  Chickasaws,  and  Celeron  was  instructed  tn 
promise  peace  to  tliese  Indians  if  it  was  asked. 

The  enemy  had  licen  apprised  of  the  arrival  of  Bienville,  with  a  veiv 
Ifirge  army  ;  and  when  they  i)erceived  the  colors  of  Celeron's  company,  ii 
few  white  men  and  an  immense  body  of  Indians,  on  each  flank,  they  Iiad 
no  doubt  that  the  whole  force  of  Bienville  was  there.  In  the  terror  wliicli 
this  delusion  excited,  most  of  the  warriors  came  out  of  the  fort,  and 
approaching  Celeron  in  an  humble  posture,  bogged  him  to  give  theiii 
])eace  and  vouchsafe  to  be  their  intercessor  with  Bienville ;  assurinjj;  him 
they  would  l)e  the  inseparable  friends  of  the  French  ;  swearing  thoy  had 
been  excited  to  hostilities  by  the  English  from  Carolina,  who  had  come  to 
their  villages ;  and  protestmg  they  had  entirely  renounced  any  futuii' 
connection  with  them.  Thev  said  thev  had  lately  made  two  individuals 
of  that  nation  prisoners  and  detained  them  in  the  fort ;  they  prossoil 
Celeron  to  send  one  of  his  officers  to  the  fort  that  he  might  be  satisfied  nf 
the  trutli  of  what  they  told  him ;  St.  Laurent  was  accordingly  sent. 

As  he  entered,  the  squaws  began  to  yell  and  scream  loudly,  and 
demanded  his  head.  On  this  he  was  seized  and  confined  in  a  hut,  whib 
the  men  were  deliberating  on  the  demand  of  the  women ;  at  last,  tin 
l)arty  who  deemed  it  dangerous  to  grant  it,  prevailed,  and  St.  Laurent 
was  taken  out,  and  shown  the  white  prisoners.  Pleased  at  the  hapjiy 
turn  the  affairs  had  taken,  he  promised  peace  to  the  Indians  in  the  name 
of  Celeron.  They  all  followed  him  to  the  camp,  where  the  captain  ratifieil 
his  lieutenant's  promise. 

A  deputation  of  the  Chickasaws,  joining  the  French  on  their  rctrojjirade 
march,  Celeron  led  back  his  force  to  the  Mississippi,  where  the  calumet 
was  presented,  by  the  Chickasaws,  to  Bienville.  They  renewed  to  him 
the  protestation  of  their  devotion,  to  the  interests  of  the  French,  and 
presented  him  the  two  Englishmen.  The  calumet  was  accepted,  and  the  j 
dej)uties  were  permitted  to  return. 

The  fort  of  the  Assumption  was  raised  and  Labuissonnicre  and  ColeMiii 
ascended  the  river  with  those  of  their  men,  whom  disease  and  famine 
had  spared.     The  force  from  New  Orleans  stopped  at  the  river  St.  Francis  [ 
to  dismantle  the  fort,  and  then  floated  down  to  the  city. 

Thus  ended  the  Chickasaw  war,  undertaken  by  Bienville  to  compel 
these  Indians  to  surrender  the  Natchez,  who  had  found  an  asylum  amoniij 
the  former.  Peace  was  made  on  the  promise  of  the  Indians  of  one  of  the  | 
villages  of  the  enemy,  to  be  in  future  the  devoted  friends  of  the  French-I 
purchased  at  the  price  of  manv  valuable  lives,  at  a  vast  expense bosideJl 
and  with  great  distress  and  toil.  The  French  chief  acquired  no  militarv^ 
glory  from  the  war. 

While  tranquillity  appeared  thus  restored  to  Louisiana,  that  of  Europe  I 


HISTORY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


179 


,.  Tlu- 
:m,  that 
lurs  ani 

(liscaw 

H'llcil  t(i 

bin  tiuly 
■   of  his 

Ol'S    WCVf 

w  luiircli 
ucti'tl  til 

th  tv  very 
mpany,  ;i 
they  hud 
•rovwhkli 
fort,  anil 
give  thcui 
Lirini^  h\i\i 
r  they  had 
ad  coniotii 
ivny  future 
itiaividuals 
cy  prcHsi'il 
patistied  of 

Bent. 

oudly,  and 

I  hut,  whil' 

at  last,thf 

St.  Laurent 

the  hapvy 
^n  the  name 
itain  ratified 

ir  retrograde 
[the  calumet 
»wcd  to  him 
[French,  ami 
}ted,  and  the 

and  Cidermi  I 
and  famine 
iY  St.  Francis 

lie  to  compel 
tvluniamt'ns 
of  oneoftliel 
khe  French- 1 
fensebe?idc5. 
|d  no  military 

lat  of  Europe 


wnH  disturbed,  at  the  death  of  the  Emperor  Charles  the  sixth,  on  the 
twentieth  of  iSepteniber,  1740,  without  mah;  issue.  Aecording  to  tho 
prnpniatie  sanetion,  by  which  in  1713  it  had  been  i)rovided,  that  his 
chiest  daughter  should  succeed  him,  Maria  Theresa  ascended  the  throne. 
Louis  the  fifteenth  united  with  Prussia  and  Poland,  in  sujjport  of  the 
pretensions  of  the  Duke  of  Bavaria,  to  the  imperial  sceptre,  and  the  dogs 
(if  war  were  let  loose. 

The  chevalier  de  Beauharnois,  (tovernor-Cicneral  of  New  France,  wns 
succeeded  by  the  count  de  la  Gallissoniere. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

TiiK  Marc^uis  de  Vaudreuil,  a  son  of  the  late  Governor-deneral  of  New 
France,  Avas  in  1741,  appointed  Governor  of  Louisiana,  and  Bienville  sailed 
buck  to  France,  much  regretted  by  the  colonists.  The  latter  was  the 
voungest  son  of  Lemyone  de  Bienville,  a  gentleman  of  Quebec,  who  had 
seven  sons  in  the  service  of  his  sovereign.  Bienville,  the  eldest,  fell  in 
battle  in  Canada.  Iberville,  Herigny,  Sauvolle,  Chateaugue  and  St.  Helene, 
liave  all  been  mentioned  in  this  work.  The  youngest,  to  whom  the 
name  of  the  eldest  had  been  given,  came,  as  we  have  said,  to  Louisiana, 
with  Iberville,  in  1698.  He  was  then  twenty -two  years  of  age,  and  a 
midshipman  in  the  royal  nav^.  He  remained  in  the  province  continually, 
except  during  the  Administration  of  Perrier,  and  was  the  chief  in 
command,  during  most  of  the  time.  He  was  called  the  father  of  the 
country,  and  deserved  the  appellation. 

The  commerce  of  Louisiana,  released  from  the  restraints  of  tho  exclusive 
privilege  of  the  company,  now  began  to  thrive.  Indigo  was  cultivated  to 
a  considerable  extent,  and  with  much  success,  and  with  rice  and  tobacco, 
afforded  easy  means  of  remittance  to  Europe,  while  lumber  found  a  market 
ill  the  West  India  islands.  The  Chickasaws  were  less  turbulent;  a 
circumstance  attributed  to  the  employment  which  war  gave  to  the  people 
of  South  Carolina  and  Georgia. 

The  increase  of  trade  caused  litigation,  and  it  was  deemed  necessary  to 

create  new  officers  in  the  superior  council.      Accordingly,  the  governor 

and  the  commissary  ordonnateur  were,  by  the  king's  letters  patent  of  the 

I  month  of  August,  1742,  directed  to  appoint  four  assessors,  to  serve  for  a 

period  of  four  years  in  that  tribunal.     They  were  to  sit  in  rank  after  the 

councillors;  but  their  votes  were  received  only,  in  cases  in  which  the 

record  was  referred  to  them  to  report  on,  when  they  were  called  upon  to 

complete  a  quroum,  or  in  case  of  an  equality  of  votes.     The  choice  of  the 

Itwo  administrators,  for  the  first  time,  fell  on  Delachaise,  a  son  of  the  late 

jcommissary  ordonnateur,  Delalande  d'Aspremont,  Amelot  and  Massy. 

I  The  Spaniards  this  year  made  an  unsuccessful  attempt  on  the  province 

|of  Georgia. 

With  a  view  of  having  Nova  Scotia  (which  had  been  restored  to 
iGreat  Britain  at  the  peace  of  Utrecht)  occupied  by  national  subjects, 
jthe  former  French  inhabitants  had  been  mostly  driven  away;  three 
Ihousand  families  were  brought  over,  at  a  great  expense  defrayed  by 
pvemment,  and  three  regiments  were  stationed  there  to  protect  these 

people  against  the  French  of  Canada  and  the  Indians, 


/%/ 


'■J 


ISO 


mSTOUY  Ol"  i.onsiANA. 


;  'ir^ 


l|ir^^i 


ill-  ' 


(icorjic  tlu'  second  Imvinj?  taken  nrinn  in  support  of  the;  claiiu  of  Mmi., 
Theresa  to  the  thn»ne  of  lier  father,  and  havin^j;  in  person  gained  tli,. 
famous  l)attle  of  Dettin^^en  against  the  allied  torees,  war  was  kindled 
between  France  and  (Jrtjat  liritain. 

llostilitii's  Ix'jian  in  America,  by  friMiuent  irruptions  of  the  Frciich 
from  Caniula  into  Nova  Scotia.  A  snndl  land  and  naval  force  from  the 
ishmd  (d'Cape  Breton,  afterwards  possessed  itsidf  of  the  town  of  Canccaiix, 
anil  made  its  j^arrison  and  some  of  the  inhabitants  prisoners.  ,V  less 
successful  attatdv  was  mad(!  on  AnnapolLs — the  French  beinj;  driven  imik 
bv  the  <i:iirrison,  which  had  been  reinforced  by  a  stronj?  detachment  fn»iii 
ISlassaiduisetts.  The  conquest  of  Nova  iScotia  being  a  favorite  ()i»ject  with 
the  people  (d'  Canada,  Duvivier  was  .sent  to  France  to  solicit  the  niinistcr 
to  si'ud  out  a  suHicient  force  for  this  ])uri)ose. 

l.ouisiana  sutl'cred  a  great  deal  from  thi;  want  of  a  circulating  inodiiiin. 
Card  mon(\v  had  causeil  the  disappearance  of  the  gold  and  silver  circu- 
lating in  the  colony  before  its  emission,  and  its  subsecpient  depreciation 
had  induced  the  commissary  ordonnateur  to  have  recounte  lo  an  issue  of 
<ir(hiiiaiircs,  a  kind  of  bills  of  credit,  which  although  not  a  legal  tender, 
from  the  want  of  a  metallic  currency,  soon  became  ano)>ject  of  connnerce. 
They  were  foil  )wed  by  treasury  notes,  which  lieing  receivable  in  the 
discduirge  of  all  claims  of  the  treasury,  soon  got  into  circulation.  This 
cumulation  of  public  securities  in  the  n)arket  within  a  short  time  threw 
them  all  into  discredit,  and  gave  rise  to  an  f/f/^Nu/r,  highly  injirioustn 
commerce  and  agricultun;. 

While  Duvivier  was  gone  to  Fran(!e  to  induce  the  niinistei  t'>  turnifl; 
means  for  the  recapture  of  Nova  Scotia,  (iovernor  Shirley,  of  Massaiduisett.". 
had  disi^atched  captain  Ryall,  an  officer  of  the  garrison  captured  at 
Canceaux,  to  represent  the  danger  in  which  the  province  of  Nova  Scoti;' 
stood,  to  the  lords  of  the  admiralty,  and  press  them  for  sonic  niival 
assistance.  The  captain  was  also  charged  to  present  a  plan,  which 
Governor  Shirley  had  formed,  for  the  surprise  and  capture  of  the  island 
of  Cape  Breton,  the  possession  of  which,  in  the  M^Mghborhood  of  New 
Foundland,  enabled  the  French  to  annoy  the  fisheries  and  conunerce  of 
Great  Britain.  Although  nearly  eight  millions  of  dollars  had  been  spent 
by  France  on  the  fortifications  o^  that  island,  the  smallness  of  the  garrisoi), 
and  the  vicinity  of  the  British  provinces,  induced  Shirley  to  conclude  it 
might  be  easily  taken  by  surprise  :  the  idea  had  not  originated  with  hini, 
but  had  been  suggested  by  Vaughan,  a  merchant  of  New  Hampshire. 

Ryall's  mission  had  no  other  effect  than  a  direction  to  the  commander 
of  the  squadron  in  the  West  Indies,  to  proceed  to  the  north  in  the  i^prin^ 
to  aflford  protection  to  the  commerce  and  fisheries  of  the  New  Engliind 
provinces,  and  distress  those  of  the  French ;  and  the  governors  were 
instructed  to  aid  him  with  transports,  men  and  provisions. 

In  the  meanwhile,  Vaughan's  plan  had  been  submitted  to  the  legi-sluture 
of  the    provinces,   and    those   of   New   Hampshire,   Massachusetts  ami  I 
Connecticut,  had  raised  about  four  thousand  men,  and  the  governors  ul 
the  two  first  colonies,  had  taken  upon  themselves,  on  this  occasion  to 
disregard  their  instructions,  and  to  give  their  assent  to  bills  for  the  emission  j 
of  paper  money. 

The  colonial  forces  assembled  at  Canceaux,  towards  the  middle  of  April,! 
and  were  put  under  the  order  of  Vaughan,  and  soon  after  the  West  India  j 
fleet  arrived. 


»f  MiM'iii 

lU'il    tlic 

kindli'il 

Krcnch 
t'runi  tlic 
uni't'iiux, 
1.  A  los 
ivou  liai'k 
u'ut  t'ruiu 
l)j('ct  witli 
,!  niinistcr 

<;  inodiuiii. 
Ivi'V  I'iri'U- 
spriH'iutiitn 
m  iHsue  of 
i^n\  temU'r. 
C'oininenc. 
l)le  in  {\\v 
tion.    Tins 
time  tliVL'w 
inj  irious  til 

i  t<>  tiirnifV. 

SSlU'HuSl'lt!'. 

Novii  Scotii' 
Honie  naviil 
plan,  whit'li 
,f  the  island 
|ood  of  New 
[oininerce  of 
ll  been  spent 
[the  garrison, 
conclude  it 
jd  with  him, 
.pshire. 
,  commander 
in  the  s^prin?  | 
fsew  England 
ernors  were 

lie  lej^islature 
[chusetts  and 

governor!*  ut 
y  occasion  to 

■the  emission 


IIIHTOHY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


11^1 


Iddleof    .,, 
le  West  hulia 


A  hunling  on  tlu'  Isliiml  was  oft'cctcd  a  few  days  afti'i*.  and  wliilc  1  he  fleet 
(Yus  eruising  ofl"  Louishonrjr,  it  fell  in  with  a  sixty-tnur  gnn  ship  from 
Kmnce,  with  five  liundnMl  and  sixty  men,  destini'd  for  the  garcisun  and  an 
ample  supply  of  provisions  an<l  military  stores  ;  she  was  cajitured,  and  tho 
land  forces  soon  after  eompi'lUMl  the  garrison  to  snrrender. 

In  th(!  meanwhihi,  the  snceor  that  Duvivitn-  ha<l  Ikkmi  sent  to  solicit, 
hiid  heen  ol>tained  ;  seven  shii>s  of  war,  with  a  considerahlc!  laml  force, 
sailed  from  France,  in  the  month  of  July.  They  wens  ordered  to  stop  at 
|,(»uisliourg,  where  they  were  to  he  joined  |)y  a  numluir  of  volunteers  from 
Canada,  for  the  attack  of  Nova  Scotia.  Information  reached  the  fleet, 
Hiiiii  after  its  departure,  of  tho  fall  of  Louishourg,  and  (tf  a  Hritish  fleet 
cruising  in  its  vicinity ;  the  jdan  was  ahandoned  and  tho  fleet  returned 
into  port. 

(heat  preparations  were  made  hy  hoth  nations  in  tho  following  year. 
The  Hritish  determined  on  simultaneous  attacks  on  ('anada,  from  sea  and 
the  lakes,  and  a  very  considerahlo  force  was  collc(!te(l  for  this  ])urposo. 
Till'  Freiudi  e<iuippod  a  large  fleet  und(!r  the  Duke  D'Anville  for  tho 
iv-captinv  of  tljo  Island  of  ('api;  Breton  and  Nova  Scotia;  hut  like  tho 
Spanish  armada,  this  fleet  was,  if  not  destroyed,  dispersed  hy  the  winds 
and  the  waves  ;  most  of  the  shi])s  were  disaldod.  The  apnrehension  which 
its  approach  excited,  induced  the  British  to  turn  towanls  the  nroteetion 
(if  their  (»wn  territories  the  forces  they  had  assemhle<l  for  tho  reduction  of 
Canada. 

I'hilip  the  fifth  of  Spain  ended  his  second  reign  and  his  life,  in  the  sixty- 
third  year  of  his  age,  on  the  ninth  of  July,  and  was  succeeded  hy  his 
second  son,  Ferdinand  the  sixth,  having  himself  heen  succeeded  hy,  and 
succeeded,  his  first. 

Louisiana  was  this  year  visited  by  a  destructive  hurricane,  which  laid 
the  plantations  waste,  and  totally  destroyed  the  rice  croj).  This  article  was 
used  in  most  families,  as  a  substitute  for  broad.  The  consequent  distress 
was  greatly  increased  by  the  capture  of  several  vessels  that  had  sailed 
from  France,  with  provisions.  The  province  was,  however,  relieved  by 
large  supplies  of  flour  from  tho  district  of  th;i  Illinois,  amounting  it  is  said, 
ti»  four  thousand  sacks.  This  part  of  tho  i)rovince  was  alroatly,  at  this 
period,  of  considerable  importance.  In  a  letter  to  the  minister,  Vaudreuil 
wrote,  "  we  receive  from  the  Illinois,  flour,  corn,  bacon,  hams,  both  of  bear 
and  hog,  corned  pork  and  wild  beef,  myrtle  and  beeswax,  cotton,  tallow, 
leather,  tobacco,  lead,  copper,  buffalo,  wool,  venison,  poultry,  bear's  grease, 
nil,  skin.a,  fowls  and  hides.  Their  boats  come  down  annually,  in  the  latter 
jiart  of  December,  and  return  in  February." 

War  drew  off  the  attention  of  the  i)eoi)ie  of  South  Carolina  and  Georgia ; 
and  the  Indians,  left  to  themselves,  did  not  annoy  the  distant  settlements 
|<ifthe  French,  and  that  in  the  neighborhood  of  Fort  Chartres  was  in  a 
jvery  flourishing  condition. 

The  extension  of  agriculture  and  commerce  drew  the  attention  of  the 
Ijiovornnient  to  the  roads  in  the  colony,  and  regulations  were  made  for  their 
instruction  and  repairs.  The  office  of  overseer  of  the  highways  was 
[created  and  given  to  Olivier  Duvezin,  who  was  also  appointed  the  king's 
jsurveyor  general  in  the  province.  His  commission  bears  date  the  month 
[of  October,  1747. 

The   incapacity  of   many   of  the   })ersons   who  had  been  appointed, 
[principally  in  the  distant  posts,  to  make  inventories  of  estates  of  the 


188 


IIIHTOUY   OF    LoriHIANA. 


B 

ft 

m 

i'.  iVHMbmi>i 

k^ 

•ItrcjiHctl  mill  similar  iictn,  joiucfl  to  tlu'  irnpoHsihility  oftiMi  of  limlinj,' iii,\ 
piTHoM  to  lie  n|)poiiit«><l,  had  caiisol  in  inaiiy  iiiHtaiicttH,  the  oiiiinHioii  ni' 
the  fonnalitics  riniuircd  l»y  law;  ^rn-at  iiicoMVcnirru'e  had  iTsulttd  Irmii 
the  lU'ccHsity  imposed  on  the  HUpcrior  couiu'il.  of  duclariiin  some  of  tlicM' 
arts  al>s(»lut('ly  null.  On  the  rrprcsi-ntationM  of  tho  colonists,  a  rcinch 
for  this  evil  was  sought,  and  a  declaration  of  the  king's  council,  ,,|' 
the  thirteenth  of  March,  174H,  pmvich  \  that  any  inventory  nr  dtjiir 
instrument,  made  in  any  of  the  posts  of  tin;  province,  in  which  then;  wm* 
no  i»ul>lic  (»Hicer,  and  even  in  those  in  which  tlu^re  waH  suidi  luj  olliccr,  ji< 
in  New  Orleans,  Mobile  and  the  Illinois,  where  the  legal  formalities  wire 
omitted,  should  he  valid,  provided  there  was  no  fraud  ;  and  such  inventurv 
or  other  puhlic  instrument  should,  within  the  year  after  the  puhlicntimi 
of  the  declaratii>n,  Ik;  presented  to  the  su))erior  council,  and  on  the  motion 
of  the  attoriu'y-general,  ree(»rde(l,  in  <»rder  to  prevent  litigation,  in:  | 
promote  the  peace  of  families. 

New  Orleans,   Mohile  and  the   Illinois  being  the   only    places  in  rlir 
ovince,   where   j)ublic   olHcers  resided,  it  was  directed  that  clsewlim. 


)r( 


pui 
thei 


niventories  and  other  nublic  acts  might  in  future  he  made  by  two  notiiMi 
inhabitants,  attended  by  nn  (Mjual  nund»er  of  witnesses,  jind  witiiin  the 
year  transmitted  for  registry  to  the  superior  council  in  New  OrIcaii>,  ,ir 
the  inferior  trilnnials  in  Mobile,  or  the  Illinois. 

The  winter  was  this  year  ho  severe,  that  iUI  the  orange  treeH  wm 
destroyed — a  misfortune  of  which  this  is  the  first  instance  on  record. 

The  peace  of  Aix  la  C'hapelle,  on  the  eighteenth  dav  of  ()(^tol)er,  sottld 
the  dissensions  of  Europe  and  put  an  end  to  the  warfare  between  ('aiiiiu;! 
and  New  England.  Maria  Therowa  was  recognized  as  Empress,  and  iVn 
Carlos,  the  third  son  of  Philip,  retained  the  crown  of  the  two  Siciliw, 
Louis  XV.  and  tieorge  II.  agreed  that  all  concpiestH  made  during  tho  wnr 
should  be  restored,  and  the  French  re-possessed  the  island  of  Capo  Brdmi. 

The  i)rovision  made  by  the  treaty  of  Utrecht  for  defining  the  l»ouii(liin 
between  Canada  and  Acadia,  had  not  been  carried  into  effect.  The  caltimt 
of  Versailles  urged  that  by  the  cession  of  Acadia,  nothing  had  been  yieldcil. 
but  the  peninsula  formed  l)y  the  V)ay  of  Fundy,  the  Atlantic  and  the  gulf 
of  Ht.  Lawrence —  that  of  St.  James  claimed  all  the  land  to  the  south  nf 
tlie  river  St.  Lawrence.  Unfortunately,  measures  were  not  taken,  at  tli" 
pacification  of  Aix  la  Chanelle.  to  remove  this  source  of  controversy. 

On  the  twenty-fifth  of  November,  the  king  prolonged  for  six  years,  th' 
exemption  he  had  granted  to  vessels  trading  to  Louisiana,  from  carrvin: 
thither  the  number  of  redemptioners  and  muskets,  which  were  required  ti 
be  taken  to  his  other  American  colonies. 

Larouvilliere,  succededed  Salmon  as  Commissary  Ordonnateur,  in  ih 
latter  part  of  the  following  year. 

Several  individuals  in  England  and  Virginia  had  associated  thcinwlvc"! 
under  the  style  of  the  Ohio  company  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  on  tin' 
Indian  trade,  and  effecting  a  settlement  on  the  land  bordering  on  tliiitj 
stream.     They  obtained  from  the  crown  a  grant  of  six  hundred  thousanil 
acres  of  land  on  the  western  side  of  the  Alleghany  mountains.     Their | 
surveyors  and  traders  soon  crossed  the  ridge,  and  erected  block  houses  iind 
stores  among  the   Indians.      The   Marquis   de   la  Jonquiere,  who  had 
succeeded   the  Count  de   la  Gallissoniere  in  the   government  of  ^oi 
France,  considering  the  country  thus  occupied  as  part  of  the  dominion?! 
of  his  sovereign,  complained  to  governor  Colden,  of  New  York,  anill 


L'ovcrnor 

iiM'tit,  niid 

tlirlll  it  hi 

•■■izc  the  ij 

The  Kr( 

•iiiiill  defa 

iii.'ikiiig  pr 

till'  latter  s 

tipivn  of  I'i 

Illinois,  til 

Srw  Orlcai 

'  f  St.  Lawi 

Tile  (plot 

li'hiiicnf,  w 

S'|itciiil»cr, 

'i«iii|)aiiieH. 

Tlic  agric 

llii'  fanners  > 

raised  in  Loi 

trt'o-tliirds. 

The  rciiioi 

.Vciv  V(»rk  ai 

into  e.xccutio 

trailers  anion 

The  king 

I  l.f»iii(iiana,  h^ 

province,  fron 

111  1741     l.n„r,  J 


['u\^  any 
\Hti'un\  111' 
ti'tl  fnnii 

ot'  tlu'M' 

I  ri'iiifily 
luu'il,  oi 
or  ntlitr 
tlit'rt!  \v:is 
ntVifcr,  ;[■* 
itii'H  wtri' 
invt'Utiiry 
lultUcutiiiii 
i\w  inotii'ii 
iition,  iiU'l 

I'cs  in  t!ii' 
flscwliiri. 

\v<>  notiilili' 
witliin  till' 

OrlciviiN  or 

)l)(M-,    SCtlll'l 

■ecu  ('lUKuli 
srt,  and  l)"i> 
two  Sicilies. 
iiVfj  tlu'  war 
|('iH)e  BiTtdU. 
|\(»  l)oun<l!uy 
The  oaiiinit 
hu't>n  yieltlc'l 
iiiul  the  gulf 
,he  south  iif 
iikeii,  at  til" 
roversy. 
|ix  yoars.  tlv 
•oin  carvyin:  i 
re  roqviireil ti 


lateuv,  111 


till' 


Ld  thcms^i'lvi" 
Tvrvinp; «"  ^'"' 


jring  on 


thiit 


IllKTOHY   OF    l.oriHIANA. 


18B 


Ired  thousanil 
(tains.     Tlu'irl 
Ick  houses  am 
^rc,  who  bill! 
Inent  of  ^^H 
Ihe  dominionq 
]w  York,  anil| 


j;nV('rnor  Iliimilton,  of  I'<  iniHylvanin,  of  what  h«»  viowcfl  as  an  i'n('ron«'li- 
iiii'iit,  iind  iisHurt'tl  them  lliiit,  if  this  notii-c  was  disrc^'ardt'd,  he  should 
,1,(111  it  Ids  indishcnsiddc  duty  to  arrest  tlio  survoyors  and  tniWors,  and  to 
..izc  tin'  .uoods  ot  the  hitter. 

Tlic  Kri'iich  had  then  a  lar^^c  force  at  ProHqiilsh'  (»n  lako  Kri«>,  and 
.mail  dclufhnn.'nts  on  I'.i-nfdi  cri'ck  and  the  Allcj^hany  river,  and  were 
making.'  preparations  for  building  a  eonsiderahle  fort,  at  the  eonllui^ice  of 
the  latter  stream  and  the  Mononyahela,  the  snot  on  \vhi(di  now  stands  the 
towii  nf  I'ittshur};.  This  fort,  with  those  on  lake  Ontario,  at  \ia}i:ira,  the 
llliiidis,  the  Chickasaw  'IuH'h,  tlie  Yazous,  Nat(diez,  i'ointe  ('oupee  and 
Stw  Orleans,  was  intei  til  to  form  a  coni\(!ctiMK  line,  l)etw(»(»n  the  j^ulfs 
I  f  St.  LawnMice  and  Mexico. 

The  (piota  of  troops  for  tlio  service  (»f  th{>  province,  on  the  peace  estah- 
li«liiaent,  was  fixed  Kv  an  arrest  of  the  kinfj;'s  council  dated  the  .'iOth  of 
Si']it('iiilicr,  17'>(),  at  ei}Tht  hundrcil  and  fifty  men,  dividofl  into  seventeen 
Kiiiiimnios. 

The  afjriculture  of  the  province  was  favored  hy  an  arrangement  with 
thf  farmers  <.;eneral  of  the  kinj^dom,  who  a^reiMl  to  purchase;  all  the  to!»acco 
niiscd  in  Louisiana  at  thirty  livn's  the  humlred,  equal  to  six  d(dlars  and 
UVD-tliirds. 

The  remonstrances  of  the  Marquis  de  la  Jon<niiere  to  the  povornors  of 
New  York  and  Pennsylvania  having?  heen  disre«iard(!(l,  ho  i)Ut  his  throats 
into  execution  1)V  the  seizure  of  the  persons  and  goods  of  several  British 
trailiTH  among  tfie  Twigtwees. 
Tlu!  king  had  favored  in  17-*^!,  the  eommorco  of  his  suhjects  to 
I,oui!*iana,  hy  exempting  all  merchandise  sent  to,  or  brought  from  tho 
iirovince,  from  duty  during  a  iwriod  of  ton  years,  and  tho  exemption  had 
111  1741,  l»con  extended  for  a  like  period.  It  was  hy  an  arrest  of  the  king's 
(dunoil,  dated  the  last  of  Sentemher,  farther  prolonged  during  a  third 
licriod  of  the  same  duration  :  hut  with  ri'gard  to  foreign  merchandise  sent 
[  there,  it  was  restricted  to  salt  beef,  butter,  tallow  and  spices. 

Two  hundred  recruits  arrived  from  France  on  tho  seventeenth  of  April, 
fur  the  completion  of  the  cjuota  of  troons  allotted  to  the  province.  The 
kinii's  ships  in  which  they  were  embarKod,  touched  at  the  cape,  in  the 
island  of  Hispaniola,  where,  with  a  view  of  trying  with  what  success  the 
siwar  cane  could  be  cultivated  on  the  hank.s  of  the  Mississi^ipi,  the  Jesuits 
(if  that  Lsland  were  permitted  to  ship  to  their  brethren  in  Louisiana  a 
quantity  of  it.  A  number  of  negroes  acciuainted  with  the  culture  and 
manufacture  of  sugar,  came  in  the  fleet.  The  canes  w(!re  planted  on  the 
land  of  the  fathers  immediately  above  the  citv,  in  the  lower  part  of  tho 
snot  now  known  as  the  suburb  St.  Mary.  Before  this  time  tho  front  of 
tiic  plantation  had  been  improved  in  the  raising  of  the  myrtle  wax  shrub; 
the  rest  was  sown  with  indigo. 

The  myrtle  wax  shrub  is  very  common  in  Louisiana,  Florida,  Georgia, 
the  Carolinas  and  Virginia,  and  not  rare  in  the  more  northern  states  on 
[the  Atlantic.  It  hears  grapes  of  very  diminutive  bluish  berries,  the  seeds 
iof  which  are  included  in  a  hard,  oblong  nucleus,  covered  by  an  unctuous 
and  farinaceous  substance,  easily  reducible  into  wax.  In  November  and 
peeemher,  the  berries  being  perfectly  ripe,  are  boiled  in  water,  and  the 
ivax  detaches  itself  and  floats  on  the  surface.  It  is  then  skimmed  off  and 
uffered  to  cool.  It  becomes  hard  and  its  color  a  dirty  green ;  after  a 
wond  boiling,  the  color  becomes  clearer.    The  candles  made  of  this  wax 


5      Uj 

id 


[,■:« 


1i. 


15 '  I  *f#P 


w 


'il "' 


1  *   'I' 


•■^l 


184 


HISTOHY   OF   LOUISIANA, 


exhale,  in  burninj.',  a  very  plensiint  odor.  Unsuccessful  uttempts  liavc 
been  made  to  bleach  it.  It  is  apt  to  erack,  and  is  rendered  tenacious,  hy 
being  mixed  with  tallow  or  soft  wax. 

The  ships  landed  also  sixty  jmor  girls,  who  were  brought  over  at  tlio 
king's  expense.  Thov  were  the  last  succor  of  this  kind,  which  the  inothor 
country  supplied,  l^hey  were  given  in  marriage  to  such  soldiers  whose 
good  conduct  entitled  them  to  a  discharge.  Land  was  allotted  to  each 
coujjle  with  a  cow  and  calf,  a  cock  and  five  hens,  a  gun,  axe  and  hup. 
Durin"  the  three  first  years,  rations  were  allowed  them,  with  a  sinail 
(juantit}'  of  powder,  shot,  and  grain  for  seed. 

Macarty,  on  the  twentieth  of  August,  went  with  a  small  detachment  to 
take  command  of  Fort  Chartres  of  the  Illinois,  left  vacant  by  the  death  of 
the  unfortunate  chevalier  d'Artaguette.  This  district  had,  at  this  i)eri(i(l. 
six  villages ;  Kaskaskias,  Fort  Chartres,  Caokias,  Prairie  des  rochers,  St. 
Philip  and  St.  (xenevieve. 

Trancjuillity  being  now  restored  to  the  British  province,  traders  from 
the  southernmost,  poured  in  their  goods,  and  erected  stores  and  block 
houses,  in  the  villages  of  the  Indians,  on  their  back  settlements ;  and  tho.«o 
of  the  French  on  Mobile  and  Alibamon  rivers  began  to  be  distressed  l)v 
the  renewed  irruptions  of  the  Cliickasaws.  In  consequence  thereof,  the 
Marquis  de  Vaudreuil  marched  into  the  country  at  the  head  of  a  body  of 
seven  hundred  men  of  the  regular  forces  and  militia,  and  a  large  number 
of  Indians.  He  was  not  very  successful ;  the  enem3Miad  been  taught  hv 
the  British  to  fortify  their  villages.  Each  had  a  strong  block  house, 
surrounded  by  a  wide  and  deep  ditch.  The  colony  was  badly  supplied 
with  field  artillery  and  soldiers  skilled  in  the  management  of  the  pieces. 
The  Marquis  lost  little  time  in  laying  sieges,  but  wandered  through  the 
country,  laying  the  plantations  waste.  He  enlarged  the  fort  of  Tombeokbee. 
left  a  strong  garrison  in  it,  and  returned  to  New  Orleans. 

The  settlements  along  the  Mississippi,  above  the  city  and  below,  as  fiir  i 
as  the  English  turn,  were  now  in  high  cultivation.  The  Marquis,  inn  j 
letter  to  the  minister  of  this  year,  observed  it  was  almost  an  impossibility 
to  have  plantations  near  the  river,  on  account  of  the  immense  expense 
attending  the  levees,  necessarj'  to  protect  the  fields  from  the  inunclation 
of  sea  and  land  floods.  He  recommended  that  the  idea  of  settling  the 
part  of  the  country  below  the  English  turn  should  be  abandoned,  till  the 
land  was  raised  by  the  accession  of  the  soil.  He  observed  there  had  been 
an  increase  of  three  feet  in  height  during  the  last  fifteen  years. 

A  detachment  from  the  troops  in  Canada  had  been  sent  under  the 
orders  of  Legardeur  de  St.  Pierre,  a  knight  of  St.  Louis,  to  erect  a  fort  on 
the  western  branch  of  French  creek,  which  falls  into  the  Ohio.  This 
officer,  on  the  twelfth  of  Deceml)er,  1758,  received  by  the  hands  of  iiiiijor 
Washington,  of  Virginia  (a  man  whose  name  will  long  attract  the  admi- 
ration of  the  world  and  forever  that  of  his  country)  a  letter  from  govenmr 
Dinwiddle,  summoning  him  to  withdraw,  with  the  men  under  hisl 
command,  from  the  dominions  of  the  British  king.  He  wrote  to  the 
governor,  he  had  been  sent  to  take  possession  of  the  country  by  his  suiieriori 
officer,  then  in  Canada,  to  whom  he  would  transmit  the  message,  and  whose  [ 
order  he  would  implicitly  obey. 

In  a  quarrel  between  a  Choctaw  anl  a  Colapissa,  the  former  told  the] 
latter,  his  countrvmen  were  the  dogs  of  the  French — meaning  their  slaves. 
The  Colapissa,  having  a  loaded  musket    in  his  hands,  discharged  it"  I 


HISTORY    OF   LOUISIANA. 


185 


ts  huvf 
ous,  by 

r  at  the 

mother 
s  whose 
to  eaeli 
mcl  hue. 

a  small 

hment  tD 
death  of 
is  period.    ' 
ichert*,  St. 

ders  from 
iiid  block 
lUid  those 
itresBeil  by 
\creof,  the 
f  a  body  of 
gc  number 
I  taught  by 
ock  house, 
ly  supplied 
;  the  pieees. 
through  the 
ombeckbeo. 

)elow,  as  far 
arquig.  inn 
npossil.tility 
nse  expense 
inundation 
settling  the 
|)ned,  till  the 
re  had  lieen 

[t  under  tk 
rect  a  fort  "it 
I  Ohio.    This 
(ids  of  nuijor 
ivi  the  atbni- 
joni  govenvir 
li   under 
[wrote  to  tho  I 
Ids  superior  I 
te,  and  whoi'O 

tmer  told  the] 

their  slaves. 

Fischargedit'l 


(ontents  at  the  Choctjuv,  and  fled  to  New  Orleans.  The  relations  of  the 
ileeeased  came  to  the  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil  to  demand  his  surrender ;  he 
had  in  the  meanwhile  gone  to  the  German  coast.  The  Marquis  having 
vainly  tried  to  ai)pcase  them,  sent  orders  to  Renaud,  the  commandant  of 
that  post,  to  have  the  murderer  arrested ;  but  he  eluded  the  pursuit.  His 
father  went  to  the  Choctaws  and  offered  himself  a  willing  victim ;  the 
relations  of  the  deceased  persisted  in  their  refusal  to  accept  any  com])en- 
sation  in  presents.  They  at  last  consented  to  allow  the  old  man  to  atone 
1)V  the  loss  of  his  own  life,  for  the  crime  of  his  son.  He  stretched  himself 
oil  the  trunk  of  an  old  tree  and  a  Choctaw  severed  his  head  from  the  body 
at  the  first  stroke.  This  instance  of  paternal  affection  was  made  the 
subject  of  a  tragedy,  by  Leblanc  de  Villeneuve,  an  officer  of  the  troops 
lately  arrived  from  France.  This  performance  is  the  only  dramatic  work, 
which  the  republic  of  letters  owes  to  Louisiana. 

The  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil  was  this  year  promoted,  and  succeeded 
Duquesne,  in  the  government  of  New  France,  and  was  succeeded,  in  that 
of  Louisiana  by  Kerlerec.  a  captain  in  the  royal  navy — and  Auberville  was 
on  the  death  of  La  Rouvilliere,  appointed  commisary  ordonnateur. 

On  the  return  of  major  Washington,  the  legislature  of  Virginia  directed 
a  regiment  to  be  raised,  of  which  he  was  appointed  Lieutenant-Colonel. 
He  was  then  in  his  twenty-second  year. 

Washington  advanced  with  two  companies  of  his  regiment  in  the  middle 
of  April,  1754,  and  surprised  a  party  of  the  French,  under  the  orders  of 
.lumonville,  a  few  miles  west  of  a  place  then  called  the  Great  meadows,  in 
the  present  county  of  Fayette,  in  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  and  on  the 
first  fire  this  gentleman  fell.  He  was  the  only  man  killed,  but  the  whole 
party  surrendered.  The  rest  of  the  regiment  came  up  soon  after.  Colonel 
Fry,  its  commander,  having  died  on  the  way,  Washington  found  himself 
lit  the  head  of  it,  and  was  soon  after  reinforced  by  detachments  from  New 
York  and  South  Carolina. 

There  was  then  at  Fort  Chartres  of  the  Illinois,  an  officer  named  Villiers, 
brother  of  Jumonville,  who  hearing  of  his  death,  solicited  from  Macarty, 
who  had  succeeded  La  Buissonniere,  in  the  command  of  Fort  Chartres,  to 
be  allowed  to  go  and  avenga  his  brother's  death,  with  the  few  soldiers  that 
could  be  spared  and  a  large  number  of  Indians.  Villiers  descended  the 
Mississippi  and  ascended  the  Ohio.  Washington,  having  erected  a  small 
fort  as  a  place  of  deposit  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Fort  Necessity,  the 
traces  of  which  are  still  visible  near  Union,  the  chief  town  of  the  county  of 
Fayette,  was  marching  towards  the  confluence  of  the  Monongahela  and  the 
.Vlieghany,  where  the  French  were  building  the  fort  to  which  they  gave 
1  the  name  of  Duquesne.  He  heard  of  the  approach  of  Villiers,  from  the 
[Indians,  who  said  that  his  followers  were  as  numerous  as  the  pigeons  in 
the  woods,  and  was  advised  by  his  officers  to  march  back  to  Fort  Necessity, 
which  was  at  the  distance  of  thirteen  miles ;  he  yielded  to  their  suggestion. 
The  party  had  hardly  entered  the  fort  when  Villiers  approached  it,  and 
I  immediately  began  a  brisk  fire,  and  an  engagement  now  commenced 
Iwhich  lasted  from  ten  o'clock  till  dark,  when  the  assailants  offered  terms 
lof capitulation,  which  were  rejected;  during  the  night,  however,  articles 
Iwere  agreed  upon.  By  these  Washington  having  obtained  that  his  men 
Ishould  be  allowed  to  return  home  with  their  arms  and  baggage,  surrendered 
Tthe  fort.  This  was  on  the  now  most  venerated  day"  in  the  American 
blendar,  the  fourth  of  July. 


M 


ivil! 


At>y^^<:\. 


186 


HISTORY   OF    LOnSIAXA. 


L.V'ii 


i^ 


r/ii  ■ 


During  the  suiniuor,  some  soldiers  of  the  garrison  of  Cut  Island  rose 
upon  and  killed  lloux,  who  commanded  there.  ThevAvere  exasj)erato(l  at 
his  avaricH?  and  cruelty.  He  employed  them  in  hurning  coal,  of  which  he 
made  a  traffic,  and  for  trifling  delinquencies  had  exposed  several  of  thein, 
naked  and  tied  to  trees  in  a  swamp,  during  whole  nights,  to  the  stings  of 
nius(iuitoes.  Joining  some  English  traders  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Mobile,  they  started  in  the  hope  of  reaching  Georgia,  through  the  Indiuii 
country.  A  i)arty  of  the  Choetaws,  then  about  the  fort,  was  sent  after 
and  overtook  them.  One  destroyed  himself;  the  rest  were  brought  to 
New  Orleans,  where  two  were  broken  on  the  wheel ;  the  other,  belonj,'iii(f 
to  the  Swiss  regiment  of  Karrer,  was,  according  to  the  law  of  his  natioii 
followed  l)y  the  olKcers  of  the  Swiss  troops  in  the  service  of  France,  sawed 
in  two  parts.  He  was  placed  alive  in  a  kind  of  coffin,  to  the  middle  of 
which  two  sergeants  a])plied  a  whip  saw.  It  was  not  thought  prudent  to 
make  any  allowance  for  the  provocation  these  men  had  received.  The 
Indians  seldom  losing  the  opportunity  of  claiming  remuneration,  the 
Alibamons  made  a  demand  from  Kerlerec  for  the  pollution  of  their  land 
l)y  the  self-destruction  of  a  soldier,  who  had  avoided  in  this  manner, 
the  dire  fate  that  awaited  him.     He  accordingly  made  them  a  present. 

In  the  latter  j)art  of  the  year,  Favrot  was  sent  to  the  Illinois  with  four 
companies  of  fifty  men  each,  and  a  large  supply  of  provisions  and 
ammunition. 

The  Marquis  do  Vaudreuil,  on  his  arrival  at  Quebec,  had  received 
instructions  to  occupy  and  establish  forts  in  the  country  to  the  south  of 
the  river  St.  Lawrence. 

In  the  spring,  as  he  was  preparing  to  carry  these  instructions  into 
effect,  the  British  regular  forces  in  Boston,  with  two  provincial  regiments, 
joined  the  garrison  kept  in  Nova  Scotia ;  and  landing  on  the  main, 
marched  against  Beausejour,  which  was  surrendered  on  the  fifth  day; 
and  in  the  summer  possession  was  taken  of  all  the  posts  of  the  French  in 
the  disputed  territory,  and  every  part  of  Nova  Scotia,  as  claimed  by  Great  | 
Britain,  was  conquered. 

In  the  cession  of  Acadia,  Louis  the  fourteenth  had  stipulated  that  his  | 
subjects  there  should  be  allowed  to  retain  their  land  on  swearing  al 
giance  to  Queen  Anne.  They  had  declined  doing  so  unqualifiedly, and! 
insisted  on  such  a  modification  of  the  formula  presented  to  them,  as  would 
dispense  them  from  the  obligation  of  turning  their  arms  against  their 
countrymen  in  the  defense  of  the  rights  of  Great  Britain  to  the  country,! 
No  oath  had  been  imposed  on  them.  Although  this  indulgence  had  been  I 
complained  of  in  England,  no  order  had  been  sent  either  to  require iiiil 
absolute  oath  of  allegiance  or  to  expel  those  who  had  refused  to  take  it:j 
so  the  Acadians  considered  themselves  as  neutrals. 

The  vicinity  of  a  country,  with  the  inhabitants  of  Avhich,  these  peoplel 
were  so  intimately  connected  by  the  ties  of  nature,  allegiance  and  nationaij 
character,  who  spoke  the  same  language  and  professed  the  same  religioiu 
prevented  them  from  considering  themselves  as  of  a  different  country,  orj 
as  subjects  of  a  different  crown.  They  saw  in  the  neighboring  Canadiapf 
a  band  of  brothers,  on  whose  assistance,  in  an  emergency,  they  nii| ' 
rely,  and  considered  themselves  equally  bound  to  yield  theirs  in  return.! 
They  had,  on  every  occasion,  enlisted^  their  feelings,  their  passions  and! 
their    forces,    with    these    neighbors',    and    in  the   late   attack  againstj 


imd  rose 
svatod  at 
vhich  he 
of  thein. 
Btinjis  of 
hood  (if 
le  Indiiiii 
?ent  after 
rou}iht  tn 
belonj^inj! 
lis  nation. 
[\ce,  sawed 
middle  of 
[)rudcnt  to 
I'ed.     Thu 
ration,  the 
their  land 
is  manner, 
present. 
3  with  four 
risions  and 

id  received 
he  south  of 

actions  into 
,1  regiments, 
n  the  main, 
e  fifth  day; 
je  French  in 
aed  by  Great  1 

jited  that  lii> 
wearing  alle- 
iUfiedly,aii(l 
iem,  as  would! 
[against  tbeii 
the  country,! 
nee  had  been  I 
to  requires 
|d  to  take  it:' 

these  people 
and  national 

tame  religi"«. 

tit  country,  on 

(ng  Canadian^! 
they  mi?^' 

tirs  in  return, 
passions  anil 
ttack  against 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


187 


Bcausojour,  a  considerable  number  of  them  were  found  arrayed  against 
the  conquerors,  under  the  banner  of  France. 

Xova  Scotia  is  a  rocky,  barren  country.  The  winter  lasts  seven  months 
and  is  of  dreadful  severity  ;  it  keeps  the  people  in  almost  as  lifeless  and 
torpid  state  as  their  vegetables.  The  summer  comes  sudenly  (for  there  is 
no  spring)  and  the  heat  is  greater  than  is  ever  felt  in  England.  Perpetual 
fogs  render  the  country  equally  unwholesome  and  unpleasant.  It  presented 
,;o  few  advantages  to  new  comers  that  the  removal  to  it  of  such  a  number 
of  British  subjects,  as  would  give  them  a  preponderance  over  its  former 
inhabitants,  could  not  soon  be  effected.  The  transportation  and  main- 
tenance of  such  a  body  of  regular  troops,  as  might  keep  the  latter  in  awe, 
was  a  measure  that  must  necessarily  be  attended  with  an  expense  totally 
unproportioned  to  the  benefits,  which  Great  Britain  could  expect  from  the 
possession  of  the  country. 

It  appeared  equally  dangerous  to  permit  them  to  depart  or  stay.  For 
it  seemed  certain  that,  if  they  were  left  at  liberty  to  choose  the  place  of 
their  removal,  they  would  set  down,  as  nearly  as  they  could,  to  the  country 
they  should  leave,  that  they  could  be  ready  to  follow  any  troop:^  the 
government  of  Canada  might  send  to  retake  it. 

In  this  dilemma,  it  was  deemed  the  safest  expedient  to  remove  these 
l)eople  in  such  a  manner  as  to  lessen  or  destroy,  by  their  division,  the 
danger  that  might  be  apprehended  from  them.  They  were  accordingly, 
at  different  periods,  shipped  off  in  small  numbers  to  the  British  provinces 
to  the  south  of  New  Jersey.  This  act  of  severity,  which  the  circumstances 
were  thought  to  justify,  was  not  the  only  one  that  was  exercised  against 
them;  their  land  and  goods  were  taken  from  them  and  they  were 
permitted  to  carry  nothing  away,  but  their  household  furniture  and 
money;  of  the  last  article  few,  very  few  indeed,  had  any.  It  was 
determined  to  take  from  them  all  means  of  travelling  back ;  an<l  to 
I  deprive  them,  even  of  the  least  hope,  as  respects  this,  their  fields  were 
laid  waste  and  their  dwellings  and  fences  consumed  by  fire. 

Thus  beggared,  these  people  were,  in  small  numbers  and  at  different 
periods,  cast  on  the  sandy  shoree  of  the  southern  provinces,  among  a 
I  people  of  whose  language  they  were  ignorant  and  who  knew  not  theirs, 
whose  manners  and  education  were  different  from  their  own,  whose  religion 
they  abhorred  and  who  were  rendered  odious  to  them,  as  the  friends  and 
I  countrymen  of  those  who  had  so  cruelly  treated  them,  and  whom  they 
considered  as  a  less  savage  foe,  than  he  who  wields  the  tomahawk  and 
|the  scalping  knife. 

It  is  clue  to  the  descendants  of  the  British  colonists,  to  say  that  their 
hires  received  with  hunmnity,  kindness  and  hospitality  those  who  so 
beverely  smarted  under  the  calamities  of  war.  In  every  province,  the 
Ikmane  example  of  the  legislature  of  Pennsylvania,  was  followed,  and 
Ithe  colonial  treasury  was  opened  to  relieve  the  sufferers ;  and  private 
jcharity  was  not  outdone  by  the  public.  Yet,  but  a  few  accepted  the 
[proffered  relief  and  sat  down  on  the  land  that  was  offered  them. 
The  others  fled  westerly  from  what  appeared  to  them  a  hostile  shore — 
ivandering  till  they  found  themselves  out  of  sight  of  any  who  spoke  the 
English  language.  They  crossed  the  mighty  spine  and  wintered  among 
m  Indians.  The  scattered  parties,  thrown  off  on  the  coast  of  every 
Nony  from  Pennsylvania  to  Georgia,  united,  and  trusting  themselves  to 


1     •( 


188 


HISTORY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


I'vt*-"*'! 


p'R 


tho  western  waters  soujrlit  the  land  on  whicrli  the  sjwtless  banner  wavod 
and  the  waves  of  the  Mississippi  brought  them  to  New  Orleans, 

The  levee  and  scjuare  of  the  city  presented,  on  their  arrival,  a  spectacle 
not  unlike  that  they  ottered,  about  a  quarter  of  a  century  before  on  the 
landing  of  the  women  and  children  snatched  from  the  hands  of  the 
Natchez,  liike  these,  the  Acadians  were|  greeted  with  tenderness  and 
hospitality ;  tivery  house  in  the  city  aff"o^led  a  shelter  to  some  of  these 
unfortunate  people.  C.'harity  burst  open  the  door  of  the  cloister  and  the 
nuns  ministered  with  profusion  and  cheerfulness  to  the  wants  of  the 
unprotected  of  their  sex. 

Kerlerec  and  Auberville  allotted  a  tract  of  land  to  each  family:  thev 
were  sui)plied  with  farming  utensils  at  the  king's  expense,  and  during  the 
first  year  the  same  rations  were  distributed  to  them  out  of  the  kin»'s 
stores,  as  to  the  troops.  They  settled  above  the  German  coast,  on  both 
sides  of  tho  Mississippi,  and  in  course  of  time  their  plantations  connected 
the  latter  settlement  with  that  of  Baton  Rouge  and  Pointe  Coupee,  It  is. 
at  this  day,  known  by  the  appellation  of  the  Acadian  coast. 

In  the  m(>:>nAvhile,  the  British  under  general  Braddock,  made  on  fort 
Du<|uesne  an  unsuccessful  attack,  in  which  the  commander  lost  his  life. 
Governor  Shirley  of  Massachusetts  failed  also  in  an  attack  against  the  fort 
of  the  French  at  Niagara,  and  in  his  advance  to  lake  Ontario.  Colonel 
Johnson  of  New  York  made  likewise  a  vain  attempt  against  Crown  point 
on  lake  Champlain. 

Although  there  had  been  no  actual  declaration  of  war  between  France  and 
Great  Britain,  both  governments  had  granted  letters  of  marque,  and  sent 
considerable  forces  to  North  America. 

The  Baron  de  Dieskau,  at  the  head  of  a  small  force  marched  against 
the  British  post  at  Oswego,  but  was  overpowered  and  defeated. 

At  last,  on  the  seventeenth  of  May,  George  the  first  published  hi.« 
declaration  of  war. 

This  document  sets  forth  that  the  injurious  proceedings  of  the  French 
in  the  West  Indies  and  North  America  since  the  peace  of  Aix  la  Chapelle. 
and  their  usurpations  and  encroachments  in  the  Western  hemisphere,  had 
been  so  frequent  and  notorious,  that  they  manifested  a  settled  design,  and 
undeviating  resolution  of  invariably  prosecuting  the  most  efficacious 
measures  for  the  advancement  of  their  ambitious  views,  without  anv 
regard  for  the  most  solemn  engagements  and  treaties. 

The  King  urges  that  his  frequent  and  serious  representations  to  the 
cabinet  of  Versailles,    on  these    reiterated    acts  of   violence,  and  his  j 
endeavors  to  obtain  satisfaction  and  reparation  for  the  injuries  su.'^taineii 
by  his  subjects,  and  to  guard  against  the  recurrence  of  similar  caiipes  | 
of"    complaint  have  produced  nothing  but    assurances  that  evervthinj!  j 
should  be  settled  according  to  existing  treaties,  and  particularly  that  the 
evacuation  of  the  four  neutral  islands  should  be  effected,  as  had  been 
expressly  ])romised  to  the   British  Ambassador.     Yet  the  execution  of  j 
this  promise  and  the  clause  of  the  treaty  on  which  it  was  grounded  had 
been  eiuded,  on  the  most  frivolous  pretences,  and  the  illicit  practices  of 
the  French  governments  and  its  officers  had  been  carried  to  such  a  degree 
that  in  April,  1754,  they  broke  out  into  open  hostilities ;  and  in  a  moment 
of  profound  peace  without  any  previous  remonstrance,  a  body  of  French  I 
troops  openly  attacked  and  captured  a  British  fort  on  one  of  the  branches  j 
of  the  Ohio. 


HISTORY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


189 


ide  on  fovt 
,8t  his  life, 
mst  the  fort 
),  Colonel 
jrown  point 


f  the  French 
.  la  Chapelle, 
lisphere,  had 
i  design,  and 
5t  etfieacioiu: 
without  any 

ations  to  the 
ice,  and  his 
ries  sustained 
imilar  cause? 
tt  evervthiiij! 
ilarlv  that  the 
as  'had  been 
I  execution  of 
grounded  had 
Lt  practices  of 
■  such  a  degree 
k  in  a  moment 
ody  of  FremM 
f  thehranche?! 


Hostilities  on  the  Ohio,  as  we  have  seen,  had  heen  eommenoed  l)y  the 
jittack  of  major  Washington  on  the  party  commanded  by  Jumonville,  in 
which  the  latter  fell,  and  the  march  of  Villiers  against  Fort  Necessity  was 
only  a  matter  of  retaliation. 

It  is  said  in  the  manifesto,  that  notwithstanding  this  act  of  hostility, 
which  could  only  be  considered  as  a  signal  for  war,  so  sincere  was  the 
desire  of  the  king  to  remain  at  peace,  and  so  sanguine  his  hoj)e  that  the 
French  monarch  would  disown  this  act  of  violence  and  injustice,  that  he 
(imtented  himself  with  sending  over  to  America  such  forces  only  as  were 
necessary  to  the  immediate  defense  of  his  subjects  and  their  protection 
iisrainst  new  insults  or  attacks.      But  in  the  meanwhile,  a  great  naval 
iirniament  was  made  in  France,  and  a  considerable  number  of  troops  were 
sent  to  Canada ;  and  although  the  ambassador  of  France  gave  the  most 
specious  promises  of  the  speedy  arrangement  of  all  existing  differences, 
the  real  design  of  his  court  was  to  gain  time,  in  order  that  such  reinforce- 
ments might  reach  the  armies  of  France  in  the  new  world,  as  would  insure 
superiority,  and  enable  their  prince  to  execute  his  unjust  and  ambitious 
projects.    The  king  complains  that  the  measures  which  were  required 
from  him  by  the  necessity  of  preventing  the  landing  of  the  French  troops 
in  America,  were  folloAved  by  the  departure  of  the  French  ambassador,  the 
fortifying  of  Dunkirk,  and  the  gathering  of  a  considerable   number  of 
armed  men  on  the  coast  of  France,  threatening  his   subjects  with   an 
invasion. 

He  declares  that  in  order  to  avert  the  impending  calamity,  and  provide 
for  the  safety  of  his  kingdom,  he  was  compelled  to  give  orders  for  the 
seizure  of  French  vessels.  Yet,  unwilling  to  forego  the  hope,  or  to  throw 
difficulty  in  the  way,  of  an  amicable  adjustment,  he  had  expressly 
(omniandcd  that  the  cargoes  of  these  vessels  should  remain  in  a  state  of 
seijuestration.  But,  the  actual  invasion  of  the  island  of  Minorca  evinced 
the  determination  of  the  French  cabinet  not  to  lend  its  ear  to  any  amicable 
proposition,  but  to  prosecute  the  war  it  had  begun,  with  the  utmost 
violence,  and  compel  him  to  abandon  the  system  of  moderation  in  which 
he  had  so  long  persisted. 

Vast  preparations  were  made  under  the  directions  of  the  Earl  of 
Loudon,  who  had  succeeded  General  Abercrombie  in  the  chief  command 
of  the  king's  forces  in  North  America.  A  considerable  number  of  troops 
were  raised  in  the  New  England  provinces,  and  in  those  of  New  York  and 
Pennsylvania,  and  lesser  bodies  were  procured  in  the  southern  provinces 
for  the  campaign  of  the  next  year. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  Marquis  de  Montcalm  had  arrived  in  Canada 
liind  taken  the  command  of  the  forces  of  France. 
The  carl,  notwithstanding  his  great  preparations,  did  not  strike  any 
Idow— the  marquis  with  far  less  means  was  more  successful.    In  the  month 
I  of  August,  he  made  himself  master  of  Fort  Oswego:  this  post,  situated 
at  the  mouth  of  Onondago  river,  commanded  a  commodious  harbor  on 
laiie  Ontario.      It  had  been  erected  by  Governor  Shirley,  with  a  view  to 
[the  protection  of  the  country  of  the  five  nations,  the  security  of  the  fur 
jtrade.  the  obstruction  of  the  communication  between  the  French  estab- 
lishments, and  to  open  a  way  for  the  British  forces  to  Niagara  and  Fort 
[Frontenac.    Montcalm's  military  means  not  allowing  him  to  keep  it,  he 
jordered  the  British  fort  to  be  raised,  and  told  the  Indians  his  views  were 
|nnt  hostile  to  them — became  into  the  country  for  their  protection:  he 


ir  r^ 


1        «   ^  T 

y-1  Mf    <!g 


»2 


)i 


i}i«t.A 


\lW 


K2, 


190 


HISTORY   OF  LOUISIANA. 


il-i 


*.     * 


wished  no  strong  house  to  keep  them  in  awe :  his  nation  tle.sired  only  to 
live  in  peace,  trade  with  them  and  protect  them  against  their  enemies,  who 
were  thcjse  of  the  French. 

The  Marquis  met  with  an  equal  success  in  the  attack  of  Fort  Williiini 
Henry  on  hike  Champlain,  which  surrendered  in  the  beginning  of 
August. 

This  year  Auberville  died,  and  was  succeeded  in  the  .office  of  connni(<- 
sary  ordonnateur  of  Louisiana  by  Bobe  Descloseaux. 

l''he  tide  of  events  turned  against  France  in  the  following  year.  The 
British  took  the  islands  of  Cape  Breton  and  St.  John,  and  raised  Fort 
Frontenac  on  lake  Ontario,  during  the  summer.  In  the  fall  general 
Forbes  marched  against  Fort  Duquesne ;  the  French  conmiander,  finding 
himself  unable  to  defend  it,  embarked  his  artillery  and  ammunition,  set 
fire  to  the  buildings  and  evacuated  it.  In  the  latter  part  of  November, 
the  garrison  lloated  down  the  Ohio  and  Mississipjii  to  New  Orleans. 

In  their  way,  they  stopped  and  built  a  fort  on  the  right  bank  of  the 
former  stream,  not  J'ar  from  the  place  at  which  it  falls  into  the  latter.  It 
was  called  Fort  Massic,  after  the  officer,  who  was  left  to  attend  to  its 
erection  and  to  command  it. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  forces  from  Fort  Duquesne  at  New  Orleans,  new 
buildings  were  required  for  the  accommodation  of  the  troops,  and  Kerlerec 
began  the  barracks  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city. 

Although  the  essay,  which  the  Jesuits  had  made  in  1751,  to  naturalize 
the  sugar  cane  in  Louisiana,  had  been  successful,  the  culture  of  it,  on  a 
large  scale,  was  not  attempted  till  this  year,  when  Dubreuil  erected  a  mill 
for  the  manufacture  of  sugar,  on  his  plantation,  immediately  adjoining 
the  lower  part  of  New  Orleans — the  spot  now  covered  by  the  suburb 
Marigny. 

Kerlerec,  having  been  directed  to  have  the  part  of  the  province,  around 
lake  Barataria  and  along  the  sea  shore,  west  of  the  Mississippi,  explored, 
Marigny  de  Mandeville,  a  son  of  the  late  commandant  of  Fort  Conde  of 
Mobile,  made  an  accurate  map  of  the  southwestern  part  of  the  province. 

Overtures  toAvards  negotiation  Avere  made  by  the  cabinet  of  Versailles, 
to  that  of  St.  James,  through  the  channel  of  the  Dandish  ambassador 
in  London.  j 

Rochemore,  who  had  been  appointed  commissary  ordonnateur,  arrived 
early  in  the  folloAving  year.  Soon  after  his  landing,  an  unfortunate 
misunderstanding  betAveen  him  and  Kerlerec,  disturbed  greatly  the 
tranquillity  of  the  colony.  It  Avas  then  the  practice  of  the  government  to 
send  large  quantities  of  goods  for  the  Indian  trade :  they  were  entrusted 
to  the  officers  sent  in  command  to  the  distant  posts,  to  Avhom  they 
furnished  the  means  of  considerably  increasing  their  fortunes.  The 
ordonnateur,  Avho  had  the  disposal  of  these,  found  in  it  an  opportunity  of 
attaching  those  officers  to  his  party,  Avhich  the  goA'ernor  comi)lained,  he 
did  not  neglect.  Each  of  these  chiefs  imagined  he  had  grounds  of 
recrimination  against  the  other ;  a  considerable  degree  of  irritation  wm 
excited,  and  a  circumstance  of  no  great  moment  brought  matters  to  ,i  | 
crisis. 

Diaz  Anna,  a  Jcav  from  Jamaica,  came  to  New  Orleans  on  a  trading  j 
voyage.    We  have  seen  that  by  an  edict  of  the  month  of  March,  1724,  that 
of  Louis  the  thirteenth,  of  the  13th  of  April,  1615,  had  been  extended  to 
Louisiana.    The  latter  edict  declared  that  JeAvs  as  enemies  of  the  christian 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


191 


jnly  to 
.es,  who 

iVilUaiu 
ling  of 

conimit*- 

iir.  The 
sed  Fort 
,  general 
r,  finding 
ition,  set 
ovember. 
ms. 

nk  of  the 
latter.  It 
nd  to  its 

eans,  new 
d  Kerlerec 

naturalize 
of  it,  on  a 
cted  a  mill 
V  adjoining 
the  suburb 


ice 


,  around 
explored, 
Conde  of 

province. 
Versailles, 

ambassador 

^eur,  arrived 
unfortuuatt; 
greatly  tlit; 
)verninentto 
re  entrusted 
whom  they 
.■tunes.  The 
portunity  of 
nplained,  be 

grounds  ot 
rritation  was 

matters  to  a 

^n  a  trading 

tch,  1724,  that 

extended  to 

'  the  christian 


n;ime,  should  not  ho  allowed  to  reside  in  Louisiana ;  and  if  they  staid  in 
i«l)itt' of  tlio  edict,  their  bodies  and  goods  should  be  confiscated:  Koche- 
niorc  had  the  vessel  of  the  Isra(dite  and  her  cargo  seized.  Kerlerec  sent 
s(d(liers  to  drive  away  tlie  guard  put  on  board  the  vessel,  and  had  her 
restored  to  the  Jew.  Imagining  he  had  gone  too  far  to  stop  there,  he 
hud  Belot,  Rochemore's  secretary,  and  Marigny  de  ^landoville,  do 
hahoupc,  Bossu  and  some  other  officers,  whom  he  suspected  to  have 
joined  the  ordonnatcur's  party,  arrested,  and  a  few  <hiys  after  shipped 
them  for  France.  He  entrusted  Grandmaison,  an  officer  who  having 
obtained  a  furlough  had  taken  his  passage  in  the  vessel,  on  board  of 
wliich  these  persons  were  placed,  with  his  dispatches  for  the  minister, 
(Mintaining  the  reasons  Avhich,  in  his  opinion,  ju.stified  this  violent 
measure. 

As  the  vessel  approached  the  coast  of  France,  she  Avas  driven  by  a 
storm  on  that  of  Si)ain  and  entered  the  port  of  St.  Sey)astian.  Grand- 
maison, according  to  Kerlerec's  instructions,  went  to  deposit  the  dispatches 
in  the  hands  of  the  consul  of  France.  Belot  and  his  companions  in 
misfortune  accompanied  the  messenger  to  the  consulate.  The  dispatches 
ln'ing  delivered  were  placed  on  a  table,  from  which  it  is  supposed  they 
were  purloined  by  one  of  the  consul's  visitors,  while  he  was  attending  on 
the  others,  Avhose  attention  had  been  drawn  to  some  fine  engravings  on  the 
Willis  of  the  apartment. 

On  their  arrival  in  Paris,  Belot  and  his  associates  filled  the  court  with 
their  complaints  of  Kerlerec's  arbitrary  proceedings.  He  was  universally 
blamed. 

During  the  summer,  the  most  rapid  success  attended  the  British  forces 
in  Canada.  They  possessed  themselves  of  Ticonderoga  on  the  22d  of  July, 
of  Crown  point,  in  the  beginning  of  August,  of  Niagara  on  the  24th,  and 
of  Quebec  on  the  eighteenth  of  September. 

In  the  following  year,  they  found  themselves  masters  of  all  Canada,  by 
the  reduction  of  Montreal. 

On  the  eleventh  of  August,  Ferdinand  the  sixth  of  Spain  died,  in  the 
tifty-sixth  year  of  his  age,  without  issue.  He  was  succeeded  by  Charles 
the  third,  his  broth  n*,  then  king  of  Naples,  the  third  son  of  Philip  the 
tifth,  who  wielded  the  Spanish  sceptre. 

George  the  second  of  Great  Britain  ended  his  life,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  seventv-seven  years,  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  October ;  he  was  succeeded 
by  George  the  third,  his  grandson. 

On  the  fall  of  Canada,  a  number  of  the  colonists,  unwilling  to  live  under 
their  i;on()uerors.  sought  the  warm  clime  over  which  the  spotless  banner 
I  still  waved;  most  of  them  settled  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Acadians. 
[Others  of  a  more  roving  disposition  crossed  the  lakes  that  separate  the 
irijrht  bank  of  the  Mississippi  from  the  western  prairies  and  hegan  the 
settlements  of  Attakajias,  Opelousas  and  Avoyelles. 

The  province  at  this  time  was  inundated  by  a  flood  of  paper  money. 
[The  adininistration,  for  several  years  past,  had  paid  in  due  bills  all  the 
jsupplies  they  had  obtained,  and  they  had  been  suffered  to  accumulate  to 
jiin  immense  amount.  A  consequent  depression  had  left  them  almost 
Iwithout  any  value.  This  had  been  occasioned,  in  a  great  degree,  by  a 
|belief  that  the  officers  who  had  put  these  securities  afloat,  had  at  times, 
attended .  more  to  their  own,  than  to  the  public  interests,  and  that  the 
''"rench  government,  on  the  discovery  of  this,  would  not  perhaps  he  found 


.1.' '. 


'I!lj 


192 


HISTOKY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


reu<ly  to  indemnify  tho  holders  against  the  miseonduet  of  its  agents.  With 
a  view,  however,  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  redeni^jtion  of  the  paper,  tin; 
colonial  treasurer  was  directed  to  receive  all  that  might  be  presented,  and 
to  give  in  its  stead,  certificates,  in  order  that  the  extent  of  the  evil,  hejnjr 
known  the  remedy  might  be  applied. 

The  disastrous  situation  of  the  marine  of  France  precluding  the  Ikjuc 
of  recovering  any  part  of  her  lost  territory  in  America,  the  Duke  of 
Choiseuil,  who  without  the  title,  exercised  the  functions  of  j)rini(; 
minister,  made  an  attempt  at  negotiation  with  Great  Britain.  Th,. 
conferences  began  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  March,  but  were  closed  soon 
after  without  success.  Disappointed  in  this  quarter,  he  formed  the  plan 
of  joining  the  marine  of  Sj^am  to  that  of  France,  and  this  was  the  end 
of  the  family  compact,  which  was  signed  at  Paris,  on  the  fifteenth  of 
August. 

The  avowed  object  of  this  arrangement  was  to  give  permanence  and 
inviolability  to  the  obligations  resulting  from  the  friendship  and  consan- 
guinity of  the  sovereigns  of  France  and  Spain,  and  to  rear  up  a  solemn 
monument  of  the  reciprocal  interest  which  was  the  object  of  tneir  wishes 
and  insure  the  continuance  of  the  prosperity  of  their  royal  family. 

They  agree  to  consider  in  future  any  power  at  war  with  either  of  them, 
as  a  common  enemy ;  they  reciprocally  guarantee  to  each  other  his 
respective  dominions  in  every  part  of  the  world;  but,  it  is  expressly 
stated  that  this  guarantee  is  to  nave  no  other  object  than  the  respective 
dominions  of  each  crown,  as  they  may  exist  at  tne  first  period  of  peace 
with  the  other  powers. 

A  like  guarantee  is  to  be  extended  to  the  King  of  the  two  Sicilies  and 
the  Duke  of  Parma,  on  their  respective  accession  to  the  compact. 

Although  the  mutual  guarantee  is  to  be  supported  with  all  the  forces  of 
the  parties,  they  stipulate  that  the  first  succor  to  be  furnished  is  to 
consist  of  a  given  number  of  ships,  horse  and  foot. 

The  wars  which  the  French  king  may  be  engaged  in,  in  consequence  of 
his  engagements  at  the  treaty  of  Westphalia,  or  his  alliances  with 
German  princes,  are  exempted  from  the  compact,  unless  a  maritime  power 
takes  part  in  them,  or  his  dominions  are  attacked. 

The  stipulated  succor  is  to  be  considered  as  the  minimum  of  what  the 
required  party  is  bound  to  do ;  and  it  is  the  understanding  of  the  parties 
that  on  a  declaration  of  war  against  either,  it  is  to  be  considered  as 
common  to  the  other.  They  shall  jointly  exert  all  their  means :  and 
arrangements  will  be  made,  relative  to  a  common  plan,  and  the  respective  | 
efforts  of  the  parties,  according  to  circumstances. 

No  proposition  of  peace  from  the  common  enemy  shall  be  listened  to,  | 
without  tne  joint  consent  of  each  party,  who  in  peace  and  in  war,  s" 
consider  the  interest  of  the  other  as  his  own  :  all  losses  and  advantages 
are  to  be  compensated  and  the  two  parties  are  to  act  as  if  they  fornieil  j 
but  one. 

The  king  of  Spain  stipulates  for  that  of  the  two  Sicilies  and  engages  to  I 
procure  his  accession  to  the  compact. 

The  droit  d^aubaine  is  abolished  in  favor  of  the  subjects  of  the  parties,  i 
and  they  are  to  enjoy  the  advantages  and  immunities  of  national  subjects! 

The  powers  with  whom  either  party  may  make  a  treaty,  shall  bej 
informed  that  these  advantages  and  immunities  are  not  to  be  extended  toj 
others.  ' 


At  the  ( 

was  appr( 

following ; 

succeed  R' 

Karly  th 

formal  dec 

arms,  in  th 

Canada,  in 

islands  wei 

On  the  tl 

the  French 

Dart  of  the 

.uississippi, 

The  war  I 

the  treaty  ol 


« 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


193 


9.  With 
per,  tlio 
,od,  and 
il,  l)oinj!; 

ihe  hope 
Duke  of 
»f  priuK! 
n.  The 
^ed  soon 
the  plan 
}  the  end 
Leenth  of 

lence  and 
d  consan- 

a  solemn 
eir  wishes 
lily. 
;r  of  them, 

other  his 

expressly 
(  respective 
)d  of  peace 

Sicilies  and 
ict. 

|he  forces  of 
ished  is  to 

sequence  of 
iances  with 
ritime  power 

of  what  the 
_  the  parties 
)nsidered  a< 
means:  awl 
16  respective  | 

6  listened  to,  | 
in  war, 
.advantages 
theyformeil 

id  engages  to 

,f  the  parties,! 
onal  subject*.! 
aty,  shall  be 
extended  to  I 


At  the  close  of  the  year  Rochmore  went  over  to  France.  His  conduct 
was  approved  by  the  minister,  and  orders  were  sent  to  Kerlerec,  on  the 
following  year,  to  return  and  give  an  account  of  his  :  Foucault  was  sent  to 
succeed  Rochmore. 

Early  the  next  year,  the  sovereigns  of  Great  Britain  and  Spain  published 
formal  declarations  of  war  against  each  other.  The  success  of  the  Britisli 
arms,  in  the  West  Indies,  were  as  rapid  and  brilliant  as  they  had  been  in 
Canada,  in  1759.  Martinico,  Grenada,  St.  Lucia  and  all  the  other  Curibee 
islands  were  conauered  from  France,  and  the  city  of  Havana  from  Spain. 

On  the  third  of  November,  a  secret  treaty  was  signed  at  Paris,  between 
the  French  and  Spanish  king,  by  which  the  former  ceded  to  the  latter  the 
)art  of  the  province  of  Louisiana,  which  lies  on  the  western  side  of  the 

ilississippi,  with  the  city  of  New  Orleans  and  the  island  on  which  it  stands. 

The  war  between  Great  Britain,  France  and  Spain,  was  terminated  by 
the  treaty  of  Paris,  on  the  sixteenth  of  February  of  the  following  year. 


Si 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

By  the  treaty  of  Paris,  the  king  of  France  renounced  his  pretensions  to 
Nova  Scotia  or  Acadie,  and  guaranteed  the  whole  of  it,  with  its  depend- 
encies, to  the  king  of  Great  Britain ;  to  whom  he  ceded  and  guaranteed  in 
full  right  Canada,  with  all  its  dependencies,  as  well  as  the  island  of  Cape 
Breton  and  all  the  other  islands  and  coasts,  in  the  river  and  gulf  of  St. 
Lawrence. 

The  limits  between  the  French  and  British  possessions  in  North  America, 
are  fixed  irrevocably  by  a  line  drawn  along  the  middle  of  the  river 
Mississippi,  from  its  source  to  the  river  Iberville ;  and  from  thence  by  a 
line  in  the  middle  of  that  stream  and  lake  Maurepas  and  Pontchartrain  to 
the  sea. 

The  king  of  France  cedes  to  that  of  Great  Britain  the  river  and  port  of 
Mobile,  and  everything  possessed  by  him  on  the  left  side  of  the  river 
Mississippi,  except  the  town  of  New  Orleans  and  the  island  on  which  it 
stands. 

The  navigation  of  the  Mississippi  is  declared  free  to  the  subjects  of  either 
sovereign,  in  its  whole  breadth  and  length,  from  its  source  to  the  sea ;  and 
it  is  expressly  stipulated  that  vessels  belonging  to  subjects  of  either  shall 
I  not  be  stopped,  visited,  or  subject  to  any  duty. 

The  British  king  promises  to  allow  the  inhabitants  of  Canada,  the  free 

I  exercise  of  the  Roman  Catholic  religion,  and  to  give  the  most  precise  and 

effective  orders  that  his  new  Roman  Catholic  subjects  may  exercise  their 

religion,  according  to  its  rites,  in  as  much  as  it  is  permitted  by  the  laws 

I  of  Great  Britain. 

Eighteen  months  are  allowed  to  the  inhabitants  to  sell  their  property  to 
[British  subjects,  and  withdraw  wherever  they  please. 
I  The  same  rights  are  granted  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  ceded  part  of 
[Louisiana. 

The  king  of  Spain  cedes  to  that  of  Great  Britain  the  province  of  Florida 
jwith  the  fort  of  St.  Augustine  and  the  bay  of  Pensacola,  as  well  as  all  the 
Icountry  he  possesses  on  the  continent  of  North  America,  to  the  east  and 
Isoutheast  of  the  river  Mississippi. 


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J  ■.■■'■ 


;!■ 


W'r  haw  sci'ii  that  all  the  part  of  liouisiaiia  not  ('(mIciI  to  (»roat  liiitjiin. 
Iiad  already  Ix'cii  vicMcd  to  Si»Min  ;  so  tliat  France  did  not  retain  one  indi 
ofgroimd  in  North  America. 

The  conquered  ishmds  \V(>re  restored  to  France  and  Sj)ain. 

The  ishiiid  ot"  (Irenach'i  and  its  dependencies  were  ceded  hy  the  kiii;.'o| 
France  to  tliut  of  (ireat  liritain. 

Th(>  islands  called  neutrals  wen*  divided,  hut  not  ef|ually  ;  those  of  St. 
Vincent,  Dominica  and  Tol)a;j;o,  heing  yielded  to  (treat  Britain,  and  tlmt 
of  S<.  liUcia  to  France. 

(Meinent  the  thirteenth  liavinj^  expelled  the  Jesuits  from  tlie  dominions 
of  the  kin^^s  of  l-'rance,  Spain  and  Naples,  these  monks  wor(^  now  driven 
from  Ijouisiana.  and  in  the  month  of  July  their  ])roi)erty,  uivdv  New 
Orleans,  was  taken  into  th(>  kind's  hands  an<l  sold-,  under  a  decree  of  the 
superior  council.  It  i)roduced  about  one  hundre(l  and  eighty  thousand 
dollars. 

On  the  s<!venth  of  Octoher,  17fi.'},  the  king  of  Great  Britain  divided  his 
ac(|uisitions  in  North  Americii  into  three  distinct  governments,  tlio.sc  of 
(iuel)ec,  and  Fast  and  West  Florida. 

All  the  coast  from  the  river  St.  John  to  Hudson's  straits,  with  tin- 
islands  of  Anticosti  and  Madeleine,  and  all  other  small  islands  on  tiiiit 
coast,  were  jtut  under  the  care  and  inspection  of  the  government  of  Xow 
Foundland. 

Tlie  islands  of  St.  John,  Cape  Breton,  with  the  lesser  ones  adjacent 
thereto,  were  annexed  to  the  province  of  Nova  Seotia. 

The  land  between  the  rivers  St.  Mary  and  Altamaha  was  annexed  to  the 
province  of  Georgia. 

The  part  of  the  territory  aequired  from  Spain,  adjoining  Louisiana,  was 
erected  into  a  separate  jirovince,  called  West  Florida;  it  was  bounded  on 
tlie  south  by  the  gulf  of  Mexico,  including  all  islands  within  six  loagius 
of  the  sea  coast  from  the  river  Apalachicola  to  lake  Pontchartrain — on  the 
west  by  that  lake,  lake  Maurepas  and  the  river  Mississippi — on  the  north, 
by  a  line  drawn  duo  east  from  a  point  in  the  middle  ot  that  river,  in  the 
thirty-first  degree  of  northern  latitude  to  the  riVer  Ai)alachicolii  or 
Catahou(die,  and  to  the  east  by  that  river. 

In  the  meanwhile,  George  Johnston,  a  captain  in  the  royal  navv. 
api)ointed  governor  of  the.]>rovince  of  West  Florida,  arrived  at  Ponpacnia 
with  major  Loftus,  who  was  to  command  at  the  Illinois.  They  were 
accompanied  by  a  considerable  number  of  highlanders  from  New  York 
an<l  Charleston.  Detachments  of  these  were  sent  to  take  ])ossession  of 
F(jrt  Conde,  Fort  Toulouse,  Baton  Rouge  and  the  Natchez. 

Fort  Conde  was  now  called  Fort  Charlotte,  in  eom])liment  to  the  youiij! 
queen  of  Great  Britain. 

Most  of  the   Indians,  in  alliance  with  the  French,  followed  the  white 
l)anner  t(j  New  Orleans,  on  its  being  lowered  in  the  forts  of  the  ceilptlj 
territory ;    lands    were   allotted    to   them   on  the   western    side  f»f 
Mississippi. 

In  the  fall,  Kerlerec  was  rec^alled ;  and  the  chief  magistracy  oftlifj 
province  vested  in  d'Abadie,  under  the  title  of  director  general.  Tlit'f 
military  force  was  reduced  three  hundred  men,  divided  into  six  companieivj 
under  the  orders  of  Aubry,  as  senior  captain. 

Kerlerec's   conduct   was  highly   disapproved   of   in   France;   he  wi>*| 


I'unl 


!i!i""ii 


IIIHTOHY  (»K   LOl'IHIANA. 


VX 


kiii'^  (if 

A>  of    St. 

i\v\  thut 
iininioii? 

'('('  of  the 
thousaml 

videtl  \\\> 
,  these  of 

,  with  till' 
Is  on  lliiil 
jnt  of  Now 

8  a«\)aoenl 

exeil  to  tlu' 

^isiana,  was 
)Oun(le(\  m 
six  loivgui's 
ain— ontk 
11  the  north. 
river,  in  tk 
.achicolii  or 

Iroviil  navy, 
[it  l'on?acol:i 
They  were 
n  New  York 
possession  ot 

to  the  yoiuis: 

Ll  the  wbitH 
[of  tlie  ^t'tW 
side  of  till' I 

^traey  of  tb(| 
general.  Tni'l 
fix  oomvanieNi 


bee ; 


ronliiH'd  for  some  tiiiK!  in  the  HiistiU;,  Jiiul  died  of  n;i'ief  shortly  after  liis 
release. 

Major  Fioftus,  who  eoniuiaiKUMl  tlu;  twi'iity-sccond  rejiiinciit,  ••aiiic  from 
I'tiisaeola  to  New  Orleans  on  his  way  to  the  Illinois,  early  in  1704.  lie 
|,ro('ee<le(l  up  the  river  on  tlu; 27th  oi  Kehrnary,  with  a.  detachment  of  the 
thirty-fourth,  who  had  been  employed  in  reconnoitrinj.!;  the  river  Iherville. 
His  \vhol(*  foree  consisting!  of  about  four  hundred  men,  was  end)arke<l  in 
till  hatteaux  of  from  sixteen  to  twenty  oars  each  and  two  caiKtes.  They 
,va(lied  the  heij^hts  now  calli'd  ^^)rt  Adams  then  La  roche  a  Davion.  in 
three  weeks. 

hi  the  morning  of  the  tweiitii'th  of  March,  the  two  eiiuoes  heinji  a  little 
iihead  of  the  major's  hatteau  and  close  to  the  rijilit  liank,  which  was 
idvcred  with  brush,  u  volley  was  tired  on  them  and  three  privates  were 
killed  antl  one  wounded  in  the  first  canoe  and  one  sergirant  and  two 
mivates  wounded  and  two  privates  killed  in  the  second.  The  boatK  f2;oinfj 
Inick  with  the  stream  and  there  being  no  possibility  of  landing  on  that 
.idc,  the  river  having  overtlovved  its  l)anks,  tlu'  major  ordered  his  small 
iloi't  Oil  the  op))osite  shore,  and  as  heai)j)roached  rcceivetl  a  second  volley, 
lidtli  sides  of  the  river  api)earing  strongly  guarded  by  the  Indians  and  the 
•treani  nnrrow,  ho  dotormiiunl  on  descending  the  river  and  taking  post  for 
the  present  at  bayou  Manshac.  The  mount,  near  whicdi  the  party  was  Hred 
(111.  was  afterwards  called  Loftus'  heights. 

Having  disembarked  at  bayou  Manshae  and  reconnoitred  tlie  ground, 
major  Loftus  thought  it  better  to  return  to  New  Orleans,  where  finding  a 
livij,' ready  to  sail  for  Fensacola,  he  took  passage  in  her;  his  men  lloated 
diiwn  in  their  hatteaux,  to  the  Balize,  except  a  captain  and  twenty  men 
(if  the  twenty-second  regiment,  whom  h((  ordered  to  proceed  by  the  lakes 
to  Mobile. 
As  they  were  ready  to  start,  d'Abadio  received  information  that  sixty 
Indians  of  the  Cohipissa  tribe  from  the  western  side  of  lake  Ponchartrain 
were  jirciiaring  to  intercept  the  hatteaux  in  the  rigolets. 

The  cajitain  represented  to  the  French  (diief  that  major   Loftus    had 

Ult'parted  fully  suspecting  that  the  French  had  prevailed  on  the  Indians 

t(i  prevent  his  ascent  of  the  river  to  the  Illinois,  and  an  attack  of  the 

Indians,  who  were  known  to  be  in  the  interest  of  the  French,  would  not 

i'liilto  increase  the  sus|)icion.     D'Abadie  proposi'd  to  send  an  officer,  with 

luletaehnuMit  to  escort  the  British.     This  was  de(dined,  and  an  interpreter, 

iKiluainted  with  the  lurking  places  of  the  Indians,  was  sent  forward  to 

assr -e  them  the  British  wished  to  live  in  peace  and  friendship  with  them  ; 

would  treat  th.em  as  hrcthi'en.      The  Captain  and  his  men  reached 

jMohile  safely,  on  tlic  fifth  of  April. 

The  Indians,  who  fired  on  the  British  force  up  the  river,  were  parties 

f  the  Tunicas,  Oumas,  Chetimachas  and  Yazous. 

On  the  twenty-third  of  March,  the  lords  commissioners  of  trade  and 
ihintations,  in  (Ireat  Britain,  represented  to  the  king  that  it  aimeared 
aoiu  observations  and  surveys  made  since  the  province  of  West  Florida 
iiis  in  his  possession,  that  there  were  considerable  settlements  on  the 
H'ft  l)ank  of  the  Mississippi,  above  the  thirty-first  degree  of  northern 
jatitude,  and  recommended  that  the  northern  boundary  of  the  province 
if  West  Florida  should  be  a  line  drawn  from  the  mouth  of  the  river  of 
he  wiifBlie  Yuzous,  running  due  west  to  the  river  Apalachicola.     Accordingly, 


.-.  .w»1 


1}m; 


IMHTOHV   OF    r,Ol'|HiANA. 


f( '%. 


it- 


Oil  till!  t(nith  of  .Tunc,  u  new  coniruisHion  wiih  iHHiied  to  governor  .TolinstDn, 
extending  thus  the  limits  (»t'  his  government. 

During   the   summer,  a   hirge  detuehmont  oecupied    Fort  Uosalio  of 
Niitche/. 

In  the  meanwhile,  Britisli  vessels  hegnn  to  visit  the  lower  banks  of  the 
Mississippi — after  passing  New  Orleans,  they  east  anchor,  made  fast  to  a 
tree  above  it,  opi)osite  the  nresent  suburb  Lafayette,  where  the  people  of 
the  city  and  neighboring  plantations  came  to  trade  with  them.  The  Mpot, 
at  which  they  stoi>pe<l  on  their  way  un  the  river,  under  the  pretenso  of 
going  to  bavou  Manshac  and  liaton  Uouge,  received  the  appt'llation  of 
Little  Mans)uic.  The  wants  of  the  colony  induced  its  chief  to  overlook 
and  tolerate  the  illegid  trani< — extremely  advantageouH  to  the  colonists 
whose  honesty  and  good  faith  rendered  it  equally  so  to  their  visitorn. 

The  colonists  began  now  to  be  distressed  by  rumors  from  France  of 
their  irt)proaching  passage  under  the  yoke  of  Spain.  These  fears  were 
realized  earlv  in  (k'tober,  when  official  intelligence  of  the  cession  was 
received  by  (\'AI)adie,  in  a  letter  of  his  sovereign,  bearing  date  the  first  of 
April  nreceding. 

In  tliis  document,  the  king,  after  announcing  the  cession  to  the  dirortor 
general  (copies  of  the  treaty  and  its  accentance  being  inclosed)  manifests 
his  intention,  that,  on  the  receipt  of  the  letter  and  its  inclosures,  wbother 
it  be  delivered  him  by  any  Spanish  officer,  or  brought  by  any  Frenth 
vessel,  immediate  possession  should  be  delivered  to  the  governor,  or  anv 
other  officer  of  the  Catholic  king,  of  the  city  of  New  Orleans  and  the  rest 
of  the  ceded  territory ;  It  being  the  object  of  the  cession  that  the  country 
should  in  the  future  belong  to  the  latter  sovereign,  and  l)e  ruled  and 
administoK^d  l)y  his  governor  or  chief  officer,  as  being  his,  in  full  property 
and  without  reserve. 

D'Abadie  is  accordingly  instructed,  on  the  arrival  of  the  Spanish 
officers  and  troops,  after  having  yielded  possession,  to  withdraw  with  all 
the  officers,  soldiers  and  other  persons  in  the  service  of  France,  who  may , 
not  be  desirous  of  remaining,  and  afford  them  a  passage  to  some  of  the  j 
king's  dominions  in  Europe  or  the  West  Indies. 

He  is  directed,  immediately  after  the  evacuation,  to  collect  all  papers, 
relative  to  the  finances,  and  the  administration  of  the  province,  and  ti' 
return  and  give  an  account  of  his  proceedings;  delivering  however,  to  j 
governor  or  other  officer  of  the  Spanish  king,  such  papers,  as  may  I 
especially  relate  to  the  affiiirs  of  the  colony,  in  regard  to  the  land,  the  I 
different  posts  and  Indian  affiiirs ;  taking  receipts  for  his  dit^charge.  Itj 
is  recommended  to  him  to  affi)rd  such  information,  relative  to  the  conceriis| 
of  the  colony,  as  mav  enable  the  officers  of  Spain  to  administer  its  affairi*[ 
to  the  satisfaction  of^  both  nations. 

Duplicate  inventories  are  ordered  to  be  made  by  the  director  general! 
and  a  Spanish  commissary,  of  all  the  artillery,  goods,  magazines,  hospital^ 
and  vessels  of  the  province ;  so  that,  after  delivery,  an  appraisement  iiiavf 
be  made  of  such  articles  as  may  be  kept  by  the  Spanish  king.  I 

The  hope  is  expressed  and  the  king  declares  he  expects  it  from  tliel 
friendship  of  the  monarch  of  Spain,  that,  for  the  advantage  and  tranquillitjr 
of  the  inhabitants,  orders  will  be  given  to  the  governor  and  other  offimsJ 
employed  in  Louisiana,  that  the  regular  and  secular  clergy,  acting  asf 
curates  or  missionaries,  may  be  allowed  to  continue  the  exercise  of  theiij 
functions  and  enjoy  the  rights,  privileges  and  exemptions,  granted  to  them 


HIHTOUY   OF   I^OUIHIANA. 


107 


liv  tlu'  royiil  rhartorn,  nnd  that  the  inferior  judges,  an  well  as  tlios*-  of  tho 
KUju'rior  couiuil,  iiiuy  Ik-  allowed  to  ('(nitimu?  t<i  udniiiiiHter  iustiee, 
iKOonliun  to  the  prenent  lawH,  foriuH,  and  unngeH  of  the  eolony,  that  tho 
iiihaititantH  may  he  coiiliriniul  in  their  estates  aeeordin}^  to  the  ^rantn  of 
till'  former  governorn  and  (•(►mmiHsarieH  onh)nnateiirH,  and  that  HUeh 
mntH  may  he  eontirmed  hy  the  (7atholi(;  king,  even  when  they  were  not 
yo  itv  him.  Finally,*  the  king  hopeH  the  new  Hovitreign  will  give  to  Iuh 
Hiilyccts  in  liouiniana  Hiieh  marks  of  his  protecttion  and  favor,  an  they 
hiivV  heretofore  experiene(;d  from  tho  former,  of  whieh  nothing  hnt  the 
(iisiiJiters  of  the  war  eould  have  prevented  them  from  enjoying  the 
full  ctfect. 

The  direetor  general  is  enjoined  to  cause  the  royal  letter  to  he  transeribed 
(in  the  minutes  of  the  superior  eouncdl,  that  everyone  in  the  provineo 
limy  heeoine  acquainted  with  its  contents,  and  recur  thereto,  in  case 
(if  need. 

This  intelligence  ^)lunged  the  inhabitants  in  great  consternation.  They 
bewailed  before  tlieir  estrangement  from  their  Kindred  and  friends  in  the 
{'iijitern  jiart  of  the  province  ;  that  they  were  now  thomselves  transferred 
til  a  foreign  potentate,  filled  their  minus  with  the  utmost  sorrow. 

The  fot\d  hope  was  however  indulged  that  their  united  solicitations 
mi}jht  avert  the  impending  calamity.  Every  parish  was  accordinjjly 
invited  to  send  its  most  notable  jdanters,  to  a  general  meeting,  in  the  city 
of  New  Orleans  in  tho  beginning  of  the  following  year. 

The  council,  according  to  its  new  organization,  on  the  dismemberment 
(if  the  province,  was  composed  of  d'Abadie,  the  director  general,  Foucault, 
the  connnissary  ordonnateur,  Aubry,  the  commandant  of  the  troops, 
Delalande,  Kernion,  Delaunay,  Lachaisc,  Lesassier,  Laplace,  councillors, 
Liifreniere,  attorney  general,  and  Garic,  clerk. 

The  general  meeting  was  attended  by  a  vast  number  of  the  most  respec- 
table planters  from  every  part  of  the  province,  and  almost  every  person 
of  note  in  New  Orleans.  The  most  prominent  characters  were  Lafreniere, 
the  attorney  general,  Doucet,  a  lawyer  who  had  lately  come  from  France, 
St.  Lette,  Pin,  Villere,  the  chevalier  d'Arensbourg,  Jean  Milhet,  the 
wealthiest  merchant  of  New  Orleans,  Joseph  Milhet,  his  brother,  St. 
Maxent,  Lachaise,  Marquis,  Garic,  Mazent,  Mazange,  Poupet,  Boisblanc, 
Grandmaison,  Lalande,  Lesassier,  Brand,  the  king's  printer,  Kernion, 
Carrere  and  Dersalles. 

Lafreniere  addressed  the  meeting  in  an  animated  speech,  which  he 
concluded  by  a  proposition  that  the  sovereign  should  be  entreated  to  make 
such  arrangements  with  his  catholic  majesty  as  might  prevent  Louisiana 
lieing  severed  from  the  parent  stock,  and  tnat  a  person  should  be  imme- 
diately sent  to  France  to  lay  the  petition  of  tne  inhabitants  of  the 
province  at  the  foot  of  the  throne.  Without  a  dissenting  vote  the 
proposition  was  assented  to,  and  with  the  like  unanimity,  Jean  Milhet 
was  selected  for  the  important  mission. 

At  this  period  a  number  of  families  emigrated  to  Louisiana  from  the 
British  provinces,  principally  from  the  banks  of  Roanoke  river,  in  North 
Carolina,  and  settled  above  Baton  Rouge ;  this  was  the  beginning  of  the 
I  settlement  which  was  afterwards  called  the  district  of  Feliciana. 

Till  now  the  post  of  the  Illinois  remained  in  the  possession  of  the 
French,  and    St.   Ange,  the    commandant,  ^continued  to  exercise    his 
I  authority  over  it.    A  proclamation  of  General  Gage,  the  commander-in- 


ff 


im^cx  I'  i 


198 


HISTORY   OK    LOUIHIAXA. 


(ihief  of  the  foiVL'S  of  the  king  of  (h'cat  Brituin  in  Xortli  Anicricii,  issued 
iit  New  York  the  thirteenth  of  Deeeniher,  was  brought  to  the  post  early  in 
the  new  year  by  captain  Sterling,  who  was  instructed  to  receive  the  outii 
of  allegiance  and  fidelity  of  the  inhabitants  to  their  new  sovereign. 

By  this  proclamation  they  were  informed  that  the  taking  i)ossessi()ii  of 
their  country  by  the  king's  forces,  although  delayed  had  been  detonuincd 
on;  and  the  sovereign  had  given  the  most  ijrecise'and  effective  uidiTs, 
that  his  new  Roman  (Jatholic  subjects  of  the  Illinois  should  be  allewt'd 
the  exercise  of  reHgious  worship,  according  to  the  rites  of  their  church  in 
the  same  manner  as  the  Canadians — that  he  had  agreed  that  the  French 
inhabitants  and  others,  who  had  been  subjects  of  tlu,'  most  christian  kiiij; 
might  retire  in  full  safety  and  proceed  where  they  pleased;  even  to  New 
Orleans  or  other  parts  of  Louisiana,  although  the  Siianiards  might  tak(> 
possession  of  it;  that  they  nught  sell  their  estates  to  the  king's  sul)je(is 
and  trans})()rt  themselves  and  their  effects  without  any  other  restraint,  but 
that  which  might  result  from  civil  or  criminal  process.  The  rights  ami 
immunities  of  British  subjects  were  i)romised  to  those  who  might  choso 
to  stay,  but  they  were  required  to  take  an  oath  of  allegiance  and  tidolitv. 

The  commander-in-chief  recommended  to  the  people  to  deineiiu 
themselves  as  loyal  and  faithful  subjects,  by  a  prudent  conduct  to  avoiil 
all  causes  of  com})Iaint,  and  to  act  in  concert  with  the  royal  forces  on  tlmir 
arrival,  so  that  possession  might  be  taken  of  every  settlement,  and  good 
order  preserved  in  the  country. 

Civil  government,  being  established,  under  the  authority  of  Grciit 
Britain  a  few  months  after  in  the  post,  St.  Ange,  the  French  comniandiuit 
there,  crossed  tire  Mississippi  with  a  number  of  his  countrymen,  who  were 
desirous  to  follow  the  white  flag,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  the  town  of 
St.  Louis,  which  with  that  of  St.  Genevieve,  was  the  first  settlement  of 
the  country  now  known  as  the  state  of  Missouri. 

The  province  labored  under  great  difficulties  on  account  of  a  tioodof 
depreciated  paper,  which,  inundating  it,  annihilated  its  industry,  connnerce 
and  agriculture.  So  sanguine  were  the  inhabitants  of  their  api)eal  to  the 
throne,  that  they  instructed  their  emissary,  after  having  accomplished  the 
principal  object  of  his  mission,  to  solicit  relief  in  this  respect. 

Deslrehan,  the  king's  treasurer,  and  a  number  of  other  planters  Iuki 
been  induced  by  the  success  of  Dubreuil,  in  manufacturing  sugar,  to  enct 
mills,  most  of  tliese  establishments  were  below  New  Orleans  and  on  tk' 
same  side  of  the  river.  Hitherto,  the  sugar  made  in  Louisiana  liad  liccii 
all  consumed  in  the  |)rovince.  This  year,  a  ship  was  laden  for  Franci' 
with  this  article.  It  had  been  so  inartificially  manufactured,  that  it  leakcil 
out  of  the  hogsheads,  and  the  shij)  was  so  lightened  by  this  accident  that 
she  was  very  near  upsetting. 

Milhet  saw,  at  Paris,  Bienville,  who  having  spent  the  most  and  lio4 
years  of  his  life  in  Louisiana,  and  having  long  presided  over  its  comtTiis. 
still  felt  much  interest  in  its  prof^perity.  He  had  bewailed  its  disnioin- 
berment,  and  grieved  to  see  the  last  remnant  of  it  transferred  to  Spain: 
he  was  then  in  his  eighty-seventh  year,  having  first  landed  in  Louisian;i 
in  his  twentieth.  He  attended  ^[ilhet  to  the  Duke  de  Choiseuil.  Tliis 
nobleman  received  the  representative  of  the  peo^)le  of  Louisiana  with 
marked  civility;  but,  having  been  the  prime  mover  of  the  measures  wliiili 
terminated  in  the  cession,^  he  felt  more  inclination  to  thwart,  thantn 


HISTORY   OF   LoriSIAXA. 


199 


I,  issiU'd 
,  luirly  in 
the  oath 

.'st^ion  dt' 
tonuined 
'e  oicU'vs, 
L'  allowtMl 
.'huri^h  in 

tiiiu  kin;; 
■11  to  Nt'W 
light  tako 
'i?  sul)jccts 
traint,  but 
riiilits  anil 
ifiht  chosi! 
id  fidelity. 
0    demean 
ct  to  avoiil 
:>cs  on  tlu'iv 
t,  and  goDil 


list  and  I'H 
its  conoern:'. 
lits  dii<mem- 

>d  tn  Spain; 
tn  Luuisian:> 
liseuil.  Tliis 
liisiana  witli 
lariureswhi'li 

.-art.  than  lit 


jiidniotc  his  views;  he  artfully  provonted  Milhet's  access  to  the  kin|j:,  and 
the  mission  cntindy  tailed. 

The  I'ritisli  this  yt-nr  estahlished  a  ])Ost  lit  hayou  Maiisliac,  the  south- 
wt'sternniost  point  ortlicir  jxissessions  in  North  Ani(;ri('a.  A  nuniher  of 
iradi'vs  had  o])ened  stores  in  tlie  neifihhorhood,  from  which  the  ))hinters 
Mil  the  right  l)ank  of  the  ^[ississippi  obtained  their  supjdics,  and  where 
jIk'V  foruid  a  sure  sale  for  everything  they  could  raise.  A  part  of  th(! 
tlui'ty-fourth  regiment  was  sent  to  garrison  the  post;  hut,  in  the  summer, 
tlicaiijiearanee  of  the  weather,  inducing  the;  apprehension  it  might  fall  a 
victim  to  disease,  it  was  removed  beyond  Natchez. 

While  the  i»eople  of  r.ouisia.iM  were  thus  distressed  by  the  thought  of 
licing  severed  from  the  dominions  of  Franco,  those  dissensions  prevailed 
ill  the  British  pntvinces  on  the  Atlantic,  which  about  ten  years  after, 
liioke  asunder  the  jxditical  ties  which  united  them  to  their  mother  country. 
On  the  twenty-fifth  of  ()ctol)er,  commissioners  from  the  assemblies  of 
Massnachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  Connecticut,  New  York,  New  Jersey, 
Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  >rarvland  and  South  Carolina,  met  in  the  city 
iifXcw  York.  Tluy  i)ublishe(l  a  declaration  of  the  rights  and  grievances 
(ifthc  (■oh)nists — asserted  their  exclusive  right  to  tax  themselves,  and  to 
tkti'inl  by  jury,  unequivocally  expressing  the  attachment  of  the  coh)nists 
tn  the  mother  country.  They  recommended  to  the  several  colonies  to 
apljoint  special  agents,  with  instructions  to  unite  their  utmost  endeavors, 
in  soliciting  a  redress  of  grievances. 

The  fall   was   extremely   sickly.       D'Abadie   died,   and   the   supreme 
(ommand  of  the  province  dcv(dved  to  Aubry.  the  senior  military  officer. 

The  West  India  seas  were  at  this  time  greatly  infested  by  pirates  ;  and 
en  the  eleventh  of  March,  1766,  the  sensilulity  of  the  inhabitants  of  New 
Orleans  was  much  excited  on  th?  arrival  of  the  slooj)  Fortune,  of  that 
|imt,  which  on  hei-  return  picked  uj),  near  the  island  of  Cuba,  a  small  boat, 
iinvhieh  madam  Dcsnoyers,  a  lady  of  St.  Domingo,  had  been  (iommittecl 
til  the  mercy  of  the  waves,  with  a  child,  a  sucking  bal)e,  and  a  negro 
I  woman,  by  a  pirate,  who  had  captured  a  vessel  (in  which  she  was  going 
i'luni  the  Spanish  to  the  French  part  of  St.  Domingo)  and  had  murdered 
I  kr  husband.  They  had  been  seven  days  in  the  boat  when  thev  were 
taken  U}).  She  was  received,  with  great  cordiality  and  after  sheluul  spent 
a  few  months  in  New  Orleans,  the  means  were  furnished  her  of  returning 
I  til  her  friends. 

Although  Jean  Milhet  had  info I'med  his  countrymen  of  the  ill  success 

liifhis  mission,  they  still  flattered  themselves  with  the  delusive  hope  that 

the  cession  might  be  rescinded.     Upwards  of  two  years  had  now  elapsed, 

Miieethe  king  hnd  directed  d'Abadie  to  surrender  the   province  to  any 

iiffieer  who  should  come  to  take  i)ossession  of  it  for  the  king  of  Si)ain,  and 

Ithat  monarch  did  not  appear  to  have  taken   any  measure  to  obtain  it. 

jTlii'se  fond  hojics  vanished,  in  the  summer,  by  intelligence  from  Haviina, 

Itliat  Don  Antonio  dc  Ulloa,  the  officer  appointed  by  Charles  the  third  to  the 

lliiivernment  of  Louisiana,  had  arrived  in  that  city ;  from  whence,  on  the 

ItHith  of  July,  lie  addressed  a  letter  to  the  superior  council  of  the  province, 

liplirising  them,  that  having  been  honored  with  the  king's  command  to 

Irweive  possession   of  the  colony,  he  would  soon  be  with  them  for  this 

prpose,  and  expressing  his  hope  that  his  mission  might  afford  him  a 

pavorahle  opportunity  of  rendering  them  and  the  other  inhabitants  any 

Frviiothey  might  reiiuire. 


'        IHf 
III      ■ 


,<'^ 


W  "'^SiS, 


ii* 


,/  ^i ' 


hi 


200 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


^'J    I 


V»  )]} 


Don  Antonio  was  known  in  the  republic  of  letters,  as  an  able  mathema- 
tician, who  had  accompanied  LaCondamine,  Bourguet  andGodin,  for  the 
purpose  of  determining  the  figure  of  the  earth,  under  the  ecjuator. 

He  landed  at  New  Orleans,  in  the  fall,  with  two  companies  of  infantry 
under  the  orders  of  Piernas.     He  was  received  with  dumb  respect  and 
declined  exhibiting  his  powers,  intimating  he  wished  to  delay  receiving 
possession  of  the  country,  until  such  number  of  the  Spanish  forces  arrived 
as  would  authorize  the  departure  of  those  of  France. 

In  December,  the  British  re-occupied  the  post  at  bayou  Manshac.  A 
small  stockade  fort  was  built  by  a  party  of  the  twenty-first  regiment ;  it 
was  called  Fort  Bute.  The  trade,  carried  on  in  this  neighborhood,  at 
Baton  Rouge  and  Natchez,  increased  considerably ;  the  French  supplied 
themselves  with  goods  at  those  places,  and  British  vessels  were  almost 
continually  anchored,  or  fastened  to  the  trees,  a  little  above  New  Orleans. 
Guinea  negroes  were  now  introduced  by  these  vessels,  or  brought  from 
Pensacola  through  lake  Pontchartrain  to  bayou  Manshac  and  Baton 
Rouge.  The  facility,  thus  afforded  to  French  planters  to  supply  themselves 
with  slaves,  was  the  origin  of  the  fortunes  of  many  of  them. 

Ulloa  visited  the  several  posts  of  the  province  and  spent  a  considerable 
time  in  Natchitoches. 

According  to  a  census  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  province  which  was 
taken  this  year,  it  appears  it  had  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  ninety- 
three  men  fit  to  bear  arms ;  one  thousand  and  forty-four  marriageable 
women ;  one  thousand  three  hundred  and  seventy-five  boys,  and  one 
thousand  two  hundred  and  forty-four  girls ;  in  all,  five  thousand  five 
hundred  and  fifty-six  white  individuals.  The  blacks  were  nearly  as 
numerous. 

This  year,  the  province  was  visited  by  a  disease,  not  dissimilar  to  that 
now  known  as  the  yellow  fever.  It  was  severely  felt  in  West  Florida,  where 
a  number  of  emigrants  had  lately  arrived.  Sixteen  families  of  French 
protestants,  transported  at  the  expense  of  the  British  government  on  the 
river  Escambia,  consisting  of  sixty-four  persons,  were  almost  entirely 
swept  away  by  the  deleterious  sickness. 

Ulloa,  in  the  following  year,  went  to  the  Balize  to  await  the  arrival  of 
a  Peruvian  lady,  the  marchioness  of  Abrado,  who  landed  and  whom  he 
married,  soon  after.     He  was  then  in  the  fifty-first  j'ear  of  his  age.  | 

Soon  after  his  return  to  New  Orleans,  he  received  a  considerable  | 
reinforcement  of  troops  from  the  Havana,  and  although  again  pressed  to  I 
publish  his  commission  and  take  formal  possession  of  the  country,  he  j 
persisted  in  delaying  this. 

He  sent  two  companies  to  build  a  fort  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Mississippi, 
below  bayou  Manshac,  within  four  hundred  yards  of  Fort  Bute ;  two  other! 
companies  were  sent  on  the  same  service,  on  the  opposite  side,  a  little  j 
below  Natchez,  and  two  others  on  the  left  side  of  Red  river,  on  anf 
eminence  between  Black  river  and  the  Mississippi.  A  stronger  detach- 
ment was  sent  to  the  Illinois  :  but  its  commanding  officer  was  instructed  j 
not  to  interfere  with  the  civil  concerns  of  the  inhabitants,  who  continued  | 
under  the  orders  of  St.  Ange,  the  British  commandant  having  died. 

General  Phineas  Lyman,  contemplating  a  large  establishment  on  the! 
Ohio,  applied  to  parliament,  for  an  extensive  grant  of  land.  He  enforcedj 
the  propriety  of  the  measure  by  the  argument  that  there  could  be  but! 
little  danger    of  the    colonies  becoming    independent,  if  confined  toj 


HISTOUY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


201 


ishac.  A 
iment;  it 
^rhood,  at 
1  supplied 
jre  almot>t 
vv  Orleans, 
ught  from 
ind  Baton 
themselves 


nilar  to  that 
orida,  where 
s  of  French 
ment  on  the 
iiost  entirely 


agricullural  pursuits,  and  the  inhabitants  dispersed  f)ver  the  country. 
"A  period,"  said  he,  "  will  no  doubt  arrive,  wlien  North  America  will  no 
longer  acknowledge  a  dependence  on  any  part  of  Europe ;  l)ut  it  seems  to 
be  so  remote,  as  not  to  be  at  present  an  object  of  rational  policy  or  human 
prevention,  and  it  will  be  made  still  more  so,  by  ojjcning  new  schemes  of 
agriculture,  and  widening  the  space  which  the  <'olonists  must  first  occupy. 
Jean  Milhet  now  returned  from  France ;  his  protracted  absence  had 
kept  the  hopes  of  his  countrymen  alive,  and  when  his  presence  among 
them  put  an  end  to  every  expectation  from  his  mission,  they  became 
exasperated,  and  began  to  manifest  their  ill  disposition  towards  Ulloa,  who, 
although  he  continued  to  decline  an  official  recognition,  had  gained  a 
powerful  influence  over  Aubr}'',  Avhich  was  exercised  to  the  injury  of  some 
of  the  colonists. 

On  the  seventeenth  and  eigliteenth  of  January,  1768,  the  most  intense 
oold,  of  -vhich  there  is  any  remembrance,  was  felt  in  Louisiana.  The 
river  wa^^  frozen  before  New  Orleans  for  several  yards,  on  both  sides.  The 
orange  trees  were  destroyed  throughout  the  province. 

Partial  meetings  were  had  in  the  city  and  at  the  German  coast.     In  the 

latter  place,  a  perfect  unanimity  prevailed.     Father  Barnabe,  a  capuchin 

missionary,  who  was  curate  of  that  parish,  took  an  active  part  with  the 

most  influential  of  his  flock.     At  last,  the  people  of  the  province  were 

invited  to  a  general  meeting  at  New  Orleans,  to  which  every  parish  sent 

its  wealthiest  planters.     Lafreniere  was  again  the  principal  speaker,   and 

was  sup])i)rted  by  Jean  ^lilhet,  Joseph  Milhet,  his  brother,  and  Doucet,  a 

lawyer,  lately  arrived  from  France.     The  proceedings  terminated   by   the 

sul)scription  of  a  petition  to  the  superior  council  to  order  Ulloa  and  the 

principal  officers  of  the  Si)anish  troops  away.     It  Avas  circulated  through 

the  province,  and  received  five  hundred  and  fifty   respectable   signatures. 

The  printing  of  it  was  authorized  by  the  ordonnateur,  and  it  was  circulated 

in  every  parish. 

The  French,  as  well  as  the  few  Spaniards  who  had  come  to  the  province, 

iilamed  the  obsequiousness  of  Aubry  towards  Ulloa.    They  believed  that 

[  the  former's  instructions  might  be,  occasionally  to  consult  the  latter,  but 

they  thought  that  nothing  could  authorize  the  subserviency  of  the  French 

chief  to  a  Spanish  officer,  who  refused  to  avow  the  authority  with   which 

lie  was  clothed. 

iafreniere  having  introduced  the  petition  of  the  inhabitants  to  the 
i  council,  this  tribunal  which  was  greatly  under  the  influence  of  Foucault, 
the  ordonnateur,  threatened  Ulloa  with  a  prosecution  as  a  disturber  of  the 
peace  of  the  province.  He  alleged  that  Aubry  had  given  him  privately 
possession  of  the  country  at  the  Balize.  As  none  believed  that  a 
clandestine  act,  even  if  it  took  place,  could  authorize  any  assumption  of 
[powers,  liis  declaration  was  considered  as  a  gross  artifice.  Aubry,  who 
Icorroborated  UUoa's  assertion,  was  also  disbelieved.  He  fell  into  contempt, 
land  UUoa's  opposers  were  emboldened. 

The  colonists  mistaking  their  wishes  for  their  belief,  indulged  the  hope 
Ithatas  the  taking  possession  by  the  officers  of  Spain  was  thus  protracted, 
jthe  catholic  king  must  have  renounced  the  acciuisition  of  the  province. 
jOthers  viewed  the  cessions  as  a  measure  feigned  for  state  purposes. 
riehling  to  these  delusions  they  viewed  Ulloa  with  a  jealous  eye,  as  a 
personage  who  abused  the  reasons  of  state,  which  they  su})posed  to  be  the 


r  7    'M 


m 


f''' 


'I'  .  s 


'-'Si. J  ^..    T 


202 


HISTORY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


fi:^ 


I'? 


^1 


cause  of  his  coining  among  them.  Conjectures  drawn  from  the  British 
j)rints  and  from  conversations  with  individuals  of  that  nation,  who  liad 
come  to  New  Orleans  on  their  way  to  Manshae,  Baton  Rouge  and  Natclujz, 
strengthened  their  belief.  The  i)ublic  a<i;itation  for  awhile  subsided,  hut 
was  at  last  roused  by  a  rumor  that  a  Spanish  armament,  destined  for 
Louisiana,  had  arrived  at  the  Havana. 

Frantic  and  distracted  by  these  alternate  impressions  of  hope  and  fear 
some  of  the  popular  leaders  flattered  themselves  with  the  possibility  of 
resistance,  aijd  dis])atched  a  messenger  to  Governor  Elliott,  who  luul 
succeeded  Johnston  at  Pensacola,  to  ascertain  whether  the  sui)p()rt  of  the 
gDVcrnment  of  West  Florida  could  be  obtained.  The  governor  declared 
himself  unwilling  to  aid  his  neighbors  in  an  oi)position  to  a  king  in  aniitv 
with  his  own.  It  was  said  he  transmitted  the  message  he  had  received  to 
Aul>ry,  who  delivered  it  to  UUoa,  and  that  the  latter  carried  it  to  Madrid, 

l)isa))])ointed  at  this  attempt,  the  leaders  pressed  the  consideration  of 
the  petition  of  the  iidiabitants,  which  the  council  had  delayed  to  act  iH)on. 

It  had  l^een  subscribed  by  five  hundred  and  sixty  of  the  most 
res})ectable  inhabitants.  Lafreniere  supported  it  by  an  elo([uent  spooeh. 
in  which  he  adverted  to  the  successful  opposition  of  the  British  Aniorieun 
provinces  to  the  stamp  act,  and  drew  the  attention  of  the  council  to  tlie 
no)  lie  conduct  of  the  people  of  Burgundy  in  1526,  when  sumnionwi  hy 
Launoy,  the  viceroy  of  Naples,  to  recognize  as  their  sovereign  the  emperor 
Charles  the  fifth,  to  whom  Francis  the  second  had  ceded  that  province  by 
the  treaty  of  Madrid.  The  states  and  courts  of  justice  being  convened  to 
deliberate  on  the  emperor's  message,  unanimously  answered  that  the 
province  was  a  part  of  the  French  monarchy  and  the  king  had  not  the 
power  of  alienating  it.  The  noldes  resolutely  declared  that  if  the  kinj; 
abandoned  them  they  would  resort  to  arms,  and  the  last  drop  of  their 
))lood  would  be  spilt  in  defense  of  their  country. 

At  last,  on  the  29th  of  October,  it  was  taken  up  and  after  some  debate  i 
the  council  (notwithstanding  the  opposition  and  protest  of  Aubry)  ordered 
Ulloa  to  produce  his  powers  from  the  king  of  Spain,  if  he  had  any,  that 
they  might  be  recorded  on  its  minutes,  and  published  through  thejjrovincc 
or  depart  therefrom,  within  one  month.  To  give  weight  to  the  requisition 
of  the  council  about  six  hundred  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  and 
German  coast  embodied  themselves. 

Ulloa  took  the  last  of  the  alternatives  proposed  to  him,  and  was  soon 
ready  to  depart ;  a  vessel  of  the  king  of  Spain  that  had  lately  arrived , 
afforded  him  an  opportunity  which  he  improved. 

On  the  evening  of  one  of  the  first  days  of  November,  he  went  on  board  I 
of  the  king's  vessel,  intending  to  sail  early  in  the  morning.  Thetorehl 
of  liyiuen  had  been  lighted  in  the  house  of  a  wealthy  merchant  in  the  j 
city;  the  dance  was  protracted  till  the  morning;  a  number  of  the  planters  i 
who  had  come  to  the  city,  had  joined  the  festive  banquet.  Wine  had  been 
sent  to  others,  whose  admission  the  great  number  of  the  guests  in  the  j 
house  had  i)revcnted  from  attending.  At  dawn,  all  parties  united,  ami 
elated  by  the  nightly  orgie,  marched  to  the  levee,  hallooing  and  siiifring.j 
Boats  were  prtjcured  ;  no  apprehension  being  entertained  on  board,  thel 
vessel  was  apj^roached,  and  her  cables  cut  asunder.  It  does  not  ai)pearj 
any  attempt  was  made  to  punish  the  insult.  The  vessel  was  at  thef 
moment  of  departure  and  floated  away. 


imd  fear 
l)iUty  lit' 
vho  had 
rt  of  the 
doclarod 
in  iuuity 
ccivcil  to 
)  Ma<lri(l 
"ration  of 
act  u\)()n. 
the  ni<i<t 
nt  s\)ct'('h, 
American 
ncil  to  \.\w 
iiuoni.'<l  by 
[ic  cniporor 
)rovineo  hy 
onvonod  to 
l1  that  the 
lad  not  the 
if  the  kiuj! 
rop  of  their 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


208 


A  few  clays  after,  a  general  meeting  of  deputies  from  every  pariah,  was 
convened  at  New  Orleans,  in  whieh  it  was  determined  to  make  a  second 
ii])|)lication,  to  avert,  if  possihle,  the  exeentif)n  of  the  treaty  of  cession. 
This  service  was  confided  to  St.  Lette,  a  merchant  of  Natcliitoches.  xind 
Icsassier,  a  member  of  the  superior  council. 

Ulloa  proceeded  to  Havana,  where  he  immediately  embarked  for  Cadiz, 
iind  landed  after  a  passage  or  forty  days. 

The  chevalier  Dessales,  who  sailed  with  him  from  New  Orleans,  saw  at 
Havana,  Urissa,  the  former  consul  of  Spain   at  Bordeaux,  who  having 
liccn  appointed   Tntendant   of  Louisiana,  \\as   on  his   way   with   eight 
Imndred  soldiers.     He  had  stopped  at  Havana,  to  take  in  one  million  of 
ilollars  for  the  king's  service  in  his  new  acf^uisition  ;  hearing  of  Ulloa's  ill 
•uoccss,  he  returned  to  Europe. 
In  December  the  British  evacuated  and  demolished  Fort  Bute. 
The  ])assagc  of  the  deputies  of  the  i)eople  of  Ijouisiana  was  not  so 
expeditious  as  that  of  Ulloa.     They  were  three  months  on  the  water.    The 
complaint  of  the  king  of  Spain  had  reached  the  court,  long  before  their 
anival  at  Paris.     Bienville,  on  whose  aid  and  services  they  much  relied, 
was  now  dead,  and  the  Duke  of  Choiseuil  still  in  power.     St.  I^ette  had 
lieen  a  schoolmate  of  his.     The  Duke  received  his  former  play  fellow  with 
open  arms,  but  frowned  on  the  deputy  and   his  colleague.     He  told  them 
their  application  was  too  tardy,  as  the  king  of  Spain  had  directed  such  a 
force  to  be  sent  to  New  Orleans,  as  would  put  down  any  opposition  that 
fould  be  made.     He  gave  St.  Lette  a  very  lucrative  oflfice  in  the  East 
Indies,  and  Lesassier  returned  home. 

The  deputies  had  been  instructed  to  renew  the  representation,  which 
Milhet  had  made  in  regard  to  the  depreciated  paper  currency,  which 
inundated  the  province.  They  obtained  an  arrest  of  the  king's  council 
of  the  twenty-third  of  March,  which  is  believed  to  be  the  last  act  of  the 
French  government  concerning  Louisiana. 

It  provided  that  the  bills,  emitted  by  the  colonial  government,  <  »r  the 
receipts  for  so  much  of  them,  as  according  to  a  former  order  had  been 
left  with  the  treasurer,  should  be  reduced  to  three-fifths  of  their  nominal 
value. 

The  holders  of  these  bills  or  receipts  were   directed   to  bring  them, 
liefore  the  first  of  September  following,  to  Marignier,  who  was  authorized 
I  to  give  therefor,  (after   a  deduction  of  two-fifths)  a, certificate  bearing 
I  interest  at  five  per  cent. 

Provision  was  made  for  cases,  in  which  there  had  been  a  judicial 
I  deposit. 

Shortly  after  the  return  of  Lesassier,  the  distress,  which  the  accounts 
Ik' brought  excited,  was  relieved  by  letters  from  Bordeaux,  intimating 
[tliat  the  province  was  to  cf)ntinue  a  colony  of  France. 

But  on  the  twenty-third  of  July,  intelligence  reached  New  Orleans  of 
Itlie  arrival  at  the  Balize  of  a  Si)anish  frigate,  with  twenty-eight  transports, 
Ihaving  four  thousand  five  hundred  soldiers  on  board,  and  a  large  supply 
|of  arms  and  ammunition.  This  threw  the  town  into  great  consternation  : 
jresistance  was  spoken  of,  and  messengers  were  dispatched  uj)  the  coast. 

On  the  next  day,  an  express,  with  a  message  to  Aubry,  from  Don 
[Alexander  O'Reilly,  the  commander  of  the  Spanish  forces,  landed  on 
pe  levee. 


Wvm 


#r^^^ 


<    t'm 


1 1^^'-      ^'•■^.  f^ 


204 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


'H  M:^ 


TIio  iiiha1)it;intH  of  the  city,  on  tlic  invitation  of  Aubry,  met  liim  in  the 
cluivfh,  iind  he  read  to  them  the  message.  Tliey  thus  learned  that  tlir 
general  was  .sent  by  Ids  H<)verei<;n  to  take  i)08seHsion  of  the  colony;  Imt 
not  to  distress  the  inhabitants  ;  that,  as  soon  as  he  had  obtained  possession. 
he  would  publish  the  remaining  part  of  the  orders  of  his  royal  master: 
but,  should  any  attempt  be  made  to  oppose  his  landing,  he  was  deterniiiioil 
not  to  depart,  till  he  had  put  his  majesty's  conmumds  in  conijtlotc 
execution. 

The  iidiabitants  immediately  came  to  a  resolution  to  choose  three 
gentlemen,  to  wait  in  their  behalf  on  the  general,  and  inform  him  that  the 
people  of  Louisinnu  were  determined  to  abandon  the  colony,  and  had  no 
otlur  favor  to  ask  from  him,  but  that  he  would  allow  them  two  year.'*,  to 
remove  themit'elves  and  their  effects. 

The  choice  of  the  meeting  fell  on  Grandmaison,  the  town  major, 
Lafrenicre,  the  attorney -general,  and  JMazent,  formerly  a  captain  in  the 
colonial  troops,  now  a  planter  of  considerable  wealth. 

O'lleilly  received  them  with  great  politeness,  and  assured  them  he 
would  checrlidly  comply  with  any  reasonable  request  of  the  colonists: 
that  he  had  their  interest  much  at  heart,  and  nothing  on  his  part  should 
be  wanting  to  i)romote  it.  He  added  all  past  transactions  would  be 
buried  in  ol>livion,  and  all  who  had  offended  should  be  forgiven,  and  said 
everything,  which  he  imagined  would  flatter  the  minds  of  the  people. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  planters  of  the  German,  and  some  of  the  Acadian 
coast  had  taken  arms,  and  a  considerable  number  of  them,  headed  hv 
Villere,  marched  down  to  the  city. 

The  dei)utation  reached  New  Orleans  on  the  first  of  August,  and  made 

Kublic  the  kind  reception  O'Reilly  had  given  them,  and  the  fair  jn'omises 
e  had  made.  This  considerably  quieted  the  minds  of  the  inhabitants, 
and  many,  who  had  determined  on  an  immediate  removal  from  the 
province,  now  resolved  to  return  and  gather  their  crops. 

A  fortnight  had  elapsed  before  the  armament  reached  the  city.  It  east 
anchor  l)efore  it,  on  the  sixteenth ;  the  inhabitants  flocked  to  the  levee  on 
the  following  day,  but  the  landing  did  not  take  place  till  the  eighteenth. 

At  three  o'clock,  in  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  the  Spaniards  disembarked, 
and  O'Reilly  led  his  men  to  the  public  square,  before   the   church,  in  the  i 
middle  of  the  city,  where  Aubry,  at  the  head   of  the  troops  of  France 
received  him ;  the  white  banner  flying  at  the  top  of  a  high   mast,  in  the  j 
middle  of  the  square.     It  was  now  slowly  lowered,  while  that  of  Spain  | 
was  hoisted,  and  as  they  met  at  half-mast,  they  were  saluted  by  a  feu-dc- 
joie  from  the  troops  of  both  nations.    The  French  flag  being  lowered  and! 
the  Spanish  flying  on  the  top  of  the  mast,  O'Reilly,   attended  by  Aulny. 
and  followed  l)y  the  oflicers  of  both  nations,  who  were   not  under  arms, 
perambulated  the  square,  in  token  of  his  being  in  possession  of  the  colony. 
His  suite  then  followed  him  to  the  church,  where  a  solemn  Te  Detm  was| 
chaunted,  and  the  benediction  of  the  host  given. 

Thus  ended,  about  seventy-one  years  after  the  arrival  of  Iberville,  thel 
government  of  France  in  Lcmisiana :  and  thus  was  that  nation,  about  one! 
hundred  and  sixty  years  after  Cham])lain  laid  the  foundation  of  Qucbecl 
the  oldest  town  of  French  origin  in  North  America,  left  without  an  inclij 
of  ground  in  that  part  of  the  continent. 


IIISTOUY   0?^   LOUISIAXA. 


205 


The  exports  of  the  province  during  the  last  year  of  its  subjection  to 
France,  were  as  follows  : 

$100,000 

80.000 


In  Indigo, 
"   Deer  Skins, 


"  Lumber, 

"  Naval  Stores,     . 

"  lli(X',  Peas  and  Beans, 

"  Tallow,    . 


50,0{X) 

12,(X)0 

4,0(X) 

4,000 


$250,000 
An  interlojie  trade  with  the  Spanish  colonies,  took  awav 

goods  worth  .  .  .  .  .      '       60,000 

The  colonial  treasury  gave  bills  on  govermnentin  France, 

for 360,000 


,  Iberville,  tlwl 
Ion,  about  onel 

Ion  of  Quebeol 
Ithout  aniuctl 


So  that  the  i)rovincc  afforded  means  of  remittance  for   .   $670,000 

Few  merchant  vessels  came  from  Franco ;  but  the  island  of  Hispaniola 
nirried  on  a  brisk  trade  with  New  Orleans,  and  some  vessels  came  from 
JIartinico.  King's  vessels  brought  whatever  was  necessary  for  the  troops, 
and  goods  for  the  Indian  trade. 

The  indigo  of  Louisiana  was  greatly  inferior  to  that  of  Hispaniola ;  the 
planters  being  quite  unskillful  and  inattentive  in  the  manufacture  of  it ; 
that  of  sugar  had  been  abandoned,  but  some  planters  near  New  Orleans 
raised  a  few  canes  for  the  market. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

Don  Alexander  O'Reill}^  a^eutenant-general  of  the  armies  of  Spain, 
had,  by  a  commission  bearing  date  Aranjuez,  April  16th,  1769,  been 
appointed  governor  and  captain-general  of  the  province  of  Louisiana, 
with  "  special  power  to  establish  in  this  new  part  of  the  king's  dominions 
with  regard  to  the  military  force,  police,  administration  of  justice,  and 
finances,  such  a  form  of  government  as  might  most  effectually  secure  its 
dependence  and  subordination,  and  promote  the  king's  service  and  the 
happiness  of  his  subjects." 

The  intendant  of  the  province  was  Don  Francisco  de  Loyola. 

Don  Manuel  Joseph  de  Uristia  and  Don  Felix  de  Rey,  accompanied  the 
I  captain-general  as  his  assessors  or  legal  advisers  in  the  judicial  functions 
of  his  office,  and  his  authority  was  supported  by  a  military  force  equal  to 
three  times  the  number  of  persons  capable  of  bearing  arms  in  the  colony. 
We  have  seen  that  he  took  possession  of  it  with  as  little  opposition  or 
difficulty  as  if  he  had  been  a  French  governor  coming  to  supercede  a 
I  former  one. 

He  was  waited  upon  by  every  class  of  inhabitants  with  respectful 
hubniission.  A  canopied  seat  was  placed  in  the  largest  hall  of  the  house 
lheoccu]>io(l,  where  he  held  a  numerous  leve,  at  which  the  ladies  were  not 
junfrequent  attendants.  An  undisturbed  tranquillity  seemed  to  prevail. 
IS^urprise  and  afterwards  anxiety,  were  excited  by  his  delay  to  comply  with 


mi'"Sii 


*   <  s*l 


206 


IIISTOKY   OF   LonsiAXA. 


ks*»ii 


the  j)roniise  in  his  mcHsage  from  the  Balizo  to  publisli,  iiftor  ho  had  taken 
posst'Hsion  of  the  province  the  ultimate  intentions  of  hin  sovereign. 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  his  administration  was  an  order  for  a  census  df 
the  inhabitants  of  New  Orleans.  It  was  executed  with  great  accuracy. 
It  appeared  that  the  aggregate  population  amounted  to  three  thousaiui 
one  hundred  and  ninety  persons,  of  every  age,  sex  and  the  color.  The 
number  of  free  persons  was  nineteen  hundred  and  two;  thirty-one  of 
whom  were  blacK,  and  sixty-eight  of  mixed  blood.  There  were  twelve 
hundred  and  twenty-five  slaves,  and  sixty  domesticated  Indians.  The 
number  of  houses  was  four  hundred  and  sixty-eight :  the  greatest  jmrt  of 
them  were  in  the  third  and  fourth  streets  from  the  water,  and  principally 
in  the  latter. 

No  census  was  taken  in  the  rest  of  the  province ;  but  from  a  reference 
to  the  preceding  and  succeeding  years,  the  following  statement  is  believed 
to  be  correct : 


In  the  city  of  New  Orleans,  as  before, 

From  the  Balize  to  the  citv, 

Bavou  St.  John  and  Gentilly, 

Tchoupitoulas, 

St.  Charles, 

St.  John  the  Baptist, 

Lafourche, 

Iberville, 

Pointe  Coupee, 

Attakapas, 

Avoyelles, 

Natchitoches, 

Rapides, 

Washita, 

Arkansas, 

St.  Louis,  (Illinois,) 


3,190 
570 
307 

4,192 
639 
544 
267 
376 
783 
409 
314 
811 
47 
110 
88 
891 

13,538 


Towards  the  last  day  of  August,  the  people  were  alarmed  by  the  arrest 
of  Foucault,  the  commissary-general  and  ordonnateur,  De  Noyant  and 
Boisblanc,  two  members  of  the  superior  council ;  La  Freiiiere,  the 
attorney-general,  and  Brand,  the  king's  printer.  These  gentlemen  were 
attending  O'Reilly's  leve,  when  he  requested  them  to  step  into  an  adiacent 
apartment,  where  they  found  themselves  immediately  surrounded  by  ii 
body  of  grenadiers,  with  fixed  bayonets,  the  commanding  oflicer  of  whom 
informed  them  they  were  the  king's  prisoners.  The  two  first  were 
conveyed  to  their  respective  houses,  and  a  guard  was  left  there;  the 
others  were  imprisoned  in  the  barracks. 

It  had  been  determined  to  make  an  example  of  twelve  individuals;  two 
from  the  army,  and  an  equal  number  from  the  bar ;  four  planters,  and  as 
many  merchants.  Accordingly,  Marquis  and  De  Noyant,  officers  of  the 
troop;  La  Freniere,  the  attorney-general,  and  Doucet,  (lawyers,)  Villere. 
Boisblanc,  Mazent  and  Petit,  (planters,)  and  John  Milhet,  Joseph  Milhet,  | 
Caresse  and  Poupet,  (merchants,)  had  been  selected. 

Within  a  few  days.  Marquis,  Doucet,  Petit,  Mazant,  the  two  Milhetf, 
Caresse  and  Poupet,  were  arrested  and  confined. 


(\  taki'ii 

nsufs  <it' 
eouracy. 
liousinul 
)r.    The 

^'-0110   of 

re  twolve 
lis.  The 
4  \)artof 
:lnci\)aUy 

reference 
s  believed 


13,538 

by  the  arres't 
Noyant  and 
reiiieve,  the 
tlenien  were 
.  an  adjacent 
Duntlccl  by  a 
ccr  of  whom 
o  first  were 
't  there;  the 

jviduals;  two 
|mters,an(las 
jfticers  of  the 
Ivers,)  Villere. 
Voseph  Milhet, 

two  Milhetf, 


HISTORY   OF   LOUTSIANA. 


207 


Villorc,  who  was  on  his  plantation  at  the  German  Coast,  had  liecn 
marked  as  one  of  the  intended  victims;  but  his  absence  from  the  city 
renderinp  his  arrest  loss  easy,  it  had  been  determined  to  release  one  of 
the  prisoners   on   his   being  secured.      He   had   been   apprised   of  the 
impending  danger,  and  it  had  been  recommended  to  him  to  provide  for 
his  safety  l>y  seeking  the  protection  of  the  British  flag  waving  at  Manshae. 
When  ho  was  delilx.'rating  on  the  step  it  became  him  to  take,  ho  received 
a  letter  from  Aubry,  the  commandant  of  the  French  troops,  assuring  him 
he  liad  nothing  to  ajjprehend,  and  advising  him  to  return  to  the  city. 
Averse  to  flight,  as  it  would  imply  a  consciousness  of  guilt,  he  yielded  to 
Aubry's  retuimmendation  and  returned  to  New  Orleans  ;  but  as  he  i)assed 
the  gate,  the  oflicor  commanding  the  guard  arrested  him.     He  was  imme- 
diately conveyed  on  board  of  a  frigate  that  lay  at  the  leveo.     On  hearing 
of  tins,  his  lady,  a  granddaughter  of  La  Chaise,  the  former  commissary- 
jioiieral  and  ord(niiiateur,  hastened  to  the  city.     As  her  boat  ap])roached 
the  frigate,  it  was  hailed  and  ordered  aAvay.     She  made  herself  known, 
and  solicited  admission  to  her  husband,  but  was  answered  she  could  not 
see  him,  as  the  captain  was  on  shore,  and  had  left  orders  that  no  commu- 
nioation  should  be  allowed  with  the  prisoner.      Villere  recognized  his 
wife's  voice,  and  insisted  on  being  permitted  to  see  her.     On  this  being 
vcfiised,  a  struggle  ensued,  in  which  he  fell,  pierced  by  the  bayonets  of 
his  guards.     His  l)loody  shirt  thrown  into  the  boat,  announced  to  the 
lady  that  she  had  ceased  to  be  a  wife ;   and  a  sailor  cut  the  rope  that 
fastened  the  boat  to  the  frigate. 

O'Reilly's  assessors  heard  and  recorded  the  testimony  against  the 
prisoners,  and  called  on  them  for  their  pleas. 

The  prosecution  was  grounded  on  a  statute  of  Alfonso  the  eleventh, 
which  is  the  first  law  of  the  seventh  title  of  the  first  partida,  and 
denounces  the  punishment  of  death  and  confiscation  of  property  against 
those  who  excite  any  insurrection  against  the  king  or  state,  or  take  up 
arms  under  pretense  of  extending  their  liberty  or  rights,  and  against 
those  who  give  them  any  assistance. 

Foucault  pleaded  he  had  done  nothing,  except  in  his  character  of 
eommissary-general  and  ordonnateur  of  the  king  of  France  in  the 
province,  and  to  him  alone  he  was  accountable  for  the  motives  that  had 
directed  his  official  conduct.  The  plea  was  sustained;  he  was  not, 
however,  released ;  and  a  few  days  afterwards,  he  was  transported  to 
France. 

Braud  oflfered  a  similar  plea,  urging  he  was  the  king  of  France's  printer 
of  Louisiana.    The  only  accusation  against  him,  was  that  he  had  printed 
the  petition   of  the   planters   and  merchants  to   the  superior  council, 
I  soliciting  that  body  to  require  Ulloa  to  exhibit  his  powers,  or  depart.    He 
j  concluded  that  he  was  bound,  by  his  office,  to  print  whatever  the   ordon- 
nateur sent  to  his  press ;  and  he  produced  that  officer's  order  to  print  the 
1  petition.    His  plea  was  sustained,  and  he  was  discharged. 

The  other  prisoners  declined  also  the  jurisdiction  of  the  tribunal  before 
[which  they  were  arraigned  :  their  plea  was  overruled.  They  now  denied 
jthe  facts  with  which  they  were  charged,  contended  that  it  they  did  take 
lldace,  they  did  so  while  the  flag  of  France  was  still  waving  over  the 
Ipronnee,  and  the  laws  of  that  kingdom  retained  their  empire  in  it,  and 
jthus  the  facts  did  not  constitute  an  offense  against  the  laws  of  Spain ; 
[that  the  people  of  Louisiana  could  not  bear  the  yokes  of  two  sovereigns ; 


°  ^'  ** .  .  ^A 


s-,;v 


Imt 


Wtm 

.if  ■  -j'^^sf' 


■]■ ;;, 


■  :m 


208 


HISTOHY   OF    LOIISIAXA. 


.^Hrrr 


i 


III 
m 


I'M^H^^BW^M 

1^^ 

^Hij 

^JKt| 

^W^^ 

mt' 

that  O'Reilly  could  not  command  the  olu'dicncc,  nor  oven  tlic  ropjKTt  n|' 
the  colonistH,  until  he  made  known  to  them  his  character  and  powirs- 
and  that  the  C.'atholie  king  could  not  count  on  their  allej^iance,  till  ji,' 
extended  to  theni  his  protection. 

It  had  heen  determined  at  first,  to  proceed  with  the  uttnost  rigor  of  the 
law  against  six  of  the  prisoners ;  hut,  on  the  death  of  Villere,  it  was 
judged  sufficient  to  do  so  against  five  only.  Tlu;  jurisprudtuue  of  Sjjain 
authorizing  the  infiiction  of  a  less  severe  punishment  than  thatdenoiuucd 
hy  the  statute,  when  the  charge  is  not  i)roved  hy  two  witnesses  to  the 
same  act,  but  hy  one  with  corroborating  circumstances.  Accordingly,  two 
Avitnesses  were  produced  against  DeNoyant,  La  Freniere,  ilariiuis,  Joseph 
Milhet  and  Caresse.  They  were  convicted ;  and  O'Reilly,  by  the  advuo 
of  his  assessor,  condemned  them  to  be  hanged,  and  i)ronounct'd  the 
confiscation  of  their  estates. 

The  most  earnest  and  pathetic  entreaties  were  employed  by  persons  in 
every  rank  of  society,  to  prevail  on  O'Reilly  to  remit  or  suspend  tiic 
execution  of  his  sentence  till  the  royal  clemency  could  bo  implored.  He 
was  inexorable;  and  the  only  indulgence  that  could  be  obtained,  was, 
that  death  should  be  inflicted  by  shooting,  instead  of  hanging.  With  this 
modification,  the  sentence  was  carried  into  execution  on  the  twenty-eighth 
of  Hepteinber. 

On  the  morning  of  that  day,  the  guards,  at  every  gate  and  post  of  the 
city,  were  doubled,  and  orders  were  given  not  to  allow  anybody  to  enter  it. 
All  the  troops  were  under  arms,  and  i)araded  the  streets  or  were  plact'(l 
in  battle  array  along  the  levee  and  on  the  public  scjuare.  Most  of  the 
inhabitants  fled  into  the  country.  At  three  o'clocfk  of  the  afternoon,  the 
victims  were  led,  under  a  strong  guard,  to  the  small  scpiare  in  front  of  the 
barracks,  tied  to  stakes,  and  an  explosion  of  musketry  soon  announced 
to  the  few  inhabitants  who  remained  in  the  city,  that  their  friends  were 
no  more. 

Posterity,  the  judge  of  men  in  power,  will  doom  this  act  topubiie 
execration.  No  necessity  demanded,  no  policy  justified  it.  UHoa's 
conduct  had  provoked  the  measures  to  which  the  inhabitants  had  resorted. 
During  nearly  two  years,  he  had  haunted  the  province  as  a  phantom  df 
dubious  authority.  The  efforts  of  the  colonists,  to  prevent  the  transfer  ol' 
their  natal  soil  to  a  foreign  prince,  originated  in  their  attachment  to  their 
ovvn,  and  ;he  Catholic  king  ought  to  have  beheld  in  their  condiut  ;i 
pledge  of  their  future  devotion  to  himself.  They  had  but  lately  seen  their 
country  severed,  and  a  part  of  it  added  to  the  dominion  of  (Jreat  Britain; 
they  had  bewailed  their  separation  from  their  friends  and  kindred ;  and 
were  afterwards  to  be  alienated,  without  their  consent,  and  subjected  to  a 
foreign  yoke.  If  the  indiscretion  of  a  few  of  them  needed  an  apology,  the 
common  misfortune  afforded  it. 

A  few  weeks  afterwards,  the  proceedings  against  the  six  remaining 
prisoners  were  brought  to  a  close.  One  witness  only  deposing  against  any 
of  them,  and  circumstances  corroborating  the  testimony,  Boisblane  na? 
condemned  to  imprisonment  for  life ;  Doucet,  Mazent,  John  Milhet, 
Petit  and  Poupet  were  condemned  to  imprisonment  for  various  terms  of 
years.  All  were  transported  to  Havana,  and  cast  into  the  dungeons  of 
the  Moro  Castle. 

Conquered  countries  are  generally  allowed,  at  least  during  a  few  years 
to  retain  their  former  laws  and  usages.     Louis  the  fifteenth,  in  his  letter  I 


1IIST(M!Y   OF  LoriSIAN'A. 


200 


it!Ct    (if 

till  lu- 

r  of  the 

it  \viis 

)f  Sjiiun 

s  t(t  tlu" 
i^ly,t\vi. 
,  Josi'ph 
c  ailvno 
uceil  the 

uvsouri  in 
pond  till' 
ircd.  Hi; 
juhI,  was. 
Withtlus 
iity-eighth 

)ost  of  the 
to  enter  it. 
tTcro  placi'il 
lost  of  the 
crnoon,  the 
fnnit  of  the 
announced 
rienils  were 

>t  to  public 

it.     tlloa's 

[iul  resorted. 

ihixntotn  of 

transfenif 

[lent  to  their 

conduct  11 

y  seen  their 

;cat  Britain; 

.ndred ;  ami 

j)jct'ted  to  11 

apology,  thf 

remaining 
.  against  any 
[)isblanc  wn^ 

John  Mil^<^\' 
bus  terms  ol 
flungeons  of 

a  few  years, 
in  bis  letter 


fiion<lshil)  of  the  kiii^  (»f  S|)ain,  that,  for 
lit"  the  inlmUitants  of  Louisiana, orders  W( 


to  (rAltndio,  had  expressed  his  hope,  and  dechiredheexpeeted  it  from  Iho 

the  advantajii^  and  tran«iuil]ity 
>uld  he  nivoii  to  the  jxovernors 
and  other  oHieers  scMit  to  the  province,  that  tlie  inferior  judges,  as  well  as 
those  of  the  superior  eouncil  should  be  allowed  to  administer  justieo 
ji(((inling  to  the  laws,  fornis  and  usages  of  the  colony.  It  is  oppressive, 
in  tlic  highest  degree,  to  recpiire  that  a  community  should  instantaneously 
suliuiit  to  a  total  change  in  the  laws  that  hitherto  governed  it.  and  bo 
coiiipi'lled  to  regulate  its  conduet  by  rules  of  which  it«is  totally  ignorant. 
Siieli  was,  however,  the  lot  of  the  people  of  Louisiana.  A  jtroclamation 
of  O'Keilly,  on  the  twenty-lirst  of  Xovendjer,  announced  to  them  that  th(! 
I'vidence  received  during  the  late  trials,  having  furnished  full  proof  of 
the  \n\ri  the  sui)erior  eouncil  had  in  the  revolt  during  the  two  i)receding 
VL'ars,  and  of  the  intluenvo  it  had  exerted  in  encouraging  the  leaders, 
instead  of  using  its  best  endeavors  to  keep  the  people  in  the  fidelity  and 
subordination  they  owe«l  to  tlie  sovereign,  it  had  become  necessary  to 
aiiolish  that  tribunal,  and  to  establish,  in  Louisiana,  that  form  of  govern- 
ment and  mode  of  administering  justice  prescribed  by  the  laws  of  Spain, 
which  had  long  nuiintained  the  Catholic  king'.s  American  ctdonics  in 
perfect  tranc^uillity,  content,  and  subordination. 

The  premises  might  be  true,  but  the  con(dusion  was  certainly  illogical. 
The  indiscreet  conduct  of  a  few  of  the  members  of  the  council,  the  violent 
measures  adoj^ted  by  some  of  the  inhabitants,  could  not  certainly  be 
attributed  to  the  organization  of  that  tribunal,  nor  to  tlie  laws,  customs 
and  usages  that  had  hitherto  prevailed  in  the  province.  Aubry  Avas  about 
to  depart ;  and  were  he  to  stay,  the  jn'esidency  of  the  council  would  not 
lielon<5  to  him,  but  to  the  Spanish  chief.  Foucault  had  been  transported  ; 
La  Freniere  and  Do  Noyant  shot ;  and  Hoisblano  was  in  the  dungeons  of 
tlie  Moro  Castle.  Nothing  compelled  the  new  sovereign  to  retain  any  of 
the  old  members  as  judges. 

The  i)roclamation  mentioned,  that  to  the  superior  council  a  cabildo  would 
he  substituted,  and  be  comi)oscd  of  six  })er})etual  regidors,  two  ordinary 
alcades,  an  attorney-general-syndic,  and  a  clerk;  over  which  the  governor 
would  ))reside  in  i)erson. 

The  ofTices  of  perpetual  regi<lor  and  clerk  wore  to  be  acquired  by 
purehase,  and  for  the  first  time,  at  auction.  The  jiurchaser  had  the 
faculty  of  tran.sferring  his  ofHce,  l)y  resignation,  to  a  known  and  cai)able 
person,  paying  one-half  of  its  appraised  value  on  the  first,  and  one-third 
on  every  other  mutation. 

Among  the  regidors  were  to  be  distributed  the  offices  of  AJfcrczrcal^  or 
royal  standard-bearer ;  principal  provincial  alcade ;  AUjmizil  mayor,  or 
hijili  sberiflF;  depositary-general,  and  receiver  of  fines. 

The  ordinary  alcades  and  attorney-general-syndic,  were  to  be  chosen  on 
tlie  first  day  of  every  year  l)y  the  cabildo,  anct  were  always  re-eligible  by 
its  unanimous  vote,  but  not  by  the  majority,  unless  after  the  expiration  of 
two  years.  At  such  elections,  the  votes  were  openly  given  anci  recorded. 
The  ordinary  alcades  were  individually  judges  within  the  city  in  civil 
and  criminal  cases,  where  the  defendant  did  not  enjoy  and  claim  the 
privilege  of  being  tried  bv  a  milita^'y  or  ecclesiastical  judge, /wfro  military 
Jm'i-o  c(rh'i<iastico.  They  beard  and  decided  in  their  chambers,  summarily, 
and  without  any  written  proceeding,  all  complaints  in  which  the  value  of 
the  ol)jcct  in  dispute  did  not  exceed  twenty  dollars.    In  other  cases, 

S9 


->i^iA 


210 


IIIHTOKY   OK   LOl'IHIANA. 


'H')'^'^ 


in 

h 


:*m 


1W  p32^-> 


i'     'i 


pnti'ccdiii^s  Ix'fdrc  tliciii  were  ncordrd  by  ii  notary;  aiidin  tin  ii|»nitiii(iit 
Hct  ajuirt  for  this  [turpoHc,  uiid  wlu-rc  tln'  valiU!  of  the  olyjcct  in  disiiutc 
»'.\(('('d('<l  ninety  thoUHund  nniravcdis,  or  three  hinidred  and  thirty  dollac.! 
and  eij^hty-ei^ht  eentn,  an  appeal    hiy  from  their  deeiHion  to  the Ciiliild,, 

Thinhody  did  not  examine  itself  the  iudfjmont  appealed  from,  luitilios). 
two  reji;id(trs,  who,  with  the  aleade  wlio  had  rendered  it,  reviewed  tlic 
proeeedinjiH ;  and  if  he  and  either  of  the  rej^idors  a[)prove»l  the  decision, 
it  was  allirmed. 

The  ealtildo  sat'  every  Friday,  hnt  the  governor  had  th(!  power  nf 
conveninj;  it  at  any  time.  When  he  did  not  attend  it  one  of  the  onliimiv 
ajcades  [tresided,  iind  inuni.'diatelv  on  tiie  adjournment,  two  regidors  wciJi 
to  )iis  liouse  and  informed  him  ot  what  iiad  l)een  done. 

The  ordinary  aleades  had  the  lirst  seats  in  thoiiabildo,  immediately  utter 
tlie  governor ;  and  heiuw  them  the  other  :  .v.mhers  sat,  in  the  follnwinir 
order:  The  alferez  real,  principal  provineial  aleaile,  alguazil  niiivi)i\ 
dejtositarv-general,  receiver  of  tines,  attorney-gtMuTal-syndic!  and  (jerk. 

ri  c  ollico  of  alferez  real  was  merely  honorary,  no  other  function  licii,^' 
assiiined  to  the  inennihent  hut  the  hearing  of  the  royal  standard  in  a  'i^^\ 
pultjic  ceremonies.  The  principal  provineial  aleade  had  cognizance  of 
offenses  et)mmitted  without  the  city;  the  alguazil  mayor  executed 
iM'rsonally  or  by  his  deputies  all  processes  from  the  dillerent  trihimals, 
The  depositary-general  took  charge  of  all  monciys  and  effects  placed  in  the 
custody  of  the  law.  The  functions  of  the  receivtsr-general  are  pointed  out 
hy  his  ofHcial  denomination.  The  att()rney-generul-syndie  was  not,  as 
nnght  he  suposed  from  his  title,  the  ])roseeuting()fli(!er  of  theerown.  His 
duty  was  to  i)ropose  to  the  cahildo  such  measures  as  the  interest  of  tlii' 
people  rec^uired,  and  defend  tluiir  rights. 

Tlie  regidors  received  fifty  dollars  each,  annually,  from  the  troiismy. 
The  principal  provineial  aleade,  ahjuazil  mai/or,  depositary  gcMcnil, 
receiver  of  fines,  and  ordinary  aleades  were  entitled,  as  such,  to  ftrs  of 
office. 

The  king  had  directed  a  regiment  to  be  raised  in  the  province  under  the 
style  of  the  regiment  of  Louisiana,  and  had  made  choice  of  Don  J, 
Estecheria  as  its  colonel.  This  ofiicer  not  having  as  yet  arrived,  Cnza;:;! 
regulated  its  organization  and  assumed  the  provisional  command.  A 
number  of  commissions  for  officers  in  this  regiment  were  sent  k 
O'Reilly.  They  had  been  filled  with  the  names  of  such  inhahitaiitsitis 
Ulloa  had  recommended.  These  commissions  were  cheerfully  aceeiitid: 
the  pay  and  emoluments  in  the  colonial  regiment  of  Spain  being  niiiili 
more  considerable  than  in  the  French.  The  ranks  of  the  regiment  were 
so(m  filled,  soldiers  in  the  service  of  France  and  in  the  regiments  brought 
by  O'Keilly  being  permitted  to  enlist  in  it.  i 

The  supi)lies  which  the  Spanish  government  had  destined  to  itsmilitarv| 
force  in  Louisiana  were  unaccountably  delayed.  The  dearth  of  provisi(tii.> 
in  New  Orleans  became  excessive,  owing  to  an  increase  of  populiitinii, 
much  larger  than  that  of  the  city  before  the  arrival  of  the  8i)aniank 
Flour  rose  to  twenty  dollars  the  barrel.  A  momentary  relief  wa.'i  obtained 
by  the  arrival  of  Oliver  Pollock  in  a  ])rig  from  Baltimore,  with  a  cargo  of 
that  article,  who  ofllered  the  load  to  O'Reilly  on  his  own  terms.  He 
declined  accepting  it  thus,  and  finally  purchased  it  at  fifteen  dollars  the 
barrel.     O'Reilly  was  so  Avell  pleased  with  the  bargain  that  he  told  Pollock 


HIHTOUY  OF  r.onsiANA. 


911 


irtiucnt 
(lismitc 

caliildo, 
lit  cliusc 
wed  t\u' 

K)\V('V    llf 

ordinary 
lors  wont 

itidy  id'tcr 

foUnwhl'^ 

il  iiuivov, 

t'lou  itt'iiit; 
■d  in  11  t't'w 
nizivnco  of 
■  executed 
t  trilHUiiils, 

[iv<'('<l  ii>  <li'' 
pointt'd  out 

,va><  not,  a;; 
•rown.  His 
tcrost  of  till' 

be  treasury. 

i,'t()  iWsot' 

Ice  under  the 
of  l><'n  J. 

vcd,  I'lixii'^'i 
hunnand.  A 
jcro  sent  by 

]ly  accei'te'tl'. 
l)ein|!;  much 
legiincnt  weri' 
puts  bvowi:^ 

L)  its  military 
[of  l)r()visi|Hl^ 
l,f  populiitinii. 
lie  {^pauiavU 
l^vasoV)tllme 
lith  a  cavjioot 
In  terms.  nU 
|en  dollar^  the 

toldP»ll«M 


\ 


li(>  sliouM  have  II  free  tnule  to  Louisiiinii  us  loii^;  jih  lie  Uvod,  and  a  roport 
lit'  his  coixluct  on  tluH  occasion  would  l)c  made  to  t)ic  kiri);. 
The  caldldo  held  its  first  session  on  tlu;  first  of  DeccinluT,  under  tlio 
jrcsidoncy  of  O'llcilly.  The  re^^idors'  oHic<'s  hud  hoen  ijundiascd  hy  Don 
Francisco  Maria  llejif^io,  Don  Pedro  Francisco  ()livi(!r  do  Vezin,  Don 
Carlos  Juan  Hautista  Fleurian,  Don  Anfonio  Fiienvonu,  Don  Jose  Dui^ros, 
and  Don  Dyoiusio  Brand.  Don  .luan  Hanfista  (Jaric,  who  had  held  Iho 
oflice  of  clerk  of  tho  HUperior  council,  luid  aiMiuired  the  same  oflicc  in  tho 
raliildo. 

Kcji^io  was  f<//V/r2  *vvf/;  de  Vezin,  principal  provincial  alcade;  Fleurian, 
(il(liiuzil  miujor;  Dueros,  dcspository  general ;  and  HieuN'enu,  receiver  of 
tines. 

|)(in  liouis  de  lJnzajj;a,  colonel  of  the  regiment  of  Havana,  one  of  those 
wild  had  come  with  O'Ueilly,  had  the  king's  connniHsi()n  as  goveriKtr  of 


tlic  nrovince,  hut  was  not  autln»rized  to  (Mitcr  upon  the  (hities  of  tlnit  oflico, 
until  the  departure  of  O'Rcillv,  or  the  de(daration  of  his  will.  Immedi- 
ati'ly  after  tne  installaticm  of*  the  cahiMo,  he  made  this  declaration,  and 
viclded  the  (dniir  of  that  trihunal  to  llnzaga. 

O'Ueilly  never  came  to  the  (^ahildo  afterwards.  Unzaga  exercised  tho 
functions  of  governor ;  hut  the  former,  as  cai)tain-general,  continued  to 
make  regulations. 

lie  caused  a  set  of  instructions,  whicdi  Don  Jose  de  Uristia  and  Don 
Fcli.K  de  ll<'y  had  prepared  l»y  his  order,  to  be  published.  They  related 
tn  the  institution  of,  and  pro(!eedings  in,  (iivd  and  criminal  actions, 
iiirording  to  the  laws  of  Castillo  and  tho  Indies,  and  for  the  government 
(ifjudges,  ollicers  and  parties,  till  by  the  introduction  of  the  SpaniBh 
hmguage  in  the  j>rovince,  they  might  have  the  means  of  acquiring  a  better 
knowledge  of  those  laws.  To  them  was  annexed  a  compendious  abridg- 
ment of  the  criminal  laws,  and  a  few  directions  in  regard  to  last  wills  and 
testaments. 

From  this  period,  it  is  believed  tho  laws  of  Spain  became  tho  sole  guide 
of  the  tribunals  in  their  decisions.  As  these  laws,  and  those  of  France, 
proceed  from  the  same  origin,  the  Roman  code,  and  there  is  a  great 
siniiliuity  in  their  dispositions  in  regard  to  matrimonial  rights,  testaments 
ami  successions,  the  transition  was  not  perceived  before  it  became 
oomplete,  and  very  little  inconvenience  resulted  from  it. 

The  provincial  officers  of  Louisiana  were,  besides  the  captain-general,  a 

governor,  vested  with  civil  and  military  powers ;  an  intendant,  charged 

with  the  administration  of  the  revenue  and  admiralty  matters,  the   same 

person  acting  often  in  the  double  capacity  of  governor  and  intendant ;  an 

1  auditor  of  war  and  assessor  of  government,  whose  duty  it  was  to  furnish 

lec!al  advice  to  the  governor,  the  first  in  military,  the  second  in  civil 

atiiiirs;  an  assessor  of  the  intendancy,  who  rendered  a  like  service  to  the 

intendant.    Professional  characters  being  very  few  in  Louisiana,  the  same 

individual  often  acted  as  auditor  of  war  and  assessor  of  the   government 

land  intendancy,  and  he  also  assisted  the  cabildo,  principal,  provincial, 

land  ordinary  alcades;  a  secretary  of  the  government  and   one  of  the 

lintendant ;  a  treasurer  and  a  contactor  or  comptroller ;  a  storekeeper  and  a 

jpveyor;  a  surveyor  general;  a  harbor  master;  an  interpreter  of  the 

IFrench  and  English  languages,  and  an  Indian  interpreter ;  three  notaries 

jpublic;  a  collector  and  comptroller  of  the  customs;  a  cashier;  guarda 

Mjor,  searcher,  and  notary  to  the  custom  house. 


I 


ltd' It,, 


212 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


Every  oflicer  Avho  received  a  salary  of  more  than  tlireo  hundred  dollars 
a  year  was  appointed  by  the  crown  ;  others  were  so  by  the  goveriior  oi- 
intendants  in  their  respective  departments. 

The  governor  exercised  judicial  powers  in  civil  and  criminal  matter.^ 
throughout  the  province,  as  did  the  intendant  in  fiscal  and  admiralty, 
and  the  vicar-general  in  ecclesiastical.  These  officers  were  sole  judges  in 
their  respective  courts.  The  two  former  were  assisted  by  an  auditor 
or  assessor,  whose  ojnnion  they  might,  on  their  own  respon8il)ilitv, 
disregard. 

In  every  parish,  an  officer  of  the  army  or  militia,  of  no  higher  grade  than 
a  cai>tain,  was  stationed  as  civil  and  military  commandant.  His  dutv 
was  to  attend  to  the  police  of  the  parish  and  preserve  its  peace.  Ho  was 
instructed  to  examine  the  passjHH'ts  of  all  travellers,  and  suffer  no  oiiu  to 
settle,  within  his  jurisdiction,  without  the  license  of  the  governor.  H(. 
liad  jurisdiction  of  all  civil  cases  in  which  the  value  of  the  object  in 
dispute  did  not  exceed  twenty  dollars.  In  more  important  cases  he  receivwl 
the  petition  and  answer,  took  down  the  testimony,  and  transmitted  tlie  wliolf 
to  the  governor,  by  whom  the  record  was  sent  to  the  })ropcr  tribunal.  ][■,• 
had  the  power  to  punish  slaves,  and  arrest  and  imprison  free  persons 
charged  with  ofFcuses,  and  was  bound  to  transmit  immediate  information 
of  the  arrest,  with  a  transcript  of  the  evidence,  to  the  governor,  by  wlnw 
order  the  accused  was  either  discharged  or  sent  to  the  city.  They  adeil 
also  as  notaries  public,  and  made  inventories  and  sales  of  the  estates  of 
the  deceased,  and  attended  to  the  execution  of  judgments  rendered  iiitlu' 
city  against  defendants  who  resided  in  the  j)arish. 

When  the  commandant  was  taken  from  the  army,  he  continued  to  rcciivj 
the  pay  and  emoluments  of  his  rank.  When  he  was  not,  and  had  iiotanv 
pension  from  the  king,  an  annual  sum  of  one  hundred  dollars  was  j);ii(l 
him  from  the  treasury,  for  stationery  and  other  small  expenses.  All  were 
entitled  to  fees  in  the  exercise  of  judicial  and  notarial  functions. 

The  Spanish  language  was  ordered  to  1)0  emi)l(>yed  by  all  public  offims 
in  their  minutes;  but  the  use  of  the  French  was  tolerated  in  the  judicial 
and  notarial  acts  of  commandants. 

T(nv'ards  the  middle  of  December,  O'Reilly  loft  the  city  to  visit  the 
settlements  of  the  German  and  Acadian  coasts,  Iberville  and  Poiiiii 
Cou))ee. 

On  the  first  of  January,  the  cabildo  made  choice  of  Lachaise,  a  frraiid-j 
son  of  the  former  commissary -general  and  ordonnateur,  and  St.  Denis.  ;ij 
ordinary  alcades  for  the  year  1770. 

Don  Cecilio  Odoardo  arrived  with  a  commission  of  auditor  of  waranl 
assessor  of  the  government;  and  Don  Josei)h  de  Uristia  and  DonFelixdei 
Key  sailed  for  Havana. 

Meetings  of  the  most  notalde  planters  were  convened,  on  th?  arrival  off 
O'Keilly,  in  each  parish,  on  his  way  up  the  river.  Although  Ids  coiiflint 
ut  Xew  Orleans  was  ill  calculated  to  attach  the  people  to  the  sovercic:!!  Ihi 
represented,  he  was  everywhere  received  with  dumb  submission;  huttlnJ 
did  not  ai)[)ear  very  anxious  to  improve  the  o])portunity,  whicli  his  vi>itj 
was  intended  to  offer,  or  make  him  any  communication  or  renionstrana.r 

A  nund)er  of  French  soldiers  enlisted  in  the  Spanish  service.    Maiivj 
Avere  dis(diarged  and  received  grants  of  land.     Those  wlio  did  not  ('Iioii.-i| 
to  remain   under  the  authority  of  the  Catholic  king,  were  ofTorod 
alternative  of  a  passage  to  France  or  Hispaniola.  Aubry  sailed  witii  tii-i;!)! 


I  (loUiiv? 
eruor  ur 

matter? 
ImiraUy, 
)ud*ies  in 
L  auditor 
)n5«il)ility, 

jrade  than 

His  duty 

.    Ho  was 

no  one  t(> 
jrnor.  He 
i  oljjectin 
lie  voofivoil 
dthcwlinli' 
Dunal.  IL' 
•ee  \)ev?ons 
uformatiou 
r,  bv  whose 

They  at'toil 
10  estates  of 
.dei'C'd  in  the 

led  to  rcceiv.^ 

had  not  any 

Irti-rf  was  paiil 

[-s.     All  were 

ns. 

mhlic  officers 

V  the  judieiiil 


K 


to  visit  tk 
and  Toiiilf 


aise,  a  graml- 
I  St.  Denis.  ;i> 

.or  of  war  mi'l 
[l  Don  Felix  lie  I 

th'?  arviv;tl  of  I 
|vh  his  c()nilii''tj 
le  soveveiiia  l>i 
Lion;  huttk;;i 
Iwhieh  hi^  vijit 
renionstraiuT.r 
;i.vviee.   y^m 
did  not  ebo.4 
levo  offered  tkl 
lilodwithtlwi 


HISTORY  OF   LOUI.?IAXA. 


213 


who  preferred  returning  lionie.  The  artillery  was  put  on  board  of  a  vessel 
wliieh  carried  tliose  who  were  destined  for  St.  Domingo.  She  was  never 
after  heard  of. 

Bohe  Descloseaux,  who  had  acted  during  a  short  time,  as  commissary- 
frcneral  and  ordonnateur,  on  the  death  of  Larouvilliero  in  1755),  remained 
in  New  Orleans  by  order  of  the  French,  and  with  the  consent  of  the 
Sjianish  king,  to  attend  to  the  redemption  of  the  paper  securities, 
omitted  by  tiie  former  colonial  administrations;  a  very  considerable 
quantity  of  which  was  still  in  circulation. 

I'cter  Chester,  on  the  death  of  governor  Elliott,  of  West  Florida, 
succeeded  him  in  the  latter  part  of  January. 

On  his  return,  O'Reilly  published  on  the  8th  of  Fel^ruary,  a  number  of 
refridations,  in  regard  to  the  grants  of  vacant  land. 

To  every  family  coming  to  settle  in  the  province,  a  tract  was  to  be 
granted  of  six  or  eight  arpents  in  front,  on  the  Mississippi,  with  a  dei)th 
of  forty ;  on  condition  that  the  grantee  should  within  three  years, 
construct  a  levee  and  finish  a  highway  of  forty  feet  at  least  in  width,  with 
parallel  ditches  towards  the  levee,  and  on  the  ojjposite  side  with  bridges 
at  regular  distances,  and  enclose  and  clear  the  whole  front  of  the  grant  to 
tlic  depth  of  two  arpents  at  least. 

The  arable  land  on  the  points  formed  by  tlic  river,  having  but  little 
depth,  it  was  provided  that  grants  might  be  made  there  of  twelve  arpents 
in  front,  or  the  land  was  granted  to  tlie  owners  of  the  adjacent  tracts,  in 
order  to  secure  an  uninterrupted  continuation  of  the  levee  and  highway. 
In  order  to  secure  an  early  compliance  with  the  conditions  of  the 
[grants,  the  grantee  was  declared  incapable  of  alienating  the  land  until 
ihe  stipulated  imi)rovements  were  made. 

(irants  of  a  scjuare  league  were  authorized  in  the  districts  of  Attakapas, 
0|)elitusas  and  Natchitoclies,  Avhere  the  inhabitants  paid  more  attention 
to  raising  cattle  than  to  the  culture  of  the  soil.  Where  the  land  was  less 
t'.ian  a  league  in  dei)th,  the  grant  was  of  two  leagues  in  front  with  a  depth 
of  half  a  league.  But  no  grant  of  forty-two  ar})ents  in  front  and  depth 
was  authorized  to  be  made  to  any  ])erson  wdio  was  not  the  owner  of  one 
Imndred  head  of  tame  horned  cattle,  a  few  horses  and  sheep  and  two 
flaves. 

All  cattle  were  required  to  be  branded  by  the  owner  before  the  age 
of  eighteen  months; 'and  all  older  unbranded  cattle  were  declared 
i;nolainia))le. 

Nothing  being  thought  more  injurious  to  the  people  than  strayed 
cattle,  without  the  destruction  of  which  the  tame  ones  cannot  increase, 
time  was  given  till  the  first  day  of  June,  1771,  to  collect  the  strays ;  after 
which  period  it  is  declared  they  may  1)0  considered  as  wild,  and  killed  by 
any  one :  none  may  oi)pose  it,  or  claim  pro})erty  in  such  cattle. 

All  <rrants  are  to  be  made  in  the  king's  name  by  the  governor  of  the 
movince,  wdio  is,  at  the  same  time,  to  appoint  a  surveyor  to  fix  the 
ooundaries  both  in  front  and  depth,  in  presence  of  the  ordinary  judge  of 
the  district,  and  in  that  of  the  two  adjoining  settlers,  w  ho  are  to  be  present 
at  the  survey,  and  are  to  subscribe  the  process  verbal  which  is  to  be  made. 
The  surveyor  is  directed  to  make  tlire(5  copies  of  it,  one  of  which  is  to  be 
deposited  in  the  office  of  the  clerk  of  the  eabildo,  another  in  that  of  the 
govorni)r,  and  the  third  delivered  to  the  grantee. 
In  a  proclamation  of  the  twenty-second  of  February,  the  captain-general 


ni|i|ll!;i 


i^- 


WM 


«lr.lw 


.rm 


-   ''Mi 


214 


HISTORY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


assip;n(Hl  ii  rovcniu'  to  tho  city  of  Now  Orleans,  It  was  to  consist  of  an 
annuul  tax  of  torty  dollars  on  every  tavern,  billiard  table,  and  coffee  house  • 
another  of  tw(;nty  dollars  on  every  boarding  house  ;  an  imposition  of  one 
dollar  on  every  barrel  of  brandy  brought  to  the  city ;  and  a  tax  of  three 
hundred  and  seventy  dollars,  to  which  the  butchers  voluntarily  submitted 
under  an  express  declaration  that  they  thereby  meant  to  authorize  no 
alteration  now  or  thereafter  in  the  i)rice  of  meat,  which  they  said  ought 
not  ever  to  take  place  without  necessity. 

To  enable  the  city  to  defray  the  expenses  necessary  to  kec])  up  the 
levee,  an  an(diorage  duty  was  granted  to  it,  of  six  dollars  upon  every 
vessel  of  two  hundred  tons  and  upwards,  and  half  that  sum  on  snmller 
ones. 

O'Reilly  furtiier  granted  to  the  city,  in  the  king's  name,  the  ground  on 
both  sides  of  the  public  square,  or  place  d'armes,  from  Levee  to  (Uiartres 
and  Conti  streets,  having  a  front  of  three  hundred  and  thirty-six  feet  on 
the  S(\uare,  and  eighty-four  feet  in  depth.  Tho  ground  was  soon 
afterwards  sold  on  a  per})etual  yearly  rent.  Don  Andre  Almoster  became 
the  purchaser  of  it. 

By  a  sjiecial  i>roclamation,  the  black  code,  given  by  Louis  the  fifteenth 
to  the  {)rovince,  was  re-enacted. 

With  th(^  view  of  putting  an  end,  in  some  degree,  to  the  practice  of  the 
Indians  of  dooming  prisoners  of  war  to  death,  with  cruel  and  ju-otraoted 
torments,  tlic  colonial  government  allowed  the  colonists  to  purchase  and 
hold  them  as  slaves,  ami  tliere  was  a  considerable  number  of  them  in  the 
possession  of  ^)lanters.  O'Reilly,  by  a  special  proclamation,  declared  that 
the  practice  ot  reducing  Indians  to  slavery,  was  contrary  to  the  wise  and 
pious  laws  of  Spain ;  but  that  until  the  ])leasure  of  the  sovereign  was 
manifested,  the  owners  of  such  slaves  nught  retain  them. 

With  tlie  ^'iew  of  guarding  against  the  introduction  of  foreigners  into 
the  province,  all  persons  were  prohibited  to  receive  or  entertain  any 
f(  reigner  not  provided  with  a  passport  from  the  governor,  or  to  furnish 
him  with  any  horse,  or  land  or  water  carriage. 

It  was  also  expressly  prohibited  to  purchase  anything  from  persons 
navigating  the  Mississippi,  or  lakes,  without  a  passport :  it  was,  however, 
permitted  to  sell  fowls  and  other  provisions  to  boats  or  vessels,  [jrovided 
the  fowls  or  provisions  were  delivered  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  and 
payment  received  in  money. 

A  tine  of  one  hundred  dollars,  and  the    confiscation  of  the  artiolts 

f)urchased,  was  denounced  against  the  deliiKjuent,  one-third  of  the  wliolo 
)eing  the  reward  of  the  informer. 

A  number  of  police  regulations  were  made. 

No  change  took  place  in  the  ecclesiastical  government  of  the  province. 
Father  Dagobert,  the  superior  of  the  capuchins,  was  permitted  to  continue 
in  the  exercise  of  his  pastoral  functions,  as  curate  ot  New  Orleans,  and  in 
the  administration  of  the  southern  part  of  the  diocese  of  Quebec,  of  wiiidi 
the  bishop  had  constituted  him  vicar-general.  The  other  capuchins  were 
maintaintul  in  the  curacies  of  their  respective  parishes. 

The  attendance  of  the  Ursuline  nuns,  in  the  hospital,  according  to  ;i 
bull  they  had  obtained  from  the  pope,  was  dispensed  with ;  the  services 
of  these  ladies  had  become  merely  nominal,  being  confined  to  the  daily 
attendance  of  two  nuns,  during  the  visit  of  the  king's  physician.  Having 
noted  his  prescriptions,  they  withdrew,  contenting  themselves  with  sending 


st  of  aii 
chouse; 
11  of  one 
o{  three 
Inuitted, 
orizo  no 
id  ought 

3p  up  the 
lon  every 
i\  ijiualler 

trouiul  on 
)  CUuirtreo 
six  foot  on 
^Yas  soon 
ter  became 

le  fifteenth 

3tice  of  the 
protracted 
ivchase  and 
them  in  the 
ccliired  that 
he  wise  and 
)vcreign  was 

•cigners  into 
itertiiin  any 
IV  to  furnish 

|rom  persons 
.as,  however, 
;els,  provided 
.  river,  and 

the  artielfs 
of  the  whole 


the  provnue, 
\(\  to  continue 

rleans,  and  in 
|ebec,ofwhi<h 

ipuchins  were 

ceording  to  a 
the  service? 

.  to  the  daily 
Ician.  Havin? 
Is  with  sendm? 


lIIPTOItY   or    LOUISIANA. 


215 


from  tlte  dispensary,  wliicli  was  kept  in  the  convent,  the  medicines  he  had 
ordered.  The  Catholic  kin<^  had  directed  that  two  nuns  sliould  be 
maintained  at  his  expense;  for  each  of  whom,  sixteen  doUars  were  to  be 
paid,  monthly,  to  the  convent  out  of  his  treasury. 

Don  Francisco  de  Loyola  died,  and  was  succeeded   in  the  intendancy, 
jin-  hitrrim,  by  (Jayarre,  the  contador. 

By  a  vessel  from  liordcaux,  the  colonists  were  informed,  in  the  latter 
part  of  th(^  s])rin^,  of  the  fate  of  their  late  chiefs.  The  conduct  of  Foucault 
had  been  disai)})roved  by  his  sovereign,  and  he  had  been  lodged  in  the 
Bastille,  where  he  was  still  confined.  The  vessel,  in  which  Auliry  sailed, 
foundered  in  the  (Jaronne,  near  the  tower  of  Cordovan.  Every  one  on 
board  perished,  exce))t  the  captain,  doctor,  a  sergeant,  and  two  sailors. 
The  king  evinced  his  sense  of  Aubry's  services,  by  pensions  to  his  brother 
luul  sister.  He  had  served  in  Canada  and  Illinois  before  he  came  to 
Louisiana,  and  was  at  Fort  Duquesne,  when  it  was  attacked  l)y  the  Hi  itish 
under  (leneral  Forbes, 

O'Reilly  took  ])assage   in   the  summer,   with   all   the   troops   ho   had 

hrought,  except  twelve  hundred  men,  who  were  left  for  the  service  of  the 

inovince,  leaving  behind  no  favorable  imjtrcssion  of  the  government  by 

whom   he  was   sent.     Most   of  the   merchants   and   inciiianics   of  New 

Orleans  had  withdrawn  to  Cape  Francois,  in  the  island  of  Ilispaniola. 

Many  of  the  easiest  planters  (for  there  were  no  wealthy  ones)  had  followed 

theni;  and  the  emigration  was  so  great,  that  O'Reilly,  a  few  days  before 

his  departure,  determined  to  cheek  it,  by   withholding  })ass[)orts  from 

applicants.     This    measure    excited    great    uneasiness,    and    a    general 

dissatisfaction  pervaded  eveiy  class  of  society.     The  motto  on  his  coat  of 

arms  v.as  FortUiidine  ct  Pnidetttia.     He  does  not  appear  to  have   attended 

to  the  admonition  it  contained.     It  is  in  the  combined  i)ractice  of  both 

these  virtues,  that  those  who  rule  others  find  their  greatest  glory  ;  because 

it  best  promotes  the  felicity  of  the  people.     The  chief,  who  attends   alone 

to  the  display  of  the  former,  may  obtain  a  momentary   glare,   but  will 

sooner  or  later  find  himself  disappointed,  and  the  i)eople   will  be  the 

victims  of  his  error. 

The  year  of  1770  is  remarkable  in  the  annals  of  North  America,  by  the 

first  eflfusion  of  blood,  in  the  dissensions  between  Great  Britain  and  her 

colonics,  which  originated  in  the  passage  of  the  stain])  act,  soon  after  the 

peace  of  Paris,  and  terminated  in  the  independence  of  the  latter.     The 

inhabitants  of  Boston  viewed   with  displeasure   two   British  regiments 

quartered  there.     Frequent  quarrels  had  arisen  between   them   and  the 

soldiers.    On  the  fourth  of  March,  an  afliray  took  place,  near  the  barracks, 

which  brought  out  a  part  of  the   main  giuird,   between    whom   and   the 

townsmen  blows  ensued.     The  soldiers  lired ;  three   of  the  inhabitants 

were  killed,    and    five    dangerously    wounded.     The   alarm   bells   were 

I  immediately  rung,  the  drums  beat  to  arms,  and  an   immense   multitude 

asseml)lc(l.     Inflamed  with  rage  at  the  view  of  the  dead  bodies,  they  were 

Iwith  difliculty  prevented,  by  their  most  influential  friends,  from  rushing 

on  the  troops.     The  officer  of  the  guard  and  the  soldiers  who  fired  were 

I  apprehended.     He  and  six  of  the  men  were   acquitted  :  two   were   found 

iliiilty  of  manslaughter. 


,. 


',■;■** 


i#A, 


,  "^i 


■'  W  f^  -i<H.r- 


H 


•r    I 


J,  * 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

O'Reili-y's  commission  having  a  particular  object,  which  was  now 
accomplished,  Don  Antonio  ]Maria  Buccarclly,  captain-general  of  the 
island  of  Cuba,  succeeded  him  as  captain-general  of  the  province  uf 
Louisiana. 

An  appeal  lay  in  certain  cases  from  the  tribunals  of  the  province  to  tho 
captain-general;  from  him  to  the  royal  audience  in  St.  Domingo,  in  the 
island  of  Hispaniola;  and  from  thence  to  the  council  of  the  Indies  in 
Madrid. 

Charles  the  third  disapproved  of  O'Reilly's  conduct,  and  he  received,  on 
his  landing  at  Cadiz,  an  order  prohibiting  his  ai)pearance  at  court. 

The  ordinary  alcades  for  the  year  1771,  were  Chabert  and  Forstall. 

The  colonists  now  heard  with  pleasure  that  Foucault  had  been  released 
from  his  confinement  in  the  Bastille,  in  which  he  had  remained  oigliteni 
months  ;  that  the  chlest  son  of  Mazent,  who  was  in  the  ]\Ioro  Castle,  umki- 
O'Reilly's  sentence  of  imprisonment,  had  gone  to  Madrid,  thrown  liiniselt" 
at  tlie  feet  of  the  king,  and  solicited  his  father's  pardon,  ottering,  if  anotlier 
victim  was  indispensable,  to  take  his  place.  His  application  was  seconded 
l)y  the  court  of  France,  and  all  those  who  had  been  sent  from  Louisiana 
to  the  Moro  Castle  received  a  pardon. 

Foucault  had  gone  to  the  island  of  Bourbon,  in  the  capacity  of  connuis- 
sary-gencral  and  ordonnateur. 

S  one  of  the  otlier  prisoners,  now  liberated,  returned  to  Louisiana,  Mo>t 
of  them  settleci  in  Ca])e  Francois. 

The  commerce  of  the  province  S\iffered  greatly  from  the  restrictiw 
sj'stem  of  Spanish  regulations.  By  a  n)yal  sclieclule,  which  Ulloa  h:id 
])ublished  in  Now  Orleans,  on  the  sixth  of  September,  17(3G,  the  trade  uf 
liouisiana  had  been  confined  to  six  ports  of  the  peninsula.  These  were 
Seville,  Alicant,  Carthagcna,  Malaga,  Barcelona,  and  Coruna ;  and  no 
trade  was  to  bo  carried  on  in  any  other  than  Spanish  built  vessels,  oumd 
and  commanded  by  the  king's  subjects.  Vessels  sailing  to  or  from 
Louisiana,  were  prohibited  from  entering  any  other  i)ort  in  the  Spanish 
dominions  in  America,  except  in  case  of  distress,  and  they  wore  tlieii 
subjected  to  strict  examination  and  heavy  charges. 

By  a  royal  schedule  of  the  twenty-third  of  March,  17GS,  however,  the 
commerce  of  Louisiana  had  been  favored  by  an  exemption  from  duty,  nii 
any  foreign  or  Spanish  merchandise,  both  in  the  exportation  from  anvoi 
the  ports  of  the  peninsula,  to  which  the  commerce  of  the  })rovincc  hh? 
j)ermitted,  and  on  the  imi)ortation  into  New  Orleans ;  but  tlie  exportation 
of  specie  or  produce  was  burdened  with  a  duty  of  four  per  cent. 

Permission  had  lately  been  granted  for  the  admission  of  two  vesfol; 
from  France  every  year. 

The  merchants  of  New  Orleans  complained  of  this  restrictive  system. 
as  very  oi)pressive.  They  could  not  advantageously  i)rocuro,  in  anyuf 
tlie  six  ports  of  the  peninsula,  named  in  the  schedule  of  ITWi,  tlie 
merchandise  they  wanted,  nor  find  there  a  vent  for  the  produce  of  tlio 
province.  The  indigo  of  Louisiana  was  in  no  great  demand  in  any  port 
of  Spain,  Avliere  that  article  might  be  i)rocured  of  a  much  better  ([uality 
from  Onatimala,  Caraccas,  and  other  provinces  on  the  main.    Furs  aiu 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


217 


vas  now 

of  the 

viuce  of 

ee  to  th« 
rro,  in  the 
Indies  in 

ccivetl,  on 
ivt. 
•stiiU. 
>n  voh'iii«o(\ 
'd  cijihtoon 
is<t\e,  umlcv 
wn  iiiiuseU' 
;,  if  another 
!^jA  soeouth'tl 
a  liouit'iiuiii 

y  of  conirai^- 


isiiana. 


Mo^t 


^c  vostvictivt.' 
h  UUoa  \va\ 
the  traih'  nf 
Ther^e  were 
una;  and  iw 
ossein,  ownuil 
,  to  or  tV'>m 
\  the  Spanl^h 
K>y  ^vevc  then 

bo\vcvci\  {\v 
J  from  duty,  iiu 
In  from  any  ui 

province  w.i^ 
n-e  oxi.ortiitwn 

Icont.  ,, 

lof  t^vo  ve??^'^=  | 

rictivc  system;  I 

I  of  1T«>.  *^ 
Lvoduce  ot  t,w 

Ldinanyijjl 
liiu 


Fuvs  iW'l 


peltries  were  Avith  difficulty  sold  or  preserved  in  so  warm  a  climate,  and 
timber  and  lumber  could  not  well  bear  the  expense  of  transportation  to 
such  distant  countries.  They  also  complained  that  the  British  engrossed 
all  the  trade  of  the  Mississippi. 

Vessels  of  that  natitm  were  incessantly  plying  on  that  stream.  Under 
the  pretense  of  trading  to  those  ports,  on  the  left  bank,  over  which  their 
flag  was  displayed,  they  supplied  the  people  in  the  city  and  on  the 
plantations,  above  and  below,  with  goods  and  slaves.  They  took  in 
exchange  whatever  their  customers  had  to  spare,  and  extended  to  them  a 
niopt  liberal  credit,  which  the  good  faith  of  the  purchasers  amply  justified. 
Besides  very  large  warehouses  near  the  ports  at  Manshac,  Baton  Rouge 
and  Natchez,  and  a  number  of  vessels  constantly  moored  a  short  distance 
ahovo  New  Orleans,  opposite  to  the  spot  now  known  as  the  faubourg  La 
Favetto,  the  British  had  two  large  ones,  or  floating  warehouses,  the  cabins 
of  which  were  fitted  up  with  shelves  and  counters,  as  a  store.  These 
constantly  plied  along  the  shore,  and  at  the  call  of  any  planter,  stopped 
before  his  door. 

About  one  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  dollars  were  brought  annually 
from  Vera  Cruz,  since  the  arrival  of  O'Reilly,  for  defraying  the  expenses 
of  the  colonial  government :  the  indigo  crops  were  worth  about  one 
hundred  and  eighty  thousand ;  furs  and  peltries  were  exported  to  the 
amount  of  two  hundred  thousand  ;  one  hundred  thousand  were  received 
for  timber,  lumber  and  provisions.  All  this  formed  an  aggregate  of  seven 
hundred  thousand  dollars  to  pay  for  imported  goods,  which  was  entirely 
enjoyed  by  British  traders,  except  only  the  cargoes  of  two  French  vessels, 
and  altout  fifteen  thousand  dollars,  the  value  of  Ijoards  shipped  to  Havana 
for  sugar  boxes. 

Batteaux  left  New  Orleans  for  Pointe  Coupee,  Natchitoches,  the 
Arkansas  and  St.  Louis ;  but  most  of  their  cargoes  were  taken  on  their 
way,  from  the  British  floating  warehouse,  or  the  stores  at  Manshac,  Baton 
Rouge,  or  Natchez. 

British  adventurers  found  also  in  Louisiana,  the  means  of  forming 
agricultural  establishments,  on  tho  left  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  above 
Manshac,  where  land  was  obtained  with  much  facility.  An  individual 
chartered  a  vessel  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  tons  in  Jamaica,  for 
five  hundred  dollars.  He  put  on  board  goods  and  about  twenty  or  thirty 
slaves,  which  he  obtained  on  credit.  Entering  the  Mississippi  with  these 
he  disposed  of  the  goods  and  three-fourths  of  th'e  slaves,  and  received  in 
exchange  produce  sufficient  to  pay  for  the  whole  and  the  hire  of  his  vessel. 
Witli  five  or  six  slaves,  he  began  a  plantation,  obtaining  credit  in  a  store 
near  it,  for  his  farming  utensils,  ana  the  means  of  procuring  some  cattle 
and  his  subsistence  till  he  made  a  crop.  After  a  few  years  he  was  a  farmer 
in  easy  circumstances. 

The  British  owed  to  this  trade  with  the  former  subjects  of  France  many, 

if  not  all,  of  their  establishments  on  the  left  banks  of  the  Mississippi, 

!)e?idcs  the  great  advantages  they  derived  from  its  navigation.     A  French 

[trader  durst  not  show  the  flag  of  his  nation,  and  was  compelled  to  charter 

aBritish  bottom,  and  load  her  with  goods ;  but  the  British  merchant  who 

Isold  them,  and  was  certain  to  be  paid,  realized  much  greater  profits. 

I'nzaga  winked  at  this  infraction  of  the  commercial  and  revenue  laws 
[of  Spain,  and  disregarded  the  clamors  of  the  merchants  of  New  Orleans, 

30 


f^i-i 


i'i^ 


rH' 


I 


1 


218 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


who  susjxx'tc'd  that   the  indulgence  shown  to   British  traders  was  not 
gratuitous. 

Tlie  ordinary  aloades,  choscai  ])y  the  cahildo,  for  the  year  1772,  were 
Ainelot  and  the  Chevalier  (U;  Villiers. 

On  the  promotion  of  lku!(;arelly  to  the  viceroyalty  of  Mexicct,  the 
jMarquis  de  hi  Torre  succeecUsd  him  as  captain-general  of  the  island  of 
Cuha  and  the  i)rovince  of  Louisiana. 

('ol.  Estacheria  arrived  and  assumed  the  command  of  the  regiment  of 
Louisiana. 

Most  of  tlie  forces  which  O'Reilly  had  left  in  New  Orleans  sailed  for 
Havana. 

The  country  was  desolated  in  the  sununer  of  this  year  hy  a  hurricane, 
of  which  Uoman  has  preserved  the  details.  It  hegan  on  the  last  day  of 
August  and  continued  until  the  third  of  September.  It  was  not,  however. 
felt  in  New  Orleans,  where  the  weather  continued  fine,  though  the  wind 
blew  very  high  from  the  east.  In  lake  Ponchartrainand  thejiasses  of  tlie 
Rigolets  and  Chef  Menteur,  the  water  rose  to  a  prodigious  height,  and  the 
islands  in  the  neighborhood  ^verc  several  feet  under  water.  The  vessels 
at  the  Balize  were  all  driven  into  the  marshes,  and  a  Spanish  ship 
foundered  and  every  ])erson  on  board  perished.  Along  the  coast  from  lake 
I^orgne  to  Pensacola,  the  wind  ranged  from  south  southeast  and  cast ;  hut 
farther  west  it  blew  with  greatest  vicdence, from  north  northeast  and  east. 
A  schooner  l)elonging  to  the  British  government,  having  a  detachment  of 
the  sixteenth  regiment  on  board,  was  driven  westerly  as  far  as  Cat  island. 
inuler  the  W(!stern  part  of  Avhich  she  cast  anchor;  but  the  water  rose  sit 
high  that  she  parted  hcir  cable  and  floated  over  the  island.  The  wind 
entirely  destroyed  the  woods  for  about  thirty  miles  from  the  sea  shore. 
At  Mobile,  the  effects  of  it  were  terrible.  Vessels,  boats,  and  logs  were 
drawn  up  the  streets  to  a  great  distance.  The  gulleys  and  hollows  as  well 
as  the  lower  grounds  of  the  town  were  so  filled  with  logs,  that  the 
inhabitants  easily  provided  tlujmselves  with  their  winter  supply  of  fuel. 
The  salt  spray  was  carried  by  the  wind  four  or  five  miles  from  the  sea 
shore,  and  then  descended  in  showers. 

For  thirty  miles  up  a  branch  of  the  Pascagoula,  which,  from  the 
number  of  cedar  trees  on  its  bank,  is  called  Cedar  creek,  there  va.s 
scarcely  a  tree  left  standing ;  the  pines  were  thrown  down  or  broken ;  ami 
those  trees  which  did  not  entirely  yield  to  the  violence  of  the  wind,  were 
tw'istcd  like  ropes. 

But  the  most  singular  effect  of  this  hurricane,  was  the  production  of  a 
second  growth  of  leaves  and  fruit  on  the  mulberry  trees.  This  hardy  tree 
budded,  foliated,  blossomed  and  bore  fruit  Avithin  four  weeks  after  the 
storm. 

With  the  view  of  promoting  the  instructiiMi  of  the  rising  generation  in 
the  Spanish  tongue,  a  [n-iest  was  brought  over  from  Spain,  at  the  Ivintt'^ 
expense,  who,  with  two  assistants,  taught  the  elements  of  that  laniiUiijre. 
Four  young  women  were  also  sent  from  Havana,  who  took  the  veil  in  tlio 
convent  of  the  Ursuline  nuns  of  New  Orleans,  and  were  employed  in 
teaching  Si)anish  to  young  persons  of  their  sex.  This  was  the  only  encour- 
agement given  to  learning  during  the  whole  period  of  the  Spanish 
government. 

The  winter  was  so  severe  this  year  that  the  orange  trees  perished. 

The  breach  which  the  stamp  act  had  occasioned  between  the  Britifli 


and  tli 

commi 

])on(lei 

adopter 

Duj)] 

of  Jan u 

It  hoi 

form  a  j 

that  of  ' 

<h  Eche 

his  vicar 

JJobe  : 

redempti 


/as  not 

?2,  were 

Ao(»,  U\e 
liU\d  of 

iment  of 

lailed  for 

lurvicane. 

st  day  of 
,  howover. 

the  wind 
sses  of  the 
it,  and  the 
'he  vessels 
niish  ship 
it  from  hike 
id  east ;  Imt 
st  and  east, 
aclinu'nt  of 
I  C;at  island. 
-ater  rose  so 
The  wind 
le  soa  shore. 
\  logs  were 
llows  as  well 
gs,  that  the 

pply  of  fuel. 
'roni  the  seii 

•h,  from  the 
K,  there  was 
I  broken;  and 
]ie  wind,  were 

eduction  of  a 
lis  hardy  tree 

jcks  after  tlu' 

I  generation  in 

at  the  king's 

that  lanpuiisic. 

the  veil  in  tlie 

^eonlvencour- 

the'l^iww'" 

berished.    , 
In  the  Bntifli 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


210 


Xorth  American  provinces  and  their  mother  country,  was  daily  widening; 
and  this  year,  on  the  suggestion  of  the  jtrovinee  of  Massachusetts  hay, 
committees  were  appointeil  within  the  others,  for  the  purpose  of  corres- 
pondence and  the  organization  of  a  system  of  resistance  to  the  measures 
adopted  by  parliar  lent. 

Duplessis  and  Doriocourt  were  the  ordinary  alcades  chosen  on  the  first 
of  .January,  1773. 

It  being  deemed  improper  that  a  Spanisli  province  should  continue  to 
form  a  part  of  a  Frencdi  bishopric,  Louisiana  was  now  separated  from 
that  of  Quebec,  and  annexed  to  that  of  Cuba,  and  Don  Santiago  Josei)h 
do  Echevaria,  tlic  incumbent  of  the  latter  see,  appointed  Father  Dagol>ert 
his  vicar-general  in  the  province. 

Bobc  Descloseaux,  who  had  remaincnl  in  New  Orleans  to  attend  to  the 
redemption  of  the  bills  of  credit  emitted  by  the  French  government, 
having  previously  o])tained  the  consent  of  his  sovereign,  now  sailed  for 
Cape  Frangois.      Amelot,  an  engineer,  and  Garderat,  a  major  of  infantry, 
took  passage  in  the  same  ship,  with  the  widow  of  Carlier,  the  former 
('oiui)troller  of  the  marine,  her  two  daughters,  and  a  few  other  French 
olHcers,  who  had  been  detained  by  their  private  concerns.      Neither  the 
ship  nor  any  of  the  passengers  were  ever  heard  of,  after  she  left  the  Balize. 
Time,  and    Unzaga's    mild   administration,   began    to    reconcile    the 
colonists  to  their  fate.     The  resources  which  they  found  in  a  clander+ine 
trade  with  the  British,  and  the  sums  brought  from  Vera  Cruz  to  meet  the 
expenses  of  government,  circulating  in  the  country,  had  enabled  many 
planters  to  extend  their  establishments.      But  many  had  employed  for 
this  purpose  the  proceeds  of  their  crops,  which  justice  required  to  be 
reserved  for  the  discharge  of  their  debts.    To  the  difficulties  which  indis- 
cretion had  created,  were  superadded  those  that  were  occasioned  by  the 
ravages  of   the    late    hurricane.      The    disappointed   creditors    became 
clamorous,  and   some   began    to  attempt    coercing    payment    by  legal 
measures.    Over  these,  the  influence  of  a  governor  of  a  Spanish  colony  was 
very  great.      Unzaga  exerted   his,  in   allaying  the   clamors   of  injured 
creditors,  without    distressing  honest  debtors,   by   employing  coercion 
tijrainst  those  only  who  were  able,  but  unwilling  to  discharge  their  debts. 
lie  gave  evidence  of  his  impartiality  in  this  respect,  by  compelling  8t. 
Maxent,  a  wealthy  planter,  whose  daughter  he  had  married  and  who 
sought  to  avail  himseli  of  this  circumstance  to  bid  defiance  to  his  creditors. 
In  this  manner,  he  obtained  indulgence  for  those  debtors  who  really 
re(iuired  it. 

Daniel  Boone,  with  his  family  and  four  others,  and  about  forty-five  men 
from  Powell's  Valley,  began  this  year  the  first  settlement  on  Kentucky 
1  river. 

The  British  East  India  company  having  made  large  shipments  of  tea 
[to  Boston,  New  York,  Philadelphia  and  Charleston,  the  people  in  these 
1  cities  opposed  its  landing.  In  the  first,  they  went  much  farther.  On 
Ihearing  of  the  arrival  of  the  company's  ships  there,  it  was  voted  by  accla- 
Imation,  in  a  numerous  meeting  of  the  inhabitants,  that  the  tea  should 
Inot  be  landed,  nor  the  duties  on  it  paid ;  but  that  it  should  be  sent  back 
|in  the  same  vessels  in  which  it  had  been  brought.  On  the  adjournment 
lof  the  meeting,  an  immense  crowd  repaired  to  the  quay,  and  a  number  of 
jthe  most  resolute,  disguised  as  Mohawk  Indians,  boarded  the  ships ;  and, 


lilii' 


M 


^>J 


::;!r 
"     ll' 

m 


■rJ^m 


nK^...S^>- 


^■:iirj:f-^fit%J 


li 


220 


IIISTOUY    OF   I-OnSIANA. 


in  about  two  hours,  hroko  open  three  hundred  and  forty  boxes  oftoa,  and 
dinehar^ed  the  contents  into  the  sea. 

Tlie  eal)ihU)  made  choice  of  Forstall  and  Chabert,  as  ordinary  alciulcs 
for  the  year  1774;  and  early  in  January,  Fa<?(»t  de  hi  (Jariniere  took  his 
seat  in  that  body,  as  a  perpetual  rej^idor  and  receiver  of  fines ;  haviii},' 
purchased  these  olKccis  from  Hienvenu  for  fourteen  hundred  dollars. 

On  the  tenth  of  May,  Louis  the  fifteenth,  the  last  monarch  of  Krancc 
who  reigned  over  Louisiana,  died,  in  the  sixty-fifth  year  of  his  aj^c,  ami 
was  succeeded  by  his  grandson,  the  Duke  of  lierry,  the  unfortunate  Louis 
the  sixteenth. 

By  a  royal  schedule  of  the  fourth  of  August,  the  power  of  granting 
vacant  lands,  in  the  proviuce,  was  vested  in  the  governor,  accordiiij,'  to 
the  regulations  made  by  O'lleilly,  on  the  eighth  of  January,  1770. 

The  Creeks  an<l  Chickasaws  this  year,  sent  a  number  of  their  chiefs  to 
Charleston,  in  South  Carolina,  where  they  made;  a  cession  to  the  liritish 
of  several  millions  of  acres  of  valuable  land,  in  payment  of  their  de])tsto 
traders  of  that  nation. 

Early  in  September,  delegat  -s  from  twidve  of  the  liritish  North  Aiucrican 
provinces  met  in  congrt^ss  in  tlu'  city  of  Philadelphia.  They  jjh  pared  a 
petition  to  the  king  and  an  address  to  the  })eople  of  Great  Britain  on  tlio 
sul)ject  of  their  grievances. 

The  resentment  of  parliament,  (»n  hearing  of  the  destruction  of  the  tea 
at  lioston,  was  manifested  by  the  occlusion  of  that  i)ort,  until  reparation 
should  be  made  to  tiie  East  India  company  ;  and  the  king  declared  hiinsolf 
convinced  that  good  order  would  .soon  be  restored  in  the  town.  Anotlur 
statute  was  passed  annulling  the  charter  of  the  province  of^Iassacliusctts 
bay,  and  authorizing  the  transportation  from  any  of  the  i)rovin('cs.  fur 
trial  in  another  ])rovince  or  in  England,  of  any  person  indicted  for  nmrder. 
or  any  other  cai)ital  offense.  A  statute  was  also  })assed,  for  (luartmn;.' 
soldiers  on  the  inhabitants.  The  boundaries  of  the  province  of  (iuoboc 
were  extended,  so  as  to  include  the  territory  between  the  lakes,  the  Oliin 
and  the  Mississippi,  and  its  government  was  vested  in  a  legislative  oouncil. 
to  be  appointed  by  the  crown.  At  the  request  of  the  Canadians,  the 
French  laws  were  restored  to  them  in  civil  matters.  Two  years  after,  in 
the  declaration  of  inde])endence,  these  last  measures  were  urged  as  ground.' , 
of  comi)laint,  by  the  American  congress,  against  George  the  third,  tluit 
"he  had  abolished  the  free  system  of  English  laws  in  a  neighboriii<; i 
province,  establishing  therein  an  arbitrary  government,  and  extending  its 
boundaries,  so  as  to  render  it  at  once  an  example  and  instrument  forj 
introducing  the  same  absolute  rule  in  the  other  colonies." 

In   the  meanwhile,   General  Gage  fortified   Bostonack,   and  Imd  tliej 
annnunition  and  stores  in  the  provincial  arsenal  at  Cambridge,  and 
powder  in  the  magazine  at  Charleston,  brought  to  Boston. 

Dufossat  and  Duplessis  were  the  ordinary  alcades  for  the  year  177a 

L^nzaga  was  now  promoted  to  the  rank  of  a  brigadier-general,  andtlitj 
office  of  intendant  was  united  to  that  of  governor,  in  his  person. 

There  were  a  considerahle  number  of  runaway  negroes,  connnittingj 
great  depredations  on  the  plantations.     Unzaga,  to  remedy  or  lessen  thisf 
evil,  issued  a  ]>roclamation  ofiering  an  amnesty,  or  free  pardon,  to  siicl 
as  voluntarily  returned  to  their  masters,  and  absolutely  forbidding  tiK'j 
latter  to  punish  them.     This  measure  had   the  intended  effect;  althoui'l) 


IIiyTOllY   OK   LOUISIANA. 


221 


thoslavoB  could  not  nl»solutt'ly  l)o  jjroteotod  from  tlio  rosontiiunit  of  their 
masters,  who  might  easily  have  found  a  pretense  for  disregarding  Unzaga's 
injunction. 

We   have   seen,   in   a   preceding  ])ortion   of  this   work,  that   general 
Lvman,  of  (-onneeticut,  had  contenii»lated,  in  17(58,  an  <'xtensive  settle- 
ment (»n  tlie  Oliio,  and  had  ajjjdied  to  government  for  a  grant  of  land. 
This  officer  ha<l   served  with  distinction  during  the  preceding  war.     He 
luulbeen  appointed   major-general  and  connnander-in-chief  of  the  forces 
of  his  native  province  in  1755 ;  and,  in  17()2,  he  was  at  Havana,  in  command 
of  all  the  American  troops.     On  the  return  of  j)eace,  a  c(>mpany  had  by 
his  exertions  heen  formed,  under  the  .style  of  the  Military  Adventurers, 
composed  chieHy  of  officers  and  soldiers  who  had  lately  served  in  America. 
Their  object  was  to  obtain  a  consideralde  extent  of  t(M'ritory,  on  which 
thcv  might  settle,  with  as  large  a  number  of  their  countrymen  as  could 
he  induced  to  join  them.     General  Lvman  went  to  England  as  the  agent 
of  the  company,  entertaining  no  dou))t  of  the  success  of  his  a])plication. 
On  his  arrival,  he  found  that  the  friends  in  the  ministry,  on  whom  he 
depended,  had  Iteen  removed,  and  those  who  had  succeedi'd  them  had 
otlier  persons  to  provide  for,  and  found  it  convenient  to  forget  bis  services 
iiiul  th(»se  of  his  associates.  Insurmountable  ol^stacles  seemed  to  embarrass 
him.    At  last,  after  a  stay  of  several  years,  he  obtained  grants  on  the 
Mississippi    and    Yazoo   rivers,    and    returned.       ^lany   of   bis   former 
(iimpanions  had  died ;    several  had  removed  to  a  distaiice;  many  had 
grown  old ;  and  all  had  i)assed  that  ])eriod  of  life,  when  m(;n  are  willing 
to  encounter  the  dangers  and  hardships  attending  tlu;  settlemcmt  of  a 
wilderness,  under  a  different  climate,  and  at  the  distance  of  a  thousand 
miles  from  their  homes.     After  a  short  stay  in  C/onnecticut,  he  departed, 
with  his  eldest  son  and  a  few   friends,  with  whom    he  soon  formed  a 
settlement,  near  Fort  Panmure,  in  the  district  of  Natchez. 

Open  hostilities  broke  out,  this  year,  in  the  contest  which  terminated 
by  the  severance  of  thirteen  British  provinces  from  the  mother  country. 
On  the  20th  of  April,  the  militia  of  Massachusetts  routed  a  body  of 
regulars  at  Lexington.  In  the  month  of  May,  the  Americans  possessed 
themselves,  by  surprise,  of  Ticonderoga ;  and  the  fortress  of  Crown  point 
surrendered  to  them  soon  after.  On  the  first  of  June,  congress  ai)ponited 
George  Washington  commander-in-chief  of  all  the  forces  of  tlie  united 
colonies ;  and  he  proceeded  immediately  to  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  where 
the  regular  army  and  the  militia  of  New  England  kept  the  royal  forces  in 
check,  and  obtained  a  decisive  advantage  on  the  seventeenth  of  June,  at 
Breed's  Hill. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  provincial  congresses  had  organized  their  militia, 
ami  raised  a  few  bodies  of  regular  trooi)M. 

Part  of  the  force  of  New  York,  and  the  adjacent  ])rovinccs,  under 
generals  Wooster  and  Montgomery,  nuirched  into  Canada,  and  took 
possession  of  (Ihambly,  St.  Jolnis,  and  Montreal,  during  the  months  of 
October  and  November.  General  Arnold,  with  some  troops  from  Connec- 
ticut, crossed  the  wiUlerness  and  formed  a  junction  with  Wooster  and 
Montgomery,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  opposite  to 
Quehoc ;  and  crossing  the  stream,  they  made  an  unsuccessful  attack  upon 
the  town,  in  which  Montgomery  fell,  on  the  thirty-tirst  day  of  December. 
The  ordinary  alcades,  for  the  year  1770,  were  d'Ernonville  and 
hivaudais. 


Ml 


ili  i'  B 


mi 


'I'li 


•'        i<  ,<.A 


if 

ri 


*(*B  I 


'"k. 


"T'*^  '* 


,    «rfl 


222 


IIIHTOUY   OF   LOIISIAXA. 


.i-'mS'' 


.»^^-,m 


:1 


Olivior  (le  Vozin  took  his  Mi'jit,  In  tlio  (^abildo,  as  perpotiml  nfj^idor  nnil 
priiieipnl  pniviiu'ial  aloade  ;  fifbarn;  do  la  CcHtiore,  an  a  pcrixitiial  ro^idor 
and  alguiizil  mayor;  tin;  ('lievalior  do  CMapion,  as  a  i)orpt'tual  rcgidor  ami 
receiver  of  lines  ;  and  Foratall,  as  perpetual  regidor. 

Don  Bernardo  do  Galvez  Hueeeeded  Estacheria  in  the  command  of  the 
regiment  of  LouiHiana. 

There  wcn^,  at  tliin  period,  a  number  of  merchantH  from  Hoston,  Now 
York  !i.nd  I'hiladeli)hia,  in  New  Orleans :  tliey  were  all  well  diKposcd 
towards  the  American  cause.  Oliver  Pollock  was  the  most  (!ons))i(nioii,<. 
Tluy  hud  j)roeured  a  good  supply  of  arms  and  anuTUinition  for  the 
settlers  of  the  western  part  of  rennsvlvania,  which  was  delivered  to 
colonel  Gibson,  who  cane  io  Pittsburg  tor  it.  This  had  l)i?en  done  with 
the  knowledge  of  the  colonial  government,  who  gave  some  assistance  t(t 
the  colonel. 

Unzaga  recidved  the  appointment  of  captain-general  of  Caracoas.  }\c 
was  much  regretted  in  Louisiana.  His  mild  administration  had  endeared 
him  to  the  colonists.  He  had  overlooked  the  breach  of  the  comuuTcial 
and  fiscal  laws  of  Sj)ain  by  the  British,  who  had  entirely  engrossed  the 
connncrce  of  the  province.  They  had  introduced  a  considerable  numlicr 
of  slaves,  and  by  the  great  aid  they  afforded  to  planters,  had  enaljled  most 
of  them  to  exteml  their  establishments  to  a  degree  hitherto  uidcnown  in 
the  i)rovince,  and  others  to  forms  new  ones.  By  the  timely  exercise  of 
coercion  against  the  dishonest  and  indolent,  he  had  checked  the  profligaey 
of  those  who  misused  the  facilities  which  British  traders  afforded,  anil 
compelled  them  to  reduce  or  surrender  establishments  which  they  were 
unable  to  sustain.  His  conduct,  in  this  respect,  though  not  absolutely 
approved  by  the  king's  ministers,  did  not  deprive  liim  of  the  confidence 
of  his  sovereign.  His  promotion  fully  proved  this.  Without  this  illieit 
trade  Louisiana  must  have  remained  an  insignificant  province. 

The  British  army  evacuated  Boston  on  the  seventeenth  of  March,  ami 
Washington  led  his  to  Now  York.  The  united  colonies  proclaimed  their 
independence  on  the  fourth  of  July.  The  royal  land  and  naval  forces 
reached  Staten  Island,  near  New  York,  eight  days  after.  The  army  landed 
on  Long  Island  on  the  twenty-second,  and  five  days  after  repulsed  the 
Americans  at  Brooklyn.  General  Washington  abandoned  the  city  of  New 
York  in  September,  leading  his  force  up  North  river,  which  he  crossed  on 
the  thirteenth  of  November,  and  had  some  success  in  Trenton, 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

By  a  royal  schedule,  of  the  tenth  of  July,  1776,  Unzaga  had  been 
directed  to  surrender,  provisionally,  the  government  and  intendancy  ef 
Louisiana,  on  his  departure  for  the  province  of  Caracoas,  to  Don  Bernard 
de  Galvez,  colonel  of  the  regiment  of  Louisiana.  This  gentleman  had 
powerful  friends.  His  uncle,  Don  Joseph  de  Galvez,  was  president  of  the 
council  of  the  Indies ;  and  his  father,  Don  Mathias  de  Galvez,  viceroy  of 
New  Spain.  He  entered  on  the  duties  of  his  office  on  the  first  of  January. 
1777. 

The  ordinary  alcades,  for  this  year,  were  Forstall  and  the  Chevalier  de 
Villiers. 


lIIHTOItY   OF   I,()t'I»IANA. 


22.T 


X 


.,  had  hm\ 
pendancy  "f 
)on  Bernard 
tleinan  ba»l 
lident  of  the 
^  viceroy  of 
of  January. 

Chevalier  (W 


Don  I)iej?o  JoHeph  Niivnrro  succoediMl  the  Miir<iiiiH  do  In  Torro,  iiw  onptiiin- 
ItLunriil  of  the  iHliind  of  ()ul)a  and  provinco  of  riouisiuim. 

Hy  11  royal  scdicdulo  of  tlio  month  of  March,  tho  dtity  of  four  nor  cent. 
(ii\  tiuM'Xportation  of  colonial  j)rodu(!o  from   liouisiana,  wtis  rcauccd  to 

two. 

The  ('oinn\('V.'o  of  tlio  provinno  was  onoourafjfj'tl  by  the  »)ormission  jiiven 
til  v<!HS('1h  from  tlu;  Frc^nch  \Vo»t  India  Islands  to  come  iti  h!illa,>^t  to  the 
Mississippi,  and  take,  at  New  Orleans  or  (»n  the  j)ljvntiiti()nH,  the  produce 
of  the  country,  paying  therefor  in  specie,  hills  of  ex(dian|j;c,  or  (luinea 
lu'i^sroes.  The  introduction  of  negroes  l)orn,  or  who  had  remained  some 
time  in  the  islands,  was  already  co'.isitlered  as  dangerous,  and  had  been 
iirohihited.  Vessels  from  Louisiana  were  also  ])ermitted  to  bring  from 
the  islan<ls  of  (!uba,  or  Campeachj',  produce  or  European  goods.  Agri- 
culture was  also  encouraged  by  an  order  to  the  colonial  govenuJicnt  to 
iiurchiise,  for  the  king's  account,  all  the  tobncco  rai'^ed  in  the  colony. 

This  year,  several  largo  canoes  (tame  from  Fort  i'itt  to  New  Orleans,  for 
the  purpose  of  taking  the  munitions  of  war  which  had  been  collected 
t'litne  use  of  the  United  States,  by  Oliver  Pollock,  probably  with  the  aiil, 
Imtocrlainly  with  the  knowledge  of  (Jalvez.  Captain  Willing,  of  Phila- 
(Mjihia,  who  came  in  one  of  these  boats,  visited  tne  Hritish  s(!ttlemcnts  on 
tlie  Mississipi)i,  and  some  of  his  companions  crossed  the  laki^s  to  Mobile, 
with  the  view  to  induce  the  inhabitants  to  raise  the  striped  banner,  and 
join  their  «tountrymen  in  the  struggle  for  freedom.  The  peoi)le  of  both 
the  Floridas,  however,  remained  steadfast  in  their  attachment  to  the 
royal  cause.  Perhapn  those  on  the  Mississippi  and  in  Mol)ile  were 
deterred  by  the  bite  tragedy  in  New  Orleans.  The  thin  and  s])arse 
population  of  both  the  Floridas,  their  distance  from  the  i)rovinces  engaged 
in  the  war,  and  the  consequent  diflieulty  of  receiving  any  assistance  from 
thorn,  inHuenced  the  (conduct  of  the  inhabitants. 

The  militia  of  the  western  part  of  the  state  of  Virginia  made  several 
very  successful  incursions  into  tiie  country  to  the  west  of  the  Ohio,  and  on 
the  banks  of  the  Mississinju.  They  possessed  themselves  of  Kaskaskia, 
iuid  some  other  posts  on  that  stream.  By  an  act  of  the  legislature  these 
were  afterwards  erected  into  a  county  called  Illinois.  A  regiment  of 
infantry  and  a  troop  of  horse  were  raised  for  its  protection,  and  placed 
under  the  command  of  Col.  Clark. 

The  limits  of  the  former  province  of  Carolina  to  the  west,  were  fixed  in 
the  charter  of  Charles  the  second  on  the  Pacific  ocean.  By  the  treaty 
between  Great  Britain  and  France,  the  Mississippi  was  given  to  North 
Carolina,  as  its  western  limit.  By  the  proclamation  of  17G3,  George  the 
third  had  forbidden  any  settlement  of  white  people  to  the  west  of  the 
mountains.  Nevertheless,  a  considerable  number  of  emigrants  from  North 
Carolina  had  removed  to  the  banks  of  the  Watauga,  one  of  the  branches 
of  the  Holston.  They  had  increased  to  such  a  degree  that  in  1776,  their 
I  claim  to  representation  in  the  convention  that  formed  the  constitution 
i  was  admitted.  Tins  year  they  were  formed  into  a  county  which  had  the 
Mis9issipi)i  for  its  western  boundary. 

The  erection  of  that  county  by  the  state  of  North  Carolina,  and  that 
I  of  the  county  of  Illinois  by  the  state  of  Virginia,  are  the  first  instances 
of  measures  taken  to  extend  the  execution  of  the  laws  of  the  American 
I  states  to  the  banks  of  Mississippi. 
Washington  was  successful  in  an  attack  near  Princeton,  on  the  twelfth 


:  m 


Hill 


'*U 


%\ 


<'\A 


ij  i  Stk 


-^% 


w-'l 


224 


Rgiu; 


ll 


Ifet -"fe 


ii!i»ii,. 


m 


rn^rn. 


wif  *  ^^ 


If 


I     iM^iiirr'-f'      ' 


msTOKY   OF    I.oriHlANA. 


of  .Iiimi;irv.  Tin'  Uritisli  lu-my  IiukIimI  oii  the  lumkH  of  Klk  river,  tiini 
rt'|Hils("l  l\\v  AiiH'riciiiisat  Bnindywim!  on  the  ck'vciitli  of  Scptcinlicr,  aiwl 
Hoon  lifter  entered  IMiiladelpliiii.  The  Amerieiiiis  were  ufj;iiiii  unsueecsHl'iiI 
lit  (ienimiitowii  oil  tlie  fourth  of  OetoWer;  l)Ut  thene  inisfortiiiieH  were  in 
Home  (lej^M'ee  eoiiipenHutetl  hy  their  HUeeeHs  ill  the  north,  and  th«'  Hin-reiKJir 
of  the  British  iirniy  unch-r  UuriJjoyne,  nt  Sanitopi,  on  the  twentieth. 

The  ordinary  aleaden  for  the  yiuir  177«H,  wore  Navjirro  and  Dufossat. 

Durin^i  the  month  of  Jiiniiary,  eiiptuin  Willing  made  ii  Hecond  visit  to 
New  Orleans.  Oliver  I'olloek  now  acted  openly  uh  the  a^ont  of  the 
Americans  with  tlu;  (>ounten;ince  of  (Jalve/,  who  now  and  at  Hul)se(|U('iit 
periods,  alfordcd  them  an  aid  of  upwards  of  seventy  thousand  dullarHdnt 
of  the  royal  treasury.  By  this  means  the  posts  occiupicd  hy  the  militia 
of  \'irginia  on  the  Mississinpi,  and  the  frontier  inhahitatits  of  the  Htatc 
of  I'ennsylvania  were  supplied  with  arms  and  annnunitioii.  New  hands 
were  enpiji»'d  to  row  up  the  lujats ;  and  Willing  with  most  of  the  men 
who  liad  come  down  ahout  Hfty  in  numher,  engaged  in  a  prtvlatdiv 
excursion  against  tlu!  British  planters  on  the;  Mississippi.  Th(!y  itrocecdcil 
to  bayou  Manshae,  wliere  they  captured  a  small  vessel  which  they  fouml 
at  anchor.  They  went  in  her  to  Baton  Kouge,  stopping  on  their  waviit 
s(!veral  plantations  where  they  set  fire  to  the  houses  and  tjarried  off  tin; 
slaves. 

On  Ijcaring  of  their  a])])roacli  the  British  ])hmters  oti  tlio  left  hank  (if 
the  Mississippi,  crossed  the  stream  with  their  slaves  and  most  vahialik' 
efiects.  The  inhabitants  were  so  few  and  so  scattered,  that  they  were 
unable  to  make  an^  effectual  resistance  to  the  invaders,  who  |)rocet'(l(.'(l  ■,{< 
far  as  Natchez,  laymg  waste  the  plantations,  destroying  tlie  stock,  burniii;; 
the  houses  and  taking  off  su(di  slaves  as  remained. 

Although  the  government  and  people  of  Louisiana  wore  wM  (lispo.xfii 
towards  the  United  States,  this  cruel,  wanton  and  uni)rovoked  conduct 
towards  a  helpless  community,  was  viewed  with  great  indignation  ami 
horror,  much  increased  by  tne  circumstance  of  Willing  having;  hion 
hospitably  received  and  entertained,  the  preceding  year,  in  several  houses 
which  he  now  committed  to  the  flames. 

The  province  now  received  a  consideral)le  accession  of  population.  Iiy 
the  arrival  of  a  number  of  families,  brought  over  at  the  king's  exponst', 
from  the  Canary  islands.  A  part  of  them  formed  a  new  settlement  at  the 
Terre-aux-Bteut^s,  below  New  Orleans,  under  the  order  of  Mari<;nv  dc 
Mandeville  ;  a  part  was  located  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Amite,  heliiml 
Baton  Rouge,  under  the  order  of  St.  Maxent,  and  formed  the  settlcnunt 
of  Galveztown  :  the  rest  formed  that  of  Valenzuela,  on  bayou  Lafourclic. 

A  house  was  built  for  each  family,  and  a  church  in  each  settlement, 
They  were  supplied  with  cattle,  fowls  and  farming  utensils ;  rations  were 
furnished  them  for  a  period  of  four  years  out  of  the  king's  stores,  iiml 
considerable  pecuniary  assistance  was  also  afforded  to  them. 

By  a  royal  schedule  of  the  fourth  of  May,  the  indemnity  to  l)e  paid  to 
owners  of  slaves  condemned  to  death,  perpetual  labor,  or  transportation, 
or  killed  in  the  attempt  to  arrest  them,  when  runaway,  was  fixed  at  tivo 
hundred  dollars  a  head ;  but  in  the  latter  case,  the  indemnity  was  duo 
only  to  those  who  had  previously  consented  to  pay  a  proportion  of  the 
price  of  slaves  thus  killed. 

On  the  twentieth  of  April,  Galvez  issued  a  proclamation,  by  which, 
owing  to  the  distresses  of  the  times,  and  the  difficulty  of  disposing  of  tho 


IIIHTOUY   OK   LOUIHIANA. 


225 


or,  nt\il 
M'v,  ami 

Ct't'hHt'ul 

wfrc  in 
irrciulcr 

\\. 

I  visit  ti> 
[  (.f  till' 
its«M|Uiiit 
tUars  (lut 
,(•  luilitiii 
the  Htiitc 
»\v  hiuuli* 
'  the  nicii 
prctlatory 

llVOCt'Ctilll 

lu'V  t'ouuil 
loir  wav  iit 

i.xl  otftlK' 

ft  bank  (if 
rtt  valui\lilf 
tlvt'V  wcrt' 
roceotk'd  ii-* 
ck,  ijurniiv; 

■11  (li.'^pocc'tl 

(.(I  coinUict 

uiition  ami 

living  \)i'en 

oval  houses 

Ipulation.  liy 

itr's  ex\)t'nft'. 

eiucnt  at  tlu' 

iMavi'^nv  dr 

initc,  behin'l 

lie  sottleuicut 

II  Lat'ourc'ho. 

|i  settlement. 

rations  wore 

I's  stores^,  aivl 

Jto  l)e  l>ait}  to 
lauHVortation, 
1  fixed  at  two 
Inity  was  <\\k  ^ 
jrtiou  of  the 

)n,  by  whicb, 
bosiugoftlie 


jiroducc  of  th«>  province,  \\v  permitted  its  I'xportiition  to  any  of  tlie  ports 
III'  Krunce ;  and  by  anothi'r  prochiniatictn,  on  the  seventeenth,  the 
iicrniission  was  extciiuhMl  to  any  port  of  the  United  fStates. 

The  king  ina(h',  onthe  eijriiteenth  of  October,  new  re>;nlations  for  the 
niniinerco  of  his  American  dominions,  and  particnlarly  for  that  of 
Louisiana.  ConsMh'rinji  it  necessary  to  his  service  to  cnconrajre  th(^  trade 
lit'  tiiiit  province,  and  to  increase  its  prosp(>rity,  he  directed  that  vessels 
from  Ni'W  Orleans  shonhl  no  lonjier  be  restricted  to  sail  for  one  of  the  six 
ports  to  which  they  had  been  restricted,  l»ut  nii^'ht  sail  to  any  of  the  other 
nortsof  the  pi^ninsula,  to  which  the  commerce  of  the  Indies  was  permitted. 
The  exportation  of  furs  and  jieltries  from  liouisiana  was  at  tlu;  same  time 
tiu'diiraged,  by  an  exemption  from  duty  during  a  period  often  years;  but 
in  tiie  re-exportation  from  Spain  the  ordinarv  dutv  was  to  be  paid. 

Two  royal  sche<lules  were  this  year  published  in  Fiouisiana.  Hy  the 
first,  the  introduction  or  reading  of  a  Ixtok  written  by  Mercier,  entitled 
LWii  Diiix  Mllli'  (iiKitir  Vent  (iinirdntc,  was  prohibited;  and  the  governor 
was  ordered  to  cause  every  copy  of  it  found  in  the  province  to  bo  seized 
1111(1  destroyed.  The  other  schedule  was  to  the  same  cd'ect,  in  regard  to 
Koliertson's  history  of  America.  Mercicr's  book  had  been  condemned  by 
till'  ln(|uisition,  and  the  king  said  he  had  just  reason  to  prohibit 
Knlicrtson's  being  n^ad  in  his  American  dominions. 

There  were,  at  this  ju'riod,  a  considerable  nund)er  (»f  individmds  from 
the  United  States  and  NN'est  and  East  Florida  and  Nova  Scotia,  in  New 
Orltaiis.  They  were  all  reouired  to  tjike  an  oath  of  fidelity  to  the  king 
(if  Spain  during  their  residence  in  his  dominions,  or  depart.  It  ai)pears 
the  oath  was  taken  by  eighty-three  individuals. 

Colonel  Hamilton,  who  commanded  at  the  Hritish  post  at  Detroit,  canio 
this  year  to  Vincennes,  on  the  Wabash,  with  about  six  hundred  men, 
(hicflv  Indians,  with  a  view  to  an  expedition  against  Kaskaskia,  and  up 
the  Oliio  as  far  as  Fort  Pitt,  and  the  back  settlements  of  Virginia.  Colonel 
(lark  heard,  from  a  trader,  who  came  down  from  Vincennes  to  Kaskaskia, 
that  Hamilton,  not  intending  to  take  the  field  until  spring,  had  sent  most 
of  his  force  to  block  up  the  Ohio,  or  to  harrass  tne  frontier  settlers, 
keeping  at  Vincennes  sixty  soldiers  only,  with  three  pieces  of  cannon  and 
some  swivels.  The  resolution  was  immediately  taken  to  improve  the 
favorable  opportunity  for  averting  the  impending  danger ;  and  Clark 
accordingly  disj)atched  a  small  galley,  mounting  two  four  jHrnnders  and 
four  swivels,  on  board  of  which  he  put  a  company  of  soldiers,  with  orders 
toimrsuo  her  way  up  the  Wabash,  and  anchor  a  few  miles  below  Vincennes. 
suffering  nothing  to  pass  her.  He  now  set  off  with  one  hundred  anu 
twenty  men,  the  whole  force  he  could  command,  and  marched  towards 
Vincennes.  They  were  five  days  in  crossing  the  low  lands  of  the  Wabash, 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Vincennes,  after  having  spent  sixty  in  crossing 
j  the  wilderness,  wading  for  several  nights  up  to  their  breasts  in  water. 
Appearing  suddenly  before  the  town,  they  surprised  and  took  it. 
Hamilton  for  a  while  defended  the  fort,  but  was  at  last  compelled  to 
'  surrender. 

The  prospects  of  the  United  States  had  been  much  brightened,  on  the 

[recognition  of  their  independence  by  France,  and  the  conclusion  of  a 

treaty  of  alliance  and  commerce  with  tnat  power,  on  the  sixth  of  February. 

I  In  the  sunnner,  the  British  evacuated   Philadelphia,    and  manhed 

through  the  state  of  Jersey  to  New  York.    A  large  detachment  of  it 

31 


y        '•$ 


III 


':M/:-^:'-'^^'M 


'!  '.!■ 


i;  15,' ; ;  •  '; 


226 


HISTORY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


invtido"!   tlic   t'Dasts   of  the   state   of  Georgia,   and   took   poss'^ssioii  of 
Savaniiali. 

The  eal)ildo  inii(h>  ehoice  of  Piernas  and  Duverger  as  ordinary  alcados. 
on  the  tirst  of  January,  1775). 

Toutant  (h3  Beauregard  toolv  his  seat  in  that  hod}' as  a])erj)etual  retridor 
and  [»rincipal  ])rovineial  alcade  ;  and  ]\razange  succeeded   (iaric  as  clork. 

J)(»n  Juan  Dorotheo  del  Portege  succeeded  Odoardo  in  the  oiHce  of 
auditor  of  war  and  assessor  of  government. 

According  to  tlie  order  made  the  last  year,  eighty-seven  indivi(Ui;ils 
from  the  l-'nited  States,  <»r  liritish  provinces,  took  a  tem})orary  oath  of 
tidclity  to  the  ('athnli(;  king. 

The  [)rovince,  this  year,  received  another  accession  of  i)0])ulati()ii,  l)v 
the  arrival  of  a  numhcr  of  families  brought  over,  at  the  king's  expenso. 
from  Malaga.  They  were  treated  as  favorably  as  those  who  came,  in  the 
])rercding  year,  from  the  Canary  islands.  It  ai)i»oars,  from  docuiiieiits 
extant,  tliat  some  heads  of  families  received,  besides  a  grant  of  land,  in 
cattle,  rations,  ])ecuniary  and  other  aid,  jjetween  three  and  four  thousand 
dollars.  They  were  sent  to  form  a  settlement  on  bayou  Teclie,  in  the 
district  of  the  Attakapas,  under  the  order  of  Bouligny.  The  {tlaco  was 
called  New  Ilieria.  Thi'  industry  of  the  new  comers  was  at  first  diroctt'd 
to  the  cultiii'c  oi"  tlax  and  hemp  ;  but  without  success. 

At  the  same  time,  the  king  sent  a  s])iritual  relief  to  the  provimv. 
consisting  of  six  capu(dnn  friars;  one  of  v.'hom,  at  this  day,  remains  in 
the  exercise  of  his  ])astoral  functions,  as  curate  of  the  parish  of  St.  L'jui*. 
in  the  city  of  New  Orleans. 

The  small  pox  made  great  havoc  in  New  Orleans  and  on  the  plantations, 
above  and  below. 

Great  Britain  ha<l  considered  the  recognition  of  the  independence  of  the 
United  States  l)y  France,  the  treaty  of  alliance  and  commerce  whicdi  she 
had  concluded  with  them,  and  the  succor  which  she  had  alforded  them. 
as  ecjuivalent  to  a  declaration  of  war ;  and  hostilities  had  actiiallv 
begun,  when  Spain  offered  her  mediation,  and  proposed  a  general  peace 
for  a  term  of  years,  with  a  ivioeting  of  the  nunisters  of  the  belligerent 
powers  at  Madrid,  to  which  those  of  the  United  States  were  to  he  admitted 
and  treated  as  the  re[>resentatives  of  an  independent  people.  Although 
it  was  not  insisted  that  the  king  of  Great  Britain  should  formally  recogniz( 
his  former  sulijects  as  independent,  it  was  understood  that  they  should 
be  so  (Ic  facto,  and  absolutely  sei)arated  from  the  empire  of  Great  Britain. 
On  the  de(daration  by  the  cabinet  of  St.  James,  that  no  negotiation  would 
be  entered  into  with  the  United  States,  even  under  the  modifieatioiis 
j>roposed,  the  Catholic  king  determined  on  taking  a  part  in  the  war.  and 
ordered  his  endjassador  at  Tjondon  to  deliver  a  rescrii)t,  in  which,  after 
reciting  several  grounds  of  complaint,  he  de(dared  his  sovereigirs  deter- 
mination to  use  every  means  in  his  power  to  obtain  justice.  The 
anil)assador  left  London  without  taking  leave;  and  letters  of  nianjiie  and 
re]»risals  against  the  ships  and  subjects  of  Spain  were  immediately  issued. 

On  the  eighth  of  May,  war  was  declared  by  Spain;  and  on  the  eighth 
of  July,  a  royal  schedule  was  issued,  authorizing  the  king's  subjects  in  the 
Indies  to  take  part  in  it,  the  latter  document  reciting  that  the  king nf 
Great  Britain  had  sought  to  indemnify  himself,  for  the  loss  of  hi.'^ 
American  provinces,  by  the  seizure  of  those  of  Spain,  having,  by  varioii> 
artifices,   endeavored   to   raise  up  new  enemies  against  her,  among  tlit 


SIDU    of 

alcivdes. 

I  reji;i(lor 
as  ck'vk. 
office  of 

clividuals; 
:  oath  of 

lation,  by 

me,  in  the 
Locuments 
if  land,  in 

thousand 
ihe,  in  tlu' 

place  was 
st  direcU'd 


}  |)T()vmci'. 
remains  in 
if  St.  Louis. 

plantations. 

idonco  of  the 
;e  which  she 
[brded  them, 
.ad  actually 
[oneral  voace 
belli  t!;event 
be  admitted 
Although 
dly  recognizt 
they  should 
reat  Britain. 
;iation  would 
.lodificatioiij 
the  war.  and 
which,  atter 
ivei^n's  deter- 
ustice.     The 
If  maniue  and 
.lately  issued. 
,n  theoiditli 
,ubiectsiutlH' 
It  the  kini!  ot 

[c  loss  of  y 

iig,  by  vari(>u^ 
hr,  among  tk 


HISTORY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


227 


hulian  nations  in  Florida,  whom  ho  had  induced  to  conspire  against  tlio 
kinjx's  innocent  vassals  in  Louisiana. 

With  the  official  account  of  tlie  rupture,  (lalvez,  who  had  liitherto 
exercised  the  functions  of  governor  pro  Icniporc,  received  tlie  king's 
commission  of  governor  and  intendant.  He  innnediately  thought  of  the 
attack  of  the  Ih'itish  possessions  in  the  neighborhood,  and  convened  a 
council  of  war  to  deliberate  on  it.  The  proposition  was  rejected,  and  the 
council  recommended  that,  until  a  reinforcement  could  be  obtained  from 
Havana,  defensive  measures  should  be  alone  resorted  to. 

Impatient  of  the  state  of  inaction  to  which  the  determination  of  the 
council  condemned  him,  the  chief  cndeavorcnJ  to  collect  a  body  of  men 
sufficient  to  justify  him  in  taking  on  himself  the  resjjonsibility  of  acting 
in  opposition  to  the  o})inion  of  his  legal  advisers.  There  were  a  number 
of  men  from  the  United  States  in  and  near  New  Orleans,  who  otfered 
their  services.  The  militia  volunteered  theirs.  In  this  manner,  with  the 
regular  force  and  many  of  the  people  of  color,  an  army  of  about  fourteen 
hundred  men  was  collected.  The  fatigue  of  a  forced  march  and  the 
diseases  incident  to  the  climate  towards  the  end  of  the  summer  consid- 
erably reduced  this  force  before  they  reached  Fort  Bute,  on  bayou 
Manshac,  which  was  taken  by  assault  on  the  seventh  day  of  September, 
within  less  than  sixty  days  from  the  date  of  the  royal  schedule,  authorizing 
the  king's  American  subjects  to  take  part  in  the  war. 

The  army  nuuxdied,  without  loss  of  time,  to  Baton  Rouge.  Colonel 
Dickson  had  there  a  garrison  of  little  more  than  four  hundred  British 
siddiers  and  one  hundred  militia.  He  was  well  supi)lied  with  arms, 
ammunition  and  provisions  ;  but  the  fort  was  in  ruins,  and  his  men  sickly. 
He  was  not, "  however,  to  be  surprised  by  a  coup  dc  main.  Galvez 
immediately  invested  the  fort,  and  began  with  the  erection  of  batteries, 
on  which  he  mounted  his  heavy  ordnance.  In  two  hours  and  a  half  after 
the  cannonade  began,  on  the  twenty-first  of  September,  Dickson  })roi>osed 
a  capitulation,  which  was  soon  after  agreed  to.  The  honors  of  war  were 
accorded  to  the  garrison,  and  they  were  made  prisoners.  The  surrender 
of  fort  Panmure,  at  Natchez,  and  two  small  posts,  one  on  Amite  river  .aid 
the  other  on  Thompson  creek,  were  included  in  the  ca})itulation.  Don 
Carlos  de  (Trandi)re  was  left  in  command  at  Baton  Rouge,  with  two 
othcers  under  him  at  fort  Bute  and  fort  Panmure,  and  the  arm}''  marched 
back  to  New  Orleans. 

Julien  Poydras,  (a  gentleman  who  afterwards  became  conspicuous  by 
ills  great  wealth  and  his  services  in  congress,  and  the  territorial  and  state 
!cgi;datures)  celebrated  the  achievement  of  Galvez  in  a  small  poem,  in 
the  French  language,  which  was  printed  and  circulated  at  the  king's 
expense. 

The  elements  were  not  so  favorable  to  Louisiana,  as  the  god  of  war.  A 
liurricane  desolated  it  in  the  fiill,  and  the  small-i)ox,  the  ravages  of  which 
were  not  yet  lessened  by  innoculation  or  vaccination,  made  much  havoc 
in  the  city  and  its  neighborhood. 

The  arms  of  the  United  States  were  not  as  successful  on  the  shores  of 

the  Atlantic,  as  those  of  Spain  were  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi. 

Diu'ing  the  summer,  the  Americans  made  an  irruption,  under  general 

Howe,  into  the  province  of  East  Florida,  and  the  diseases  incident  to  the 

I  climate  at  that  season  of  the  year,  proved  fatal  to  a  considerable  part  of 


'  '>i 


!  i 


:!iii 


^sxa^sc^s:^. 


228 


HISTOUY   OF    LOUISIANA. 


ir;!^ 


v.*v?- 


■^^^■■^■^'■^':i-' 


■^ni 


tlio  forces.     An  luisucccssful  attempt  was  also  made,  during  the  winter 
to  dislodge  the  English  from  Savannah. 

('>)ngress,  availing  themselves  of  the  rupture  between  Spain  and  (iroat 
Britain,  sent  a  minister  to  JMadrid  to  negotiate  a  treaty.  Jlv  was 
])articularly  instructed  to  insist  on  their  right  to  the  navigation  of  the 
Mississij'pi,  as  far  as  the  sea. 

The  claim  was  opposed  l)y   Spain,  and  discountenanced  hy  Frnnee. 
The  minister  of  France,  at  I'hiladelphia,  had  urged  that  his   sovereign 
Avas  anxious  to  seetlu^  indeixmdence  of  the  United   States  acknowlodianl 
by  Spain,  and  a  treaty  of  alliance  and  commerce  entered  into  hy  these 
powers;  and    \w,  had  recommended  to  the    consideration   of  congress 
several  matters  which  the  tJatholic  king  viewed  as  highly  im])()itant. 
These    were  the  rights  of  S])ain    to    the    ex(dusive    navigation    of   tlie 
^[ississippi,    and  to  the   possession  of  both  the  Floridas,  and  all  the 
territory  from  the  It'ft  bank  of  the  stream  to  the  back   settlements  of  the 
former  British  provinces,  according  to  th(!  proclamation  of  17()8.     It  was 
contended  that  no  j^art  of  the  territ(ny,  thus  (dainuMl,  was  included  within 
the  limits  of  any  of  the  Unite<l   States,  and  the  whoK;  of  it,  with  the 
Floridas,    was  a  possession  of  the  British  crown,  and    conse(iii(iitlv  ;i 
legitimate  object  against  which  the  (hitholic  king  might  direct  his  arms, 
with  a  view  to  its  permanent  ac([uisition.     It  was  suggested  that  it  was 
oxpectc(l   by  the  cabinet  of  Madrid,  that  congress  would   j)roliiI)it  tln' 
inhabitants  of  tlu^  southern  states  from  making  any  attempt  towanls 
settling  or  coiKpiering  this  portion  of  territory.     The  minister  conclude^! 
that  the  United  States  ])ossessing  no  territory  beyond  the   mf)untains. 
except  the  posts  of  Kaskaskia  and  a  few  others,  from  which  tlicv  had 
momentarily    driven   the   British,  Avould  view    the    navigation   of  the 
Mississii)pi  as  an  unim[)ortant  object,  in  com])arison  Avith  the  recognition 
of  their  inde})endence  by,  and  an  ;dliance  with  Spain.     The  late  declara- 
tion   of    war  by  Spain,  and  the  hostilities  commenced  by  Galvez,  an 
account  of  which  was  received    at    Philadelphia    while    congress  was 
deliberating  on   the  connnunication   of  the   French  minister,  liad,  it  is 
believed,  considerable  influence  in  the  subsequent  determination  of  that 
body  to  insist  on  the  claim. 

This  year  a  nundjcr  of  French  hunters  (courcKrs  de  boifi,)  who  had 
strayed  to  the  banks  of  the  Cumberland  river,  built  a  few  cabins  una  spot 
soon  after  called  the  Bluif,  and  since  known  as  the  one  on  which  the  town 
of  Na'-hville  stands.  It  is  situated  within  the  limits  then  claimed  Iw  the 
state  of  N(n'th  Carolina,  in  her  (jonstitution,  and  within  the  territory 
afterwards  (u.'ded  by  that  state  to  the  United  States.  The  surrounding 
country  was  inhabited  by  Indians  only;  and  the  nearest  settlement  of 
whites  was  on  the  banks  of  the  \\'atauga,  one  of  the  branches  of  the 
Tennessee  river,  at  the  distance  of  several  hundred  miles. 

Panis  and   Duverger  were  the  ordinary  alcades  for  the  year  IT'^O. 

(ialvez'  success  at  Manshac  and  Baton  Rouge  was  now  rewarded  by  :i 
commission  of  brigadier-general. 

Having  receivcil  some  reinforcement  from  Havana,  \vi  left  New  Orleans 
early  in  January,  with  a  larger  force  than  that  whi(di  he  had  hd  to  Katnn 
Rouge  during  the  jjrecediiig  yi^ar.  His  objc.'ct  was  the  reduction  of  Fort 
Charlotte  on  the  ^lobilt?  river.  He  was  overtaken  on  the  gulf  by  a  sturiii 
l)v  which  one  of  bis  armed  vessels  was  stranded.  His  troops  wore 
l^xposed.  "trr-great  danger  and  a  part  of  his  provisions  and  amniunition 


winter, 
d  (Innit 

111'    WHS 

\  of  tho 

France, 
sovereign 
Dwlodged 
by  these 

congress 
m\)nrtiint. 
11  of  the 
id  all  the 
its  of  the 

)\.       It   WilS 

doll  withui 
,  with  the 
e(\ueiitly  a 
t  his  arniii, 
hat  it  was 
ii-ohihit  thr 
ipt  towanls 

■  conclude'l 
monntains. 

b  they  hud 

tion   of  the 

'  reeo'^nitieii 

ate  deelava- 

■  Galvez,  an 
oiigvess  was 
r,  bad,  it  i^ 
,tion  of  that 

|/,^.,)  who  had 

Itius  on  a  spot 

.icb  the  tiiwu 

laiuied  hy  the 

the  territory 

surritundiiig 

pottlenieiit  I'f 

jinches  of  tlu' 

in-  17S0. 
Awarded  hy  a 

It  Now  Orleau> 
\\  1(^(1  to  Baton 
liction  of  Fort 

[;K  hy  a  storm 
troops  WW 

[\  amniuuiii>i" 


HISTORY   OF    LOUISIANA. 


229 


was  cither  totally  s})oiled  or  rendored  unfit  for  use  for  some  time.  He 
iiiicceeded  at  last  in  landing  his  army,  artillery,  military  stores,  and 
iirovisions  on  the  eastern  point  of  IMobiie  river. 

Had  general  Campbell,  who  was  at  Pensacola  with  a  considerable  force, 
sillied  out  and  attacked  the  invaders  their  defeat  would  have  been 
inevitable.  Galvez  was  so  conscious  of  his  i)erilous  situation,  that  he  made 
some  preparations  for  a  march  by  land  to  New  Orleans,  leaving  his 
baggage  and  artillery  behind.  He,  however,  determined  on  i)roceeding  to 
the  fort,  and  was  indebted  for  his  success,  to  the  supineness  of  tlie  enemy. 
On  his  arrival  he  erected  six  batteries,  whi(di  soon  effected  a  breach  in 
the  walls  of  the  fort,  the  commandant  of  which  capitulated  on  the 
fourteenth  of  March. 

General  Cami)bell  arrived  a  few  days  after,  with  a  force  that  would  have 
lioen  sufficient  to  have  prevented  the  ca])ture  of  the  fort,  but  which,"  now 
that  it  was  in  the  possession  of  the  Spaniards,  l)e(!ame  us(!less. 

Galvez,  on  his  return  to  New^  Orleans,  determined  on  the  attack  of 
I'ensacola;  but  the  force  he  could  command  was  insufficient,  and  he  sent 
im  officer  to  the  captain-general  to  solicit  a  reinforcement.  His  messenger 
returned  with  the  j)romise  of  one.  Impatient  of  the  delay,  he  sailed  for 
Havana  in  order  to  hasten  the  intended  succor.  Having  obtained 
troops,  artillery  and  ammunition,  he  sailed  on  the  sixteenth  of  October  ; 
liiit,  on  the  succeeding  day,  some  of  his  transports  foundered  in  a  storm, 
and  the  rest  were  dispersed.  He  collected  and  brought  them  back  to 
Havana,  on  the  sixteenth  of  November. 

In  the  fall,  the  British  commanding  officer  at  Michilimackinac,  with 
about  one  hundi'ed  and  forty  men  from  his  garrison,  and  near  fourteen 
hundred  Indians,  attacked  the  Spanish  post  at  St.  Louis ;  but  colonel 
Clark,  who  was  still  at  Kakaskia,  came  to  its  relief  Tlu;  Indians  who 
came  from  Michilimackinac,  having  no  idea  of  fighting  any  l)ut  Spaniards, 
refused  to  act  against  Americans,  and  com})lained  of  having  been  deceived. 
Clark  released  about  fifty  prisoners  that  had  been  made,  and  the  enemy 
made  the  liest  of  their  way  home. 

The  minister  of  the  United  States  at  Mach-id  failed  in  his  negotiation, 
and  their  indoinnidcncc  was  not  acknowledged  by  Spain. 

The  British  army  was  this  year  successful  in  South  Carolina.  Charleston 
surrendered  on  the  twelfth  of  May.  Tarleton  routed,  soon  after,  a  party 
of  Americans  under  Ruford,  near  the  southern  boundary  of  North  Carolina. 
Gates  was  defeated  at  Camden  on  the  sixteenth  of  August,  and  Suinpter, 
on  the  Catawba,  on  the  eighteenth.  After  this.  Lord  Cornwallis  invaded 
the  state  of  North  Carolina. 

Don  .Tnan  Manuel  de  Cagigal  succeeded,  during  the  year  1781,  Navarro, 
as  captain-general  of  the  island  of  Cuba  and  the  province  of  Louisiana. 

Galvez  was  ])romoted  to  the  rank  of  mariscal  de  cam}).  The  attention 
he  had  to  give  to  military  concerns,  leaving  him  no  time  to  be  bestowed 
on  the  fiscal,  Don  Martin  Nevarro,  the  contador,  was  a])pointed  intendant 
and  Don  ^[anu(d  Scrano,  assessor  of  the  intendancy.  Don  Antonio  Lopez 
de  Armesto  received  the  appointment  of  secretary  of  government,  which 
he  held  until  the  cession. 

Galvez  left  Havana  for  Pensacola  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  February, 
l^'ith  a  man  of  war,  two  frigates,  and  several  transports,  on  lioard  of  which 
pvere  fourteen  hundred  and  fifteen  soldiers,  a  competent  train  of  artillery, 


'A 


•  a 


M 


;pfii^^« 


% 


230 


IIISTOUY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


The  fleet  was  coninuxuclcd  by  Dun  Joseph 


and  abundance  of  annnunition. 
Cabi'O  de  Irazabal. 

On  the  ninth  of  March,  lie  landed  his  troops,  ordnance  and  militarv 
stores,  on  the  island  of  Ht.  Rosa,  and  on  the  next  day  erected  a  battery  to 
supjiort  the  fleet  on  its  passage  over  the  biir.  The  att(!ni])t  to  cross  it  was 
made  on  the  eleventh;  but  the  commodore's  ship  having  got  agrounil,  it 
was  abandoned.  On  the  next  day,  Galvez  wrote  to  Irazal)al,  expressini; 
his  uneasiness  at  the  risk  which  the  fleet  and  convoy  must  run  hv 
remaining  long  exi)osed  to  a  storm  on  a  dangerous  coast,  and  n^ijuistill 
him  to  call  the  captains  of  the  armed  vessels  on  board  of  his  shij)  uikI 
take  their  opinions  as  to  the  best  means  of  getting  the  fleet  and  transports 
over  the  bar.  This  was  done,  and  Irazabal  rejjorted  that  these  ofKcers 
had  declared  they  were  unable  to  form  an  opinion  on  the  (jrobablo 
success  of  a  second  attempt,  as  they  were  without  a  correct  chart  of  the 
coast. 

They  complaine<l  that  the  jnlots  on  board  of  the  fleet  were  incapal)lc'ot 
{iffording  any  aid  ;  every  account  which  they  had  given  of  the  soundinirs 
having  proved  erroneous ;  adding  that  their  ships  had  nearly  all  lost 
their  rudders  on  the  eleventh,  and  expressing  their  belief  that  if  they  had 
proceeded  any  farther  they  should  have  found  pr(»mpt  and  effectuul 
mancjeuvres  im})ossible.  The}'  observe  also  that  they  had  all  along 
feared  that  the  artillery  of  the  fort  could  reach  the  channel ;  but  they  hiul 
now  the  melancholy  certainty  that  it  commanded,  not  only  the  channel 
over  the  bar,  but  even  the  island  of  St.  Rosa.  There  being  in  the  fort 
twenty-four  jjounders,  the  balls  of  which  would  rake,  fore  and  aft,  any 
vessel  tliat  should  attempt  to  cross  the  bar,  and  the  direction  of  the 
channel  was  such  that  they  were  obliged  to  present  their  sides,  poop  ami 
prow  to  the  enemy's  guns ;  that  the  channel  was,  besides,  so  narrow  that 
the  first  shij)  that  got  aground  would  obstruct  the  passage,  and  the 
rapidity  of  the  current  preventing  any  quick  mananivre,  the  shij)s;  would 
run  foul  of  each  other  before  they  coul  1  turn,  even  if  that  were  possible. 
They  came  to  the  conclusion  that  as  the  general  deemed  the  crossin<jof 
the  bar  an  object  of  vast  importance  to  the  king's  service,  the  commodore 
should  send  one  or  two  oflicers,  attended  by  three  or  four  pilots,  to  soiunl 
the  channel  as  far  as  Point  Biguenza,  during  the  night;  a  fire  l)eingniad;' 
on  that  point  in  order  to  ascertain  the  direction  in  which  a  vessel  might  lie 
mo.«t  easily  managed  ;  after  which  a  second  trial  might  be  made. 

Irazabal  expressed  his  individual  opinion  that  any  attempt  to  attack  the 
British  by  water  would  be  fruitless,  and  recommended  that  the  land  force 
should  be  immediately  employed  in  the  reduction  of  the  fort. 

Galvez  thought  he  discovered  in  the  commodore  and  the  captains  of  the 
armed  ships,  a  reluctance  to  co-operate  with  him  in  any  measure,  of  which 
they  imagined  he  would  exclusively  reap  the  glory  in  case  of  success. ami 
that  they  Avere  disposed  to  impede  rather  than  to  aid  his  ])lans.  He 
replied  to  Irazabal,  that  the  loss  of  a  ship  or  two,  from  which  all  on  bonnl 
could  easily  be  saved,  was  not  to  be  put  in  comparison  with  that  of  the 
whole  fleet  and  the  transports,  to  Mmich  they  were  exposed  in  case  of  ;i 
storm,  and  which  would  entirely  prevent  the  success  of  their  undertaking. 
After  having  re(i  nested  that  the  captains  should  again  be  called  together 
to  reconsider  tlieir  former  report,  he  determined  tf)  attempt  Avith  the  nav;il 
means  of  which  he  had  the  immediate  conmjand,  what  he  could  not  obtain 
from  the  commodore. 


y  all  lost 
'  tliey  luvl 
[  effectual 
all  al(nig 
t  they  had 
le  cliiinnf'l 
in  the  fort 
kI  aft,  liny 
ion  of  the 
r!,  poop  ami 
[larrow  that 


HISTOUY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


231 


Accovdingly,  the  l»rig  Galvezton,  commanded  by  ll«»uss(>au,  wliich  had 
latt'ly  arrived  with  ordnance  from  New  Orleans,  east  anchor  near  the  bar; 
and  the  captain  having  sounded  the  channel  as  far  as  I^)int  Sigiienza, 
(luring  tlu'  night  between  the  fifteenth  and  sixteentli,  he  next  morning 
roiinrte<l  tliere  was  water  enough  in  the  shallowest  i)art  of  the  channel  for 
the  largest  ship  in  the  fleet,  with  her  full  load. 

The  captains  of  the  armed  ships  met  on  board  of  the  commodore's 
ship,  and  having  reconsidered  their  report  of  the  fourteenth,  declared  they 
(ould  not  do  anything  but  refer  the  general  to  it. 

Den  .Ios(;ph  de  Espeleta  had  arrived  on  the  sixteenth  with  the  force 
I'lMin  Mol)ile  and  the  militia  from  the  neighborliood,  and  on  the 
Hoventeenth,  Don  Estevan  Miro  came  from  New  Orleans  with  the 
Lduisiana  forces.     They  all  landed  on  the  western  side  of  Rio  Perdido. 

Convinced,  now,  there  was  no  means  of  inducing  Irazabal  to  make  a 
second  attempt  to  bring  the  fleet  and  convoy  over  the  bar,  Galvez,  from 
tilt'  rxpciMcnce  be  had  on  his  way  to  Mobih;  in  the  spring,  and  from 
Havana  in  the  fall  of  the  preceding  year,  of  the  danger  he  incurred  by 
icniainiiig  longer  exi)osed  to  a  storm,  direcled  the  brig  (Jalvezton,  a 
schooner  just  arrived  from  New  Orleans,  under  the  order  of  Ria.io,  and 
two  gun  boats,  which  constituted  all  the  naval  force  under  his  immediate 
(■(iiinnand,  to  i)repare  for  crossing  the  bar;  in  the  hoi)e  that  their  success 
iiiifiht  induce  the  officers  of  the  royal  navy  to  follow  them.  Towards 
niKin,  Rousseau,  with  his  brig,  the  schooner,  and  gun  l)oats,  cast  anchor 
near  the  bar,  and  at  half-past  two,  Galvez  went  on  board  of  the  brig, 
directed  a  pendant  to  be  displayed  on  her  main  mast,  a  salute  to  l)e  fired, 
and  sail  to  be  set.  The  fort  immediately  began  a  brisk  cannonade, 
princijially  directed  upon  the  brig,  on  board  of  which  it  was  apparent  the 
general  was  end)arked.  Neither  the  brig,  schooner,  nor  gun  boats  received 
any  injury,  except  in  their  sails  and  rigging;  and  Galv(!z  landed  at  the 
liottom  of  the  bay,  on  the  island  of  St.  Rosa,  under  a  salute,  and  amid  the 
acclamations  of  his  men. 

His  success  determined  Irazabal  to  send  the  fleet  and  convoy  over  the 
har,  except  his  own  ship,  which,  in  the  meanwdiiie,  had  been  reladen  for 
her  return  to  Havana.  This  was  eft'ected  on  the  next  day.  The  frigates 
led  the  M'ay,  and  the  convoy  followed.  The  fort  kept  a  brisk  fire  for 
upwards  of  an  hour,  until  the  hindmost  vessel  was  out  of  its  reach.  The 
shipping  received  some  injury,  but  no  individual  was  hurt.  Galvez  had 
advanced  in  a  boat,  and  remained  in  the  midst  of  the  convoy  until  the 
last  vessel  anchored. 

At  four  o'clock,  he  made  an  effort,  with  two  of  his  aids,  to  cross  the 
iiar.  in  order  to  go  and  confer  with  Esi)elcta  and  Miro,  an<l  devise  with 
them  a  phui  of  atta(dc  ;  but  tlie  violence  of  the  wind  compelled  him  to 
desist,  and  he  reached  the  camp  at  midnight. 

In  the  morning  of  the  twentieth,  he  sent  one  of  his  aids  to  general 
Can)pl)ell  with  a  message,  in  which  he  informed  him  that  when  the 
British  came  to  Havana  in  1762,  their  conmiander  intimated  to  the 
captain-iieneral  of  the  Catholic  king,  that  if  any  of  the  king's  edifices, 
ships,  or  other  pro})erty  were  destroyed,  the  Simniards  would  be  treated 
with  all  the  rigor  and  severity  of  the  laws  of  war;  tliat  the  intimation 
Was  now  made  to  the  general  and  whoever  it  might  concern,  and  under 
the  same  terms. 
At  night,  the  British  set  fire  to  a  guard  house  on  the  beach;    and 


1! 

1    ^ , 
1  :i 

i 

m 

'"•m 

KfM|^^B'' 

,iMf 

.  '*'<'!3^^^E 

ilT. 

' '  ■'■'i^ 

1       !  '    i 

H 

<>-,■.  A'-^ M ■  Jjw 

;!^i 

■ 

■    ■ 

!i!i." 


^..v 


232 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


'f  '.':  ...t.:i-j      ■■    .        _^, 


'i'%:    ' 


\k\ 


Galvc'z  ppnt   Riano's  schooner,  with  the  launch  of  the  brig  Galvezton, 
which,  for  awliilc,  kept  up  a  brisk  fire  of  grape  shot  on  the  beach. 

A  Hritisli  ofHcer  came  to  the  camp,  early  on  the  following  day,  with  n 
message  from  Campbell,  stating  that  an  enemy's  threats  could  only  lie 
considered  as  a  stratagem  of  war,  and  expressing  his  hope  that,  in  tht- 
defense  of  Pensacola,  he  should  resort  to  no  measure  not  justified  by  the 
usages  of  war.  He  made  his  acknowledgment  for  the  frank  intimation  he 
had  received,  and  gave  assurance  that  his  conduct  would  be  regulated  hv 
that  of  the  Spanish  commander,  with  regard  to  certain  propositions  hV 
had  to  make,  in  conjunction  with  the  governor  of  West  Florida. 

At  noon,  an  aid  of  Campbell,  accompanied  by  lieutenant-ooloiul 
Dickson,  who  had  been  taken  the  preceding  year  at  Baton  Rouge,  and 
liberat(!d  on  his  parol,  came  in  a  boat  bearing  a  Hag  of  truce,  and 
delivered  to  (Jalvez  letters  from  Campbell  and  governor  (Chester. 

The  first  expressed  his  conviction  that  humanity  recpiired,  as  nmch  as 
possible,   the   exemption   of    innocent    individuals    from    the   disuxteis 
necessarily  incident  to  war ;  and  added,  that  the  garrison  at  Pensacolii 
vt^as  unable  to  resist  the   force   brought  against  it,   Avithout  the  total 
destruction  of  the  town,  and  the  consequent  ruin  of  its  inhabitants ;  and 
he  expressed  his  desire  that  tlie  town  and  garrison  should  be  preserved  fur 
the  victor — a  desire,  he  said,  which  arose  from  the  hope  he  entertained  that 
the  efforts  of  the  troops  he  commanded  would  be  crowned  with  succet's. 
He  concluded  by  proposing  that  the  town  should  be  preserved,  without 
receiving  any  unnecessary  injury  from  either  party,  during  the  siege  of 
the  redoubt  of  the  marine  and  Fort  George,  within  which  he  meant  to 
contend  for  the  preservation  of  the  province  for  the  British  erown,  under 
the  stijnilation  that  the  town  of  Pensacola  should  not  be  used,  by  either 
army,  for  the  pur])ose  either  of  protecting  itself  or  annoying  its  adversary: 
but  remain  the  safe  asylum  of  women,  children,  the  aged  and  infirm.    He 
added,   that  in  case  his  proposition  was   rejected,  and  the   Spaniard- 
sought  a  shelter  in  Pensacola,  it  would  become  his  duty  to  innnediutelr 
destroy  it. 

The  governor  proposed  that  some  Spanish  prisoners  in  his  possessidii 
should  be  liberated  on  their  parol,  on  the  assurance  of  Galv'ez,  that  they 
should  not  be  em|)loyed  in  the  military  or  civil  sei'vice  of  the  Catholii 
king,  during  the  war,  unless  they  were  sooner  exchanged. 

Galvez  gave  orders  that  his  men  should  be  drawn  out  under  arms,  in 
order  that  the  messengers  of  Campbell  and  Chester  might  re])ort  Aviiiit 
kind  and  number  of  troops  were  under  his  comnuiiid.  These  gentlonieii 
were  afterwards  dismissed  with  a  verbal  message,  importing  that  Gahvz 
was  prevented  by  indisposition  from  preparing  a  written  answer,  and  that 
one  would  be  sent  on  the  next  day. 

During  the  night,  the  British  set  fire  to  a  few  houses  near  Ffrt  St. 
George. 

In  his  replv,  on  the  twenty-second.  Galvez  stated  that  what  ne  hml 
seen,  since  the  departure  of  Campbell's  aid  and  lieutenaiic-coruiiel 
Dickson,  convinced  him  that  those  who  sent  them  had  no  othei  ohject 
but  procrastination,  and  he  was  ashamed  of  his  own  credulity  and  their 
attempt  to  deceive  him ;  that  he  would  listen  to  no  proposition  but  that 
of  a  surrender ;  and  the  conflagration  of  Pensacola,  so  long  as  it  was  iwt 
attributable  to  any  fault  of  his,  would  be  cc;itcmi)lated  with  as  much 
indifference  as  the  burning  of  its  incendiaries  '. 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


233 


Ciim])bc'll  rejoined,  that  the  haughty  style  assumed  hy  the  S])iuiish 
phit't',  far  from  its  intended  effect,  would  have  that  of  exciting  the  utmost 
opposition  to  the  ambitious  views  of  Spain;  that  the  ollicer  commanding 
at  Fort  Cieorgo  had  done  nothing  hut  his  <luty,  in  destroying  a  few 
houses  near  it,  which  afforded  protection  to  the  enemy  ;  and  that  if  the 
invaders  sought  to  avail  themselves  of  Pensacohi,  by  seeking  an  asylum 
thero,  it  would  be  innnediately  destroyed. 

(Jampbell  now  retreated  into  the  fort  with  all  the  force  under  his  orders, 
and  the  Spaniards  lost  no  time  in  opening  aland  communication  between 
tlic  bay  and  the  town,  and  erecting  their  works  on  both  sides  of  the 
British  fortifications.     They  were  provided  with  a  good  train  of  artillery. 

Tlie  attack  was  not,  however,  commenced  until  the  l)eginning  of  Ai)ril. 
From  the  fleet  in  front,  and  the  batteries  (m  either  side,  the  British  were 
t'XiH)sed  to  a  tremendous  fire,  and  their  men  often  driven  from  their  guns. 
But,  they  having  for  a  long  time  anticipated  a  siege,  the  fortifications 
were  in  excellent  repair,  and  the  supply  of  annnunition  and  provisions 
abundant;  so  that  tho  Spaniards  made  but  little  impression.  A  lower 
liattery,  which  the  Bridsh  hastily  erected,  and  on  which  they  put  heavy 
lannun,  soon  enabled  them  to  drive  the  ships  on  the  ()i)posite  side  of  the 
bay.  Galvez  was  unable  to  annoy  his  enemy  by  the  side  l)atterics,  and  for 
a  while  reduced  to  comparative  inaction.  At  last,  a  lucky  accident,  in 
the  beginning  of  May,  favored  his  enterprise.  The  magazine,  in  one  of 
the  advanced  redoubts  took  fire  from  a  shell  and  blew  uj*.  The  Avorks 
were  completely  destroyed  by  the  explosion,  and  a  free  passage  openetl. 
Galvez  innnediately  sent  Espeleta,  with  a  strong  detachment,  to  occupy 
the  middle  ground,  in  which  they  were  protected  by  the  ruins  of  the 
redoubt;  and  soon  after,  he  sent  four  field  j)ieces.  with  which  a  brisk  five 
was  begun.  At  this  moment  a  white  flag  was  hoisted  in  Fort  (Icorge,  and 
an  officer  came  out  to  propose  a  capitulation. 

The  terms  of  it  were  soon  agreed  on,  and  it  was  signed  on  the  ninth  of  May. 
The  whole  province  of  West  Florida  was  surrendered  to  Spain,  with  the 
garrison,  which  consisted  of  upwards  of  eight  hundred  men.  They  were 
allowed  the  honors  of  war,  and  to  retain  their  baggage  and  private  prop- 
erty, and  were  transported  to  their  sovereign's  dominions,  under  a 
stipulation  that  they  should  not  serve  against  Spain  or  her  allies,  until 
duly  exchanged. 
Don  Arthur  O'Xeil,  an  Irish  officer  in  the  service  of  Spain,  was  left  in 

command  at  Pensacola. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

Ax  incident  occurred  during  the  sicgo  of  Pensacola,  which  was  very 
miir  invctlving  some  of  the  British  near  Natchez  in  serious  dithculties. 
(General  Lyman,  who,  we  have  seen,  had,  with  some  of  his  adherents  in 
t'nnnecticut,  obtained  grants  of  land  in  the  neighborhood  of  fort  Panniure, 
iiiid  formed  agricultural  establishments  in  1775,  was  now  dead,  and  his 
t'lillnwers  had  seen,  with  considerable  regret,  the  British  force  tluit 
lirotected  them,  driven  from  the  fort,  and  replaced  by  Spanish  soldiers. 
iHiring  the  sietje,  on  the  rumor  of  the  approach  of  a  fleet,  which  had  l)een 
mii^taken  for  a  British  one,  they  considered  the  success  of  their  sovereign's 

32 


li-iia 


m 


>:'J 


,*.,''i 


i 

'>;.-,!               ■"'' 1 

■I 

:|i'  fl 

'J^  "^ 

1 

J: 

!''l)l'  r'T,:  ■.:• 

234 


inSTOKY   OF  LOUISIANA. 


cause  In  West  Florida  so  certain,  that  tliey  (letcrniined  on  j?iving  hini  an 
evidence  of  their  loyalty  by  <lislo(lging  the  .Spaniards  i^roni  the  tort. 
Haviufi  engaged  most  ot  the  other  inhabitants  of  the  district  in  tlioir 
]>]an,  and  secured  tlu;  co-operation  of  a  number  of  the  neighboring  Indiiins, 
they  raised,  on  the  twenty-second  of  Ai)ril,  the  British  standard  in  vit-w 
but  beyond  the  reach  of  the  guns  of  the  fort.  During  the  night  tliev 
ai)i)roachc(l  the  fort,  brought  some  artillery  to  bear  upon  it,  but  a  heavy 
fire  from  the  guns  of  the  fort  soon  compelled  them  to  retire. 

On  the  twenty-fourth,  the  Spaniards  fired  on,  and  destroyed  a  house  ut 
small  distance,  l)ehind  which  the  insurgents  had  taken  shelter:  but  tlu! 
latter  having  procured  a  field  piece,  approached  and  fired  on  the  tort 
wounding  a  (corporal,  who  died  (m  the  next  day.  During  the  night,  the 
firing  was  continued  with  some  intervals. 

The  commandant  of  the  fort  sent,  on  the  twenty-eighth,  one  of  lli^^ 
officers  to  the  insurgents,  to  represent  to  them  the  clanger  to  which  tlu-v 
exposed  themselves,  by  a  rebellion  against  their  lawful  sovereign — recoiil- 
mending  to  them  to  deliver  up  their  leaders  and  disperse  ;  an(l  proniisinrr 
that  if  they  did  so,  the  royal  clemency  should  be  extended  to  them.  Tlicv 
promised  to  send  an  answer  the  next  day.  Accordingly,  in  the  inornini;. 
a  planter  came  to  the  fort  with  a  letter  from  Mcintosh,  one  of  the  most 
respectable  inhabitants  of  the  district,  informing  him  that  what  the 
messenger  would  say  could  be  relied  on.  This  man  on  being  (juestioncd, 
said  the  fort  was  undermined,  and  would  be  blown  up  the  following  day. 
There  was  a  deep  valley,  at  a  very  short  distance  from  the  fort,  at  whit'li 
the  Spaniards  had  noticed  a  considerable  number  of  persons,  during  the 
preceding  days,  a  circumstance  which  gave  some  credit  to  the  story. 

On  the  twenty-ninth,  the  men,  according  to  the  report  of  the  coninian- 
dant,  being  exhausted  with  fatigue  and  watching,  and  the  ammunition 
and  provisions  nearly  consumed,  he  surrendered  the  fort,  on  being 
permitted  to  march  with  his  garrison  to  Baton  Rouge. 

The  evacuation  of  fort  Panmure,  by  the  Spaniards,  Avas  soon  followed 
by  the  rei)ort  that  the  rumor  that  the  approach  of  a  British  Heet  was 
unfounded,  and  afterwards  by  that  of  Galvez'  success  at  Pensacola. 

Those  who  had  taken  an  active  part  in  this  short  revolution,  among  whom 
were  most  of  the  settlers  from  Connecticut,  fearful  of  meeting  the  iate  of 
O'Reilly's  victims  «at  New  Orleans  determined  on  making  the  best  of  their 
M'ay  to  Savannah  in  Georgia,  now  the  nearest  post  occupied  by  the 
British — although  they  had  to  cross  an  immense  wilderness  inhabited  by 
hostile  Indians. 

The  contest  between  Great  Britain,  (the  subjects  of  which  they  were) 
and  the  American  States,  rendering  a  direct  course  dangerous,  they  were 
ol)liged  to  enter  North  Carolina,  descend  below  the  Alatamaha,  and  eros^ 
again  the  state  of  Georgia  to  Savannah,  on  its  northern  limit.  In  tliu 
performance  of  their  circuitous  journey,  they  were  employed  one  hundred 
and  thirty-one  days. 

The  caravan  was  numerous  and  included  women  and  children,  some  of 
the  latter  at  the  breast.  All  were  mounted  on  horseback ;  but  the 
ruggedness  of  the  ground  induced  such  as  were  able  to  walk,  to  travel 
most  of  the  way  on  foot.  The  country  is  intersected  by  numerous,  amJ 
often  broad  and  deep  water  courses ;  steep  and  lofty  mountains  obstructed 
their  course ;  and  impervious  marshes  often  reijuired  them  to  make  long 
and  tedious  circuits.      The  Choctaws  through  whose  country  and  along 


iiiiu  an 
\e  fort. 
u  tlioir 
ntlinns, 
in  vitiw, 
;ht  they 
a  heavy 

liouso  at 

but  the 

the  fort, 

light,  the 

10  <>t"  his 
hich  they 
^ — rccom- 
immiisini; 
'lu.  They 
« inornin;:, 
f  t\\o  most 

\v\\at  the 
questioned, 
)wiup;  ih\y. 
•t,  at  which 

(luring  the 

story. 

;ie  coinman- 

mimunitiou 

;,  on  being 

)on  followed 

Lsb  tleet  was 

iacolrt. 
.mongwhom 

r  the  fate  nt 
best  of  their 
pied  by  the 
inhabited  by 

h  they  were) 
IS,  thev  were 
iia,  and  en^s? 
nit.  In  the 
one  hnndreil 


iren,  some  ot 
fk;  but  the 
Xalk,totrave 

■uniorous.  m 
Ins  obstructed 

1  to  make  long 
Itry  and  along 


HISTORY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


235 


whose  border  there  journey  liiy  to  ii  j^reat  extent,  liavinfr  espoused  tlie 
ciuise  of  the  Spaniards,  were  their  enemies :  and  from  an  Indnm  foe,  no 
stratagem,  no  speed,  no  distanee  can  insure  safety.  Famine  also 
threatened  them  in  their  best  cireumstances  ;  often  tliey  suffered  intens(dy 
from  thirst;  and  disease,  at  times,  comiJeHed  those  who  were  well  to  halt 
for  the  recovery  of  the  sick. 

They  separated  into  two  companies,  on  reaching  the  state  of  (Jeorgia : 
one  was  taken  by  the  Americans  ;  the  other  crossecl  the  Alatamaha,  and 
jonrneyed  to  its  mouth  where  they  (constructed  a  raft,  on  which  they  crossed 
with  their  horses,  and  finally  reached  the  town  of  Savannah  in  the  latter 
part  of  October. 

On  the  twenty-fourth  of  August,  Louisiana  was  desolated  by  a  hurricane. 
This  year  the  Mississippi  rose  to  a  greater  height  than  was  remembered 
by  the  oldest  inhabitants.  In  the  Attakapas  and  Opelnusas,  the  inun- 
dation was  extreme.  The  few  spots  which  the  water  did  not  reach,  were 
covered  with  deer. 

The  affairs  of  the  United  States  had  a  very  gloomv  aspect  at  the 
commencement  of  this  year,  and  a  brilliant  one  towanfs  its  conclusion. 
The  new  year  found  the  British  in  possession  of  the  states  of  (leorgia  and 
and  South  Carolina ;  and  Lord  (Jornwallis,  who  had  invaded  that  of  North 
Carolina,  and  driven  general  (ireen  into  Virginia,  gained  a  considerable 
advantage  over  the  latter  on  his  return  into  North  Carolina  at  the  battle 
of  (luilford.  The  American  army  was  now  reduced  to  a  deplorable 
weakness ;  and  the  remnant  of  it  which  still  existed,  was  unjjaid, 
unclothed  and  often  unfed.  Under  the  pressure  of  these  comi)licated 
sufferings,  a  considerable  portion  of  the  soldiers  had  been  in  open  revplt; 
and  it  was  not  easy  to  say  with  confidence,  how  long  the  patriotism  of  the 
••osiclue  would  support  them  under  such  trying  circumstances. 

The  enemies  of  America  exulted,  and  her  friends  desponded.  In  this 
inauspicious  state  of  her  affairs,  congress  relaxed,  for  an  instant,  the 
firmness  which  had  uniformly  characterized  that  body,  and  manifested  a 
disposition  to  sacrifice  remote  interests,  though  of  great  future  magnitude 
for  immediate  advantages,  and  instructed  their  minister  at  Madrid  to 
relinquish,  should  it  be  absolutely  necessary,  the  claim  of  the  United 
States  to  the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi,  below  the  thirty-first  degree 
(if  north  latitude  and  a  free  port  on  its  banks.  The  minister,  finding 
himself  obliged  to  comjdy  with  the  instructions,  had  the  firmness  to  add, 
the  offer  to  renounce  the  claim  was  made  with  a  view  of  procuring,  at 
once,  the  recognition  of  the  independence  of  the  United  States,  and  a 
treaty  of  alliance  and  commerce ;  and  if  these  objects  were  not  imme- 
diately attained,  congress  would  consider  themselves  at  liberty  to  insist 
on  their  claim  thereafter.  The  cabinet  of  Madrid  did  not,  however,  think 
proper  to  negotiate  at  this  period,  and  the  United  States  afterwards 
availed  themselves  of  the  prudent  and  spirited  conduct  of  their  minister. 
Lord  Cornwallis  had  marched  from  Guilford  courthouse  to  Wilmington, 
where  he  staid  until  the  twenty-fifth  of  April,  when  he  marched  to 
Yorktown,  in  Virginia.  He  was  afterwards  invested  by  the  allied  forces 
<if  the  United  States  and  France,  supported  by  a  French  fleet  commanded 
hy  the  Count  de  Grasse,  to  whom  ne  surrendered  on  the  nineteenth  of 
October. 

Galvez'  success  at  Pensacola  was  rewarded  by  a  commission  of  lieutenant- 
general  of  the  king's  armies,  the  cross  of  a  knight  pensioner  of  the  royal 


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iiml  (lisliiij^uishcd  (»r(l('rof  Clmrlcs  the  third,  ami  li<'  wiis  aiipointcd  caiit.'iin- 
ficiHTal  ut'tlif  Miovinccs  <»t"  Jiouisijiiia  aii»l  Klurida. 

KatlicrCvrillo,  of  Uarcdoiia,  was  inadca  l)isli<i|i  "  ///  /itirtihuK  liijidcllnm  " 
1111(1  received  the  eanuiiieal  institution  of  the  see  of  Trieaiy,  a  town  in 
(Ireeee.  lie  Was  given  as  coadjutor  to  hoii  Santia;j<»  Joseph  ([»■  Kstavcri.i. 
wlio  «till  occupied  the  se(!  of  Ouha,  and  was  dinjcted  to  (\\erci^c  his 
cpiscnpal  functions  in  liouisiana. 

'I'he  Spanish  caltinet  had  directed  (lalvoz  to  attempt,  nftiTthe  surrender 
of  I'ensacola,  the  capture  of  the  Hahania  ishmds;  hut  a  siinultancrnis 
attack  on  the  ishind  <»f  Jamaica,  hy  the  comhiniMl  forces  of  Spain  anil 
France,  l)ein<;  conteiuphited,  Don  Juan  Manuel  de  Cayijial  was  eniplnvcd 
in  the  former  service,  and  (hilvez  sailed  for  Hispaniola.  where  the 
comhine(l  forces  were  to  assend)le,  with  the  view  of  taking  the  conunand 
of  those  of  Spain. 

( )n  the  departure  of  the  (;aptaiii-general,  the  govcu'nment  of  the  pr(»vin('c 
was  provisionally  veste(l  in  Don  Kstisvau  >Iiro,  eoh)nol  of  the  nival 
armit's. 

Cagigal  sailed  from  Havana,  in  the  spring,  with  thri'e  regiments  and  a 
hirgt'  train  of  artillery;  and  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  May,  17.S2,  tin; 
eaptain-geneial  of  tlu!  Bahama  islands  (John  Maxwell)  signed  a  capitii- 
hition,  l)y  whi<di  tliey  were  surrendered  to  the  arms  of  the  Catholic  kin;:. 

The  war,  and  tlu'  capture  of  the  IJritish  forts  on  the  MissisBipin.  liad 
de]»rived  tlx;  planters  of  liOuisiana  of  the  great  advantages  they  (lerivc(l 
from  the  illicit  trade  carried  on  hy  British  traders.  On  the  representation 
of(falvez,  considerahle  i)rivileges  were  granted  to  the  (commerce  of  the 
])rovinee,  on  the  twenty-second  of  January,  hy  a  schetlule  which  wm 
])uhlisiied  in  New  Orleans  in  the  sj)ring. 

In  tlio   j)reamhle   of  this  document,   the   king   states   that  his  royal 
8olicitU(U!  and   wishes   have  always  heen  to   secure  to  liis  vassals  the 
utmost  felicity,  and  to  enalde  them  to  enjoy  the  advantages  of  a  free 
trade ;  that  he  luid  never  lost  sight  of  so  important  an  oljjeet  in  the  rogii- 
Litions  he  had  made  for  the  connnerce  of  his   vast  dominions  in  tlui 
Indies — firndy  persuaded  that  the  protecttion  of  trade  and  industry  hii.sa 
great  influence  on  the  wealth  and  prosperity  of  a  nation.     His  niajcsty 
then  a(hls,  that  the  province  of  Louisiana  has  particularly  nujritcd  lii.» 
royal  attention,  since  its  annexation  to  his  dominions.     His  paternal  lovo 
for  its  inhahitants  liad  induced  him  to  give  them  repeated  ])ro()fs  that  ii 
change  of  government  had  not  diminished  their  hapi)ine8S.     But,  notwith- 
standing the  favors  and  exemptions  he  had  heen  pleased  to  gran*  tn 
th(>m,  on  several  occasions,  particularly  hy  the  regulations  of  theeonuucne 
of  the  Indies,  made  on  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  Octoher,  1778,  exporiciKc 
had  shown  that  the  advantages  he  had  contemplated  were  not  roalizid; 
and  the  trade  in  i)eltries,  of  that  province,  with  the  numerous  nations  of 
Indians  who  surround  it,  and  the  articdes  of  exportation  to  Eur()}K',  whidi 
the  country  i)roduces,  demanded  new  n^guhitions.     Accordingly,  and  witli 
the  view  of  rewarding  the  zeal  and  fidelity  of  the  colonists,  during  the 
late  campaigns  for  the   recovery  of  the  territories   lately   possessed  hx 
(ireat  Britain,  on  the  Mississippi  and  the  (hilf  of  Mexico,  the  foUowiii!.' 
favors  and  privileges  are  granted  to  the  ])rovince  of  Louisiana : 

1.  Permission  is  given,  during  a  })eriod  of  ten  years,  to  he  com])ute'l 
irom  the  day  on  which  peace  nuiy  he  proclaimed,  to  all  vessels  of  tlic 
king's  suhjects  in  the  province  of  Louisiana,  hound  to  New  Orleans  or 


t  his  royal 
vassals  the 
es  of  a  t'vi'C 
in  tho  resivi- 
ions  in  tlw 
\ustry  hii>'  -i 
His  nuiji'sty 

nun-iti'il  l>i^ 
)atevnal  l^ve 
)roofs  that  a 
,ut,  notwith- 
to  gvan^  to 
Ihe  coininc'vre 
jS,  cxixTit'"'^*' 
mot  veali/A'tl; 
i^is  nations  0 

,uroi»CN  w^i"' ' 
.rlv,antl\viu' 
rs;aunngtk 

.iK^sscs'srtl  >'} 
Itlio  follo^Vll■li! 

,'essi'ls  *)t  tV 
ew  Orleans  ^'t 


llIRTOItY    OK    I.oriSTANA. 


237 


1'.  ii-acola.  to  sail  (lircctly  with  thoir  car^ocH  from  any  of  tlu>  ports  of 
Kri'iicc,  in  wliirh  a  Sj»anisJ»  consul  r«!Hi(l«'s,  and  to  ri'turn  tlicrcto  with 
|M'ltii<'S  or  the  jtrodurc  of  Louisiana  or  West  Florida,  (oxcc[»t  siu'cic,  the 
xiMii'ation  of  which,  in  this  way,  is  ahsolutcly  forhiddon)  under  the 
(Xpn'SH  condition  that  a  dctail(>d  invoice  of  all  the  ni(*rchaudise  on 
iMiind,  sijiued  hy  tho  consid,  shall  he  didivcred  hy  him,  in  a  sealed  cover, 
1m  the  captain,  lo  be  presented  hy  the  latter  at  the  custondiouse  of  the 
iiliuc  of  (h'Siination. 

•_'.  In  case  of  urgent  necessity  in  thc^  colony,  the  (existence  of  which 
necessity  is  to  he  certified  by  the  j^overnor  and  intendant,  ])ermission  is 
jriven  to  tlu;  colonists  to  resort  to  any  port  in  the  French  We-  India 
islands. 

;;.  To  encourajie  the  eonnnerce  of  the  province  to  the  ports  of  the 
jteiiinsula  to  which  it  is  allowed,  ijormission  is  given  to  export,  from  New 
Orleans  and  I'ensacola,  anv  s|)e(!ieH  of  merchandise  directly  im))orted 
tliere  from  Spain,  to  be  landed  in  any  port  within  the  king's  Anieri(uin 
doiuinioiis,  to  which  trade  is  allowefl,  paying  oidy  the  dutv  with  which 
sueli  merchandise  would  have  been  charged  on  its  exportation  from  the 
lieninsula,  according  to  the  regulation  of  tlu;  twelfth  ot  October,  177'S  ;  but 
the  ex])ortation  of  foreign  merchandise  imported  into  Louisiana,  is 
foi'liidden. 

4.  An  (>xem])tion  from  duty  is  granted,  during  tho  same  period,  on 
iie^irot's  im])orted  into  Louisiana  or  West  Florida;  and  })ermission  is 
<;iven  to  ])rocure  them  in  the  colonies  of  neutral  or  allied  poAvers,  in 
exchange  for  produce  or  specie ;  paying  only  for  such  produce  and  specie, 
tlie  duties  mentioned  in  the  seventh  article. 

.').  In  order  that  the  colonists  may  fully  enjoy  the  favors  and  privileges 
wiw  granted,  they  are  nermitted  during  the  term  of  two  years,  to  be 
(iiinputed  from  the  proclamation  of  peace  in  New  Orleans,  to  purchase 
foieifin  vessels  free  from  duty,  and  such  vessels  are  to  be  considered  as 
Spanish  ])ottoms. 

G.  The  exjjortation  of  pipe  and  barrel  staves  from  Louisiana  to  Spain, 
ippennitted,  free  from  duty. 

7.  It  being  just  that  commerce  should  contribute  to  tho  charges  of  the 
the  colony,  and  the  expenses  it  occasions,  a  duty  of  six  per  cent,  is 
laid  on  all  merchandise  exported  and  imported  by  the  king's  subjects 
in  the  lieninsula,  Louisiana,  and  West  Florida,  according  to  a  moderate 
iissessnient. 

8.  Customhouses  are  to  be  established  in  New  Orleans  and  Pensacola. 
The  imdiminary  articles  of  peace  between  the  United  States  and  Great 

Britain  were  signed  at  Paris,  on  the  thirteenth  of  November. 

Le  Breton  and  Morales  were  the  ordinary  alcades  for  the  year  1788,  and 
the  foUowing  one. 

Rodriguez  succeeded  Mazange  in  the  clerkship  of  the  cabildo. 

The  king  having  directed  (ialvez  to  select  a  brigadier-general  of  his 
armies,  tu  act  as  captain-general  of  the  province  of  Louisiana  during 
<nilyez'  absence  on  the  intended  expedition  against  Jamaica,  he  made 
I'hoiceuf  Don  Joseph  de  Espeleta. 

The  preliminary  articles  of  peace  between  Great  Britain,  France,  and 
8pain,  Were  signed  at  Paris,  on  the  twentieth  of  January. 

The  delinitive  treaties  between  Great  Britain,  the  United  States,  and 
i^pain,  were  signed  at  Paris,  on  the  third  day  of  September. 


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238 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


By  the  first,  the  king  of  Great  Britain  acknowledged  the  independence 
of  tne  United  States,  and  recognized,  as  their  southern  boundary,  a  line 
to  be  drawn  due  east  from  a  point  in  the  river  Mississippi,  in  the  latitude 
of  thirty-one  degrees,  north  of  the  equator,  to  the  middle  of  the  river 
Apalachicola  or  Cataouche;  thence  along  the  middle  thereof  to  its  junc- 
tion with  Flint  river ;  thence  straight  to  the  head  of  St.  Mary's  river ;  and 
thence  down  along  the  middle  of  St.  Mary's  river  to  the  Atlantic  ocean. 

The  description  of  this  line  is  important,  as  it  became  the  dividing  one 
between  the  possessions  of  Spain  and  the  United  States. 

By  the  eighth  article,  it  was  expressly  provided  that  the  navigation  of 
the  Mississippi,  from  its  source  to  the  gulf,  should  forever  remain  free  and 
open  to  the  subjects  of  Great  Britain  and  the  citizens  of  the  United  States. 

By  the  second,  Great  Britain  warranted  the  province  of  West  Florida, 
and  ceded  that  of  East  Florida  to  Spain.  Eighteen  months  were  given  to 
British  subjects,  settled  in  these  provinces,  from  the  date  of  the  ratifica- 
tion of  the  treaty,  to  sell  their  property,  receive  their  dues,  and  transport 
their  persons  and  effects,  without  molestation  on  account  of  religion,  or 
under  any  other  pretext  whatever,  excepting  that  of  debt  or  crime. 

The  claims  of  Spain  and  the  United  States,  under  this  treaty,  were  not 
easy  to  be  reconciled,  and  soon  opened  a  source  of  contention,  which  lasted 
for  a  series  of  years.  The  Catholic  king,  under  an  actual  possession,  and 
the  guarantee  of  Great  Britain,  laid  claim  to  all  the  territory  as  far  as  the 
mouth  of  the  river  Yazoo.  We  have  seen,  in  a  preceding  chapter  of 
this  work,  that  immediately  after  the  peace  of^  1762,  on  possession 
being  taken  by  Great  Britain,  the  northern  Doundary  of  West  Florida  was 
fixed  at  the  thirty-first  degree  of  north  latitude ;  but  was  afterwards 
extended  to  a  line  drawn  due  east  from  the  mouth  of  Yazoo  river,  in 
latitude  32.  28.  with  the  view  of  comprehending,  within  the  limits  of  the 

Erovince,  some  important  settlements — Spain  contending  that  the  limits 
eing  then  fixed  in  the  commission  of  the  British  governor,  had  continued 
the  same  until  the  signature  of  the  treaty. 

The  claim  of  the  United  States  to  the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi 
below  their  southern  boundary  was  also  resisted.  The  Catholic  king,  as 
owner  of  both  banks  of  the  stream,  claimed  the  exclusive  ownership  of 
it,  and  the  consequent  right  of  preventing  other  nations  from  navigating  it. 

The  United  States  contended  they  had  the  right  of  going  as  far  as  the 
southern  boundarv  assigned  to  them  by  their  title — it  being  a  natural 
one ;  because  the  definitive  treaties  between  Great  Britain  and  Spain  and 
them,  bearing  the  same  date,  that  of  the  preliminary  articles  ought  to  be 
resorted  to  in  order  to  ascertain  the  priority  of  right ;  and  Spain  could 
not  urge  a  warranty  stipulated  in  her  preliminary  articles  against  the 
United  States,  who  had  a  previous  title  from  her  warrantor. 

In  support  of  their  claim  to  the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi  to  the 
gulf,  the  United  States  contended  that  Spain  derived  every  right  which 
she  had  to  the  river  and  its  navigation  from  France,  under  a  treaty 
posterior  to  the  one  by  which  the  latter  power  had  ceded  to  Great  Britain 
the  right  of  navigating  the  stream  to  tne  gulf;  that  the  United  States' 
having  succeeded  to  the  rights  of  Great  Britain  to  the  left  bank  above 
the  bayou  Manshac,  had  equally  done  so  to  that  of  its  navigation ;  which 
right,  moreover,  had  been  expre  "sly  ceded  by  Great  Britain  in  the  latter 
treaty. 

The  first  proposition  was  not,  perhaps,  absolutely  correct.  Great  Britain 
not  having  ceded  her  right,  but  merely  a  participation  in  it. 


ndence 
,  a  line 
latitude 
le  river 
ts  junc- 
er;  and 
Dcean. 
ling  one 

ation  of 
1  free  and 
id  States. 
,  Florida, 
B  given  to 
3  ratifica- 
transport 
jligion,  or 
Tie. 

,  were  not 
tiich  lasted 
jssion,  and 
I  far  as  the 
chapter  of 
possession 
Florida  was 
afterwards 
30  river,  in 
mits  of  the 
t  the  limits 
d  continued 

Mississippi 
)lic  king,  as 
wnership  ot 
lavigatingit. 
as  far  as  the 
ig  a  natural 
d  Spain  and 
ought  to  be 
Spain  could 
against  the 

issippi  to  the 

right  which 

<jer  a  treaty 

^ireat  Britain 

Jnited  State? 

bank  above 
ation;  which 

in  the  latter 

iGreat  Britain 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

The  ordinary  alcades  on  the  first  of  January,  1785,  were  Forstdl  and 
Kernion. 

Early  in  this  year,  Galvez  received  a  commission  of  captain-general  of 
the  island  of  Cuba,  and  of  the  provinces  of  Louisiana  and  East  and 
West  Florida,  which  superseded  Espeleta's.  In  the  summer,  on  the  death 
of  his  ffither,  he  was  promoted  to  the  viceroyalty  of  Mexico,  but  retained 
the  captain-generalship  of  Louisiana  and  the  Floridas. 

There  being  a  number  of  persons  in  the  province  affected  with  leprosy, 
the  cabildo  erected  an  hospital  for  their  reception  in  the  rear  of  the  city, 
on  a  ridge  of  high  land  between  it  and  bayou  St.  John,  which  is  probably 
the  ridge  anciently  separating  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi  from  those  of 
lake  Pontchartrain. 

Miro  now  received  and  executed  a  commission  of  judge  of  residence 
of  Unzaga. 

Residence  is  a  term,  which,  in  the  jurisprudence  of  Spain,  is  used  to 

designate  an  inquiry  which  takes  place  into  the  official  conduct  of  any 

public  functionary,  whenever  by  death,  removal,  or  any  other  cause,  he 

nas  ceased  to  execute  the  duties  of  his  office.    The  decision  of  a  judge 

of  residence  is  reviewed  on  appeal  by  the  council  of  the  Indies.      The 

inquiry  is  made  at  the  principal  place  of  the  district  in  which  the  late 

officer  exercised  his  functions.      One  would  suppose  that  the  fear  which 

the  investigation  of  every  act,  public  or  private,  of  an  officer  whom  any 

one  may  accuse,  and  who  is  given  up,  in  some  measure  to  every  species 

of  reproach  and  vexation,  even  from  envy  and  malice,  would  insure  the 

zealous  and  upright  discharge  of  his  duties ;  that  those  who  are  governed 

by  an  officer  surrounded  by  a  vigilance  which  a  thousand  motives  may 

call  into  activity,  would  find  in  the  residence,  the  most  effectual  safeguard 

against  his  passions,  his  avarice,  and  his  partiality.    And  yet,  there  is  no 

part  of  the  world    where  abuses  of  authority  are  of  more    frequent 

occurrence  than  in  the  Spanish  provinces ;  and  the  rapidity  with  which 

officers  amass  large  fortunes,  is  an  evidence  that  there  is  no  obstacle  which 

the  love  of  gain  will  not  surmount,  and  that  the  same  want  of  principle 

which  prompts  the  commission  of  dishonest  acts,  will  also  suggest  the 

means  of  avoiding  their  consequences.      If  any  officer  thinks  of  the 

residence,  it  is  to  intimidate  those  whom  he  might  fear,  or  to  purchase 

their  silence.    There  is  a  league  between  all  persons  in  places  subjected 

to  a  censure,  which  has  always  caused  it  to  degenerate  into  a  mere 

formality. 

An  accurate  census  of  the  inhabitants  of  Louisiana  and  West  Florida 
was  taken  this  year,  by  order  of  Galvez,  which  produced  the  following 
results : 


Within  the  city  of  New  Orleans,    . 

From  the  Balize  to  the  city, 

At  the  Terre-aux-Boeufs, 

On  the  bayous  St.  John  and  Gentilly, 

Tchoupitoulas, 

Parish  of  St.  Charles,    . 

CARRIED  OVER, 


4,980 
2,100 
576 
678 
7,046 
1,903 


17,283 


240 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA 


W 


BROUGHT  OVER, 

St.  John  the  Baptist, 

St.  James 

Lafourche,    . 

Lafourche,  interior, 

Iberville, 

Pointe  Coupee,    . 

Opelousas,    . 

Attakapas, 

New  Iberia,  . 

Washita  . 

Rapides, 

Avoyelles, 

Natchitoches, 

Arkansas, 

In  Lower  Louisiana. 

St.  Genevieve,     . 

St.  Louis, 

In  Upper  Louisiana, 

Manshac, 

Galveston 

Baton  Rouge, 

Natchez, 

Mobile, 

Pensacola, 

In  West  Florida 


17,283 

1,300 

1,332 

646 

352 

673 

1,521 

1,211 

1,070 

125 

207 

88 

287 

756 

196 

694 

897 


27,046 


1,591 


3,477 


Grand  Total  .....  32,114 

Deducting,  from  the  grand  total,  3,477  persons,  the  population  of  West 
Florida,  and  1,053,  the  number  of  those  brought,  at  the  king's  expense, 
from  the  Canary  islands  and  Malaga,  there  remains  a  balance  of  27,584 
souls ;  which  show  that  the  population,  at  the  arrival  of  O'Reilly,  in  1769. 
was  more  than  doubled  in  sixteen  years  by  ordinary  means. 

The  number  of  white  persons  was  14,217 ;  that  of  colored  free  ones. 
1,203 ;  that  of  slaves,  16,594. 

A  statement  was  made  by  the  intend  ant,  by  order  of  the  captain-general, 
of  the  expenses  of  the  province  for  this  year,  and  is  as  follows : 

Etat  Major. 


The  governor  and  captain-general's  salary. 

Assessor  of  government 

Secretary  of  government    . 

First  clerk  in  the  secretary's  office 

Town  Major 

Aid  Major, 

Adjutant 

English  interpreter, 

Surveyor-general,    . 

Boat's  patroon  and  seamen,    . 

CARRIED  OVER, 


,000 

2,000 

1,000 

600 

1,200 

740 

600 

480 

420 

1,380 


$18,420 


"% 


27,046 


r 

7 

2 

0 

)0 

46 

92 


1,591 


3,477 


32,114 
ition  of  West 
^ng's  expense, 
ince  of  27,584 
.eiUy,ml"69. 

red  free  ones, 
iptain-general, 

110,000 
2,000 
1,000 
600 
1,200 
740 
600 
480 
420 
1,380 

"$18^ 


Artillery. 


HISTORY   OF  LOUISIANA. 
BROUGHT  OVER,      .... 

Officers  attached  to  no  particular  corps,  . 

Colonel,  with  lieutenant-colonel's  pay, 

Lieutenant-colonel, 

Two  lieutenant-colonels  with  rank,  but  pay  of  $372  only, 

Four  captains,         ...... 

One  captain,       .  .  .  .  . 

Twelve  lieutenants,  ..... 

Four  sub-lieutenants,    . 

A  company  complete, 
A  storekeeper     . 
An  assistant  storekeeper,  . 
A  master  armorer, 

A  regiment  of  infantry, 

A  company  complete,  . 
A  house  for  their  barracks, 

An  adjutant, 


Infantry. 
Dragoons. 

Carabiniers. 
Militia. 


241 

$18,420 

1,752 
1,752 

744 
1,584 

240 
4,320 
1,152 

18,417 
540 
300 
220 

300,838 

11,230 
350 

330 


728 

240 

1,878 

240 


An  adjutant  major,  ..... 

A  second  do.      ....... 

Seven  Serjeants  and  four  corporals, 

A  major  commandant  of  free  people  of  color, 

Fortifications. 
A  director,  storekeeper,  surveyor  of  the  works,  and  two  servants,    1 ,620 

Revenue  Department. 
Intendancy. 
An  intendant,  ......  4,000 

Assessor,  .......         1,500 

Secretary  and  two  clerks,  ....  1,100 

Office  expenses,  ......  200 

Notary  of  the  marine,         .....  500 

A  boat  and  crew,  ......         1,380 

Comptroller's  Office. 


A  comptroller,  (contador) 
Four  clerks, 
Office  expenses, 

A  treasurer, 
Two  clerks. 
Office  rent  and  expenses, 

A  collector, 
Comptroller, 


Treasury. 


Customhouse. 


1,600 

1,950 

100 

1,200 
700 
800 

1,200 
1,000 


m^M 


CARRIED  OVER, 


$384,125 


» 


242 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


nUOUGHT  OVEIl,      . 

Ciishier,        ...... 

Four  clerks,        ..... 

A  searcher,  ..... 

Guard  uinjor,     ..... 

Twelve  guards,        ..... 

Boat  and  crew,  .... 

Royal  Hospital. 

A  comptroller,  .1>()0() ;  commissary,  .15300, 

Steward,  ijiKSO ;   i)liysician,  *G()0, 

Chaplain,  $480 ;  first  surgeon,  $(')00, 

Assistant  surgeon  ;  .$860,  mate,  .$192, 

Two  minor  surgeons  ;  $3(50,  aj)othecary,  $480,     . 

Apothecary's  servant,  attendants  and  cook, 

Provisions  and  medicines, 

Schools. 
A  director,  ..... 

Two  masters,  ..... 

Church  Establishment. 

New  Orleans,  a  curate,  $480;  four  assistants,  $1,260, 
Terre-aux-Banifs,  a  curate, 

St.  Charles,  a  curate ;  St.  John  the  Baptist,  a  curate, 
St.  James,  a  curate ;  Ascension,  a  curate, 
Iberville,  a  curate ;  Pointo  Coupee,  a  curate, 
Attakapas,  a  curate ;  Opelousas,  a  curate, 
Natchitoches,  a  curate ;  Natchez,  a  curate,    . 
St.  Louis,  a  curate ;  St.  Genevieve,  a  curate, 
Galvezton,  a  curate  and  Sacristan,  .$540,  expenses,  $50, 
Allowance  for  wax  lights  to  country  parishes, 
Boarding  of  six  nuns,  at  the  king's  expense. 
Boarding  of  twelve  orphan  girls, 

Cabildo. 
Six  regidors,      ...... 

Posts. 

Balize — a  pilot,  $200 ;  two  patroons,  $240, 

Sixteen  seamen,  each  $72,       .... 

Head  pilot,  ...... 

Allowance  for  seamen  and  troops,  purchase  of  boat,  etc., 

Natchez,  a  garrison  and  sixty  men, 

Adjutant,  ...... 

St.  Louis. 

An  adjutant,  -$510 ;  two  storekeepers,  $738, 
A.  surgeon,  $360 ;  Indian  presents,  $214, 

Civil  Commandants. 
Two  who  do  not  belong  to  the  army, 
A  keeper  of  boats  in  town,       .... 
Extra  expenses,      ...... 

Total  expenses  in  Louisiana, 


$384,125 

800 

1,.550 

7(K) 

(KK) 

2,400 

1,104 

900 

1,()S0 

1,0S0 

552 

840 

9()4 

18,000 

700 
1,050 

1,740 
240 
480 
480 
480 
480 
480 
480 
590 
300 
720 
360 

.SOO 

440 
1,152 

360 
4,500 
6,000 

480 


1,248 
574 


200 

180 

10,000 


$449,389 


Ago 

Adju 

Store 

Armc 

Black 

3filitii 

Conip 

Treasi 

Hospii 

.Surgeo 

Apothd 

Four  n 

A  curai 

''^•'loristJ 

Pilot,  $\ 

A  carp  J 

^xtru  ej 

'^  contal 
House  rj 
^torelceJ 
Interprel 
A  siirgecl 
'^  t'omnil 
A  siirgeol 
j  Pensiol 

Jndian  in] 
Jnf«rpretJ 
/."terpretl 
^oniniiti.sj 

^  storekel 
^''esentsi' 


HISTORY  OP   LOUISIANA. 


243 


i,5r)() 

CAK) 
2,4()0 
1,104 

9()0 
1,0S0 
1,0S0 
552 
H40 
9(U 
18,000 


BROUGHT  OVER 


TOO 
1,050 

1,740 
240 

480 

4S0 

480 

480 

480 

480 

590 

300 

720 

3(50 

300 

440 

1,152 

360 

4,500 

6,000 

480 


1,248 
574 


$50, 


Mobile. 
A  governor,  $2,000 ;  chaplain  $3G0, 
Silt  ristan,  $180 ;  chapel  expenses,  $50, 
Knglish  interpreter,  $180;  storekeeper,  $G00, 
Adjutant,  $300;  guard,  $180,  . 
Adjutant  of  artillery,  $300;  armorer,  $360, 
Surgeon,  mate,  and  nurses, 
Patroon  and  hands  of  city  launches, 

Dauimiine  Island. 
A  pilot  and  four  sailors, 

Cattle  Plantation. 
A  herdsman,  an  assistant,  and  a  laborer, 
Extra  expenses,  .... 

Pensacola. 

A  governor,  $3000 ;  town-major,  $900, 

Adjutant,  $720;  his  aid,  $600, 

Storekeeper,$  600 ;   engineer,  $1,180, 

Armorer,  $360 ;  adjutant  of  artillery,  $420, 

Blacksmith,  $350;  keeper  of  the  works,  $240,     . 

Military  storekeeper  and  assistants, 

Comptroller,  $1,200 ;  two  clerks,  $780;  office  expenses. 

Treasurer,  $1,200;  clerk,  $360;  office  expenses,  $50, 

Hospital  director,  $780 ;  steward,  $360,    . 

Surgeon,  $780 ;  mate,  440 ;  two  aids,  $600,     . 

Apothecary,  $600 ;  an  assistant,  $300. 

Four  nurses  and  a  cook,  ..... 

A  curate,  $440 ;  assistant,  $360,    .... 

Sacristan,  $180 ;  chapel  expenses,  $50, 

Pilot,  $330;  patroon,  $144;  twelve  sailors,  $1,440, 

A  carpenter,  cooper  and  caulker,  $360  each, 

Extra  expenses,       .  .  . 

New  settlers  and  Indian  affiiirs,  .... 

A  contador,  $600 ;  two  clerks,  $960, 

House  rent,  $180 ;  office  expenses,  $50, 

Storekeeper,  $360 ;  commissioner,  $360, 

Interpreter,  $540 ;  assistant,  $300,       .... 

A  surgeon  at  Terre-aux-B(jeufs,      .... 

A  commandant,  $300 ;  surgeon,  $360,  Galvezton, 
A  surgeon,  $360 ;  commissary,  $180,  Valenzuela, 
A  pensioner,       ....... 

An  armorer  at  New  Orleans,  .... 

Indian  interpreters  at  Natchez,  Natchitoches,  and  Pointe  Coupee 

Interpreter  and  armorer  at  Arkansas, 

Interpreter  and  armorer  at  St.  Louis, 

Commissary  and  armorer  at  Mobile, 

A  storekeeper  and  two  interpreters  at  Pensacola 

Presents  and  extra  expenses,         .... 


$449,389 


2,3fK) 
230 
780 
480 
660 
1,140 
1,296 

696 

900 

5,000 

3,900 

1,320 

1,780 

780 

800- 

1,200 

2,030 

1,610 

1,140 

1,820 

900 

1,080 

800 

230 

1,884 

1,080 

12,000 

2,560 

230 

720 

840 

360 

660 

540 

320 

300 

372 

276 

340 

1,080 

1,620 

29,782 


,s^t4  ht  ''^^ 


$637,285 


344 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


Lot  us  conlrant  those  expenses  with  those  of  a  republican  state,  that  of 
North  Carolina,  in  the  preceding  year : 

The  governor,     .            .            .            .            .            .            .  $  2,000 

Private  secretary,     ......  400 

C'ouncil  of  state,             ......  200 

Secretary  of  state,                .....  350 

C'<)ni^)troller,       .......  1,G00 

His  hve  clerks,         ......  1,100 

8tationerv,         .......  200 

Throe  judges  of  the  sui>reme  court,           .            .            .  5,200 

Attorney-general,          ......  I,;i20 

Throe  delegates  in  congress,           ....  G,720 

Treasurer,           .......  1,400 

Clerks  and  stationery,        .....  1,400 

Ton  boards  of  auditors,            .....  4,8{X) 

Commissioners  of  account,            ....  240 

The  legislature,              ......  30,0(X) 

Public  printer,         .            .            .            .            .            .  1,000 

$56,930 

The  population  of  North  Carolina  Avas,  at  this  period,  377,721  persons; 
so  that  her  expenses  were  that  year  a  little  more  than  fifteen  cents  per 
head — while  those  of  Louisiana  wore  sixteen  dollars  and  fifty-five  cents. 
Those  expenditures,  in  the  first  case,  were  paid  by  the  inhabitants ;  in  the 
latter,  by  the  sovereign. 

An  attempt  was  made  to  introduce  the  Inquisition  into  the  province, 
A  clergyman  of  Now  Orleans  received  a  commission  of  commissary  of 
the  holy  oftice  in  Louisiana.  Miro  had  it  particularly  in  charge  not  to 
allow  the  exercise  of  any  inquisitorial  lunctions,  within  the  colony 
committed  to  his  care.  He  gave  early  information  of  this  to  the  commis- 
sary, who  thought  himself  bound  to  attend  to  the  orders  of  his  si)iritual, 
rather  than  those  of  his  temporal,  superiors  :  and  one  night,  whilst  he  was 
peaceably  slumbering,  he  was  disturbed  by  an  oflicer  heading  eighteen 
grenadiers,  Avho  lodged  him  on  board  of  a  vessel,  which,  at  break  of  day, 
sailed  with  him  to  Spain. 

According  to  an  arrangement  between  the  courts  of  France  and  Spain, 
the  province  received  this  year  a  very  considerable  accession  of  population, 
by  the  arrival  of  a  number  of  Acadian  families,  who  were  supported  by 
the  French  king,  and  came  over  to  join  their  friends  who  had  migrated  to 
Louisiana,  as  we  have  already  mentioned,  in  1755.  They  settled  mostly  on 
both  sides  of  the  Mississip])i  river,  near  Plaquemines ;  but  a  number  of  the 
families  went  to  increase  the  settlement  on  Terre-aux-Boeufs,  on  the  bayou 
Lafourche,  and  in  the  districts  of  Attakapas  and  Opelousas. 

The  period  of  eighteen  months,  which  had  been  granted  to  British 
settlors  to  sell  their  property,  collect  their  debts,  and  remove  their  persons 
and  effects  from  East  and  West  Florida,  bv  the  late  treaty  between  8)ain 
and  Groat  Britain,  being  expired,  Miro,  with  the  approbation  of  Ga  yez, 
extended  the  time,  to  settlers  in  West  Florida,  till  the  pleasure  of  the  king 
was  known. 

The  royal  schedule  of  1782,  had  revived  the  trade  of  New  Orleans;  and 
a  number  of  commercial  houses  from  France  had  established  themselves 


HTSTOHY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


245 


that  of 

2,00() 
400 
200 
350 

1,H)0 

5,200 
1,320 
6,720 
1,400 
1,400 
4,800 
240 
30,000 
1,000 

$56,930 

21  persons; 
jn  cents  per 
y.five  cents5. 

•he  province, 
[mmiseary  of 
;harge  not  to 
the  colony 
,  the  commis- 
■his  spiritual, 
whilst  he  was 
ding  eigWeen 
,reak  of  day, 

KG  and  Spain, 
fof  population 
'i  supportedby 
Ld  migrated  to 
hledniostlvon 
Inumberotthe 
I  onthebayott 

tted  to  Britisb 
le  their  person 

between  Sf 
Vion  of  Ga  vez, 
tureofthebng 

„  Orleans;  f* 
fhed  themselves 


there.  The  plnntors,  however,  regretted  the  time  when  British  vepsols 
plied  on  the  MinHiHsipoi,  stopping  before  every  house,  furnishing  the 
fanner  with  wlmtover  ne  wanted,  ncco^)ting  in  payment  whatever  the 
latter  had  to  spare,  and  extending  a  credit  almost  unlinnted  in  extent  and 
(iuriition.  A  number  of  agents  had  arrived  from  Jamaica  to  collect  del)t8 
(iuo  to  merchants  of  that  island,  the  recovery  of  which  had  been  imj)cded 
during  tlie  war.  As  the  trade  these  creditors  had  carried  on  could  not 
now  l)e  continued,  they  pressed  for  settlement  and  payment.  In  some 
cases  legal  coercion  was  resorted  to ;  but  Miro  with  as  much  prudence  as 
Unzaga  on  a  similar  occasion,  exerted  his  influence  to  procure  some 
respite  for  those  who  were  really  unable  to  comply  Avith  their  engagements, 
and  allowed  a  resort  to  the  last  extremity  against  those  only,  whose  bad 
faith  ai)poared  to  require  it.  Instances  arc  related,  in  which,  unable  to 
obtain  a  creditor's  indulgence  for  an  honest  debtor,  he  satisfied  the  former 
out  of  his  own  ))urse. 

The  cabildo  made  choice  of  Orue  and  Dufossat  for  ordinary  alcades, 
on  the  first  of  January,  1786. 

By  a  roval  order,  issued  at  the  Pardo  on  the  fifth  of  April,  the  king 
approved  the  conduct  of  Miro  in  the  indulgence  granted  last  year  to  the 
British  subjects  at  Baton  Rouge  and  Natchez,  and  declared  his  will  that 
permission  might  be  granted  to  such  individuals,  residing  in  Louisiana 
and  Florida,  to  remain  where  they  were  on  taking  an  oath  of  allegiance 
and  fidelity,  provided  they  should  not  move  out  of  their  respective  districts 
without  the  i)ermission  of  the  governor.  Those  who  neglected  to  take 
the  oath,  were  to  depart  by  sea  for  some  of  the  colonies  of  North  America ; 
and  if  they  were  unal)le  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  voyage,  it  was  to 
be  paid  by  the  king,  who  was  to  be  reimbursed,  as  far  as  possible,  by  the 
gale  of  their  property. 

The  king  further  ordered  that  at  Natchez  and  other  places,  where  it 
might  l)e  done  conveniently,  parishes  might  be  formed  and  put  under  the 
direction  of  Irish  clergymen,  in  order  to  bring  over  the  inhabitants  and 
their  families  to  the  Catholic  faith,  by  the  mildness  and  persuasion  it 
reconvniends.  For  this  purpose  the  king  wrote  to  the  bishop  of 
Salamanca,  to  choose  four  priests,  natives  of  Ireland,  of  approved  zeal, 
virtue  and  learning  from  among  those  of  his  university  to  be  sent  to 
Louisiana  at  the  king's  expense. 

Miro,  on  whom  the  prov>''''>nal  government  had  devolved  on  the 
departure  of  Galvez,  now  re  ■  »d  a  commission  of  governor,  civil  and 
military,  of  Louisiana  and  \V  ■■■''■  Florida,  and  issued  his  bando  de  biien 
phieruo  on  the  second  of  June. 

A  hondo  de  \men  gohierno,  is  a  proclamation  which  the  governor  of  a 
Spanish  colony  generally  issues  on  assuming  its  government  to  make 
known  the  principles  by  which  he  intends  to  direct  his  conduct,  and  to 
introduce  necessary  alterations  into  the  ordinances  of  police. 

In  this  document  Miro  begins  by  stating  that  religion  being  the  object 
of  the  wise  laws  of  Spain,  and  a  reverend  demeanor  in  church  a 
consequence  of  it,  the  bishop  having  lately  published  an  edict  with  regard 
to  the  respect  and  devotion  with  which  the  faithful  are  to  attend  the 
celebration  of  the  holy  mysteries,  the  proceedings  of  the  vicar-general 
against  delinquents  will  receive  every  necessary  aid  from  government. 
Working  on  the  Sabbath  and  other  holy  festivals  is  prohibited,  except  in 
cases  of  necessity,  without  the  license  of  the  vicar.    He  forbids  the  doors 


Ail 


f'^ 

1  ' '  ''iS 

1       f;   >,MA 

\:M 

n 


,  "Ml 


246 


III8TOKY  OF   LOnsiANA. 


of  shopH  or  BtorcB  being  kopt  open  during  the  hours  of  divine  hcrvioo 
and  the  danceK  of  shives  on  the  public  square,  on  those  days,  before  the 
close  of  the  evening  service. 

He  declares  his  intention  to  prooood  with  severity  against  all  persons 
living  in  concubinage.  Ho  observes,  that  the  idleness  of  free  ncj;io 
mulatto,  and  (^uarleroon  women,  resulting  from  their  dependence  f(»r  a 
livelihood  on  incontinence  and  libertinage,  will  not  be  tolerated.  He 
recommends  them  to  renoi'nco  their  mode  of  living,  and  to  betake 
themselves  to  honest  labor ;  and  declares  his  determination  to  have  those 
who  neglect  his  recommendation,  sent  out  of  the  province — warning  them 
that  he  will  consider  their  excessive  attention  to  dress,  as  an  evidence  of 
their  misconduct. 

He  complains  that  the  distinction  which  had  been  established  in  the 
head  dress  of  females  of  color,  is  disregarded,  and  urges  that  it  is  useful  to 
enforce  it ;  forbids  them  to  wear  thereon  any  plumes  or  jewelry,  an(l 
directs  them  to  wear  their  hair  bound  in  a  handkerchief. 

He  announces  that  the  laws  against  gambling  and  duelling,  and  agniiitit 
those  who  carry  about  their  persons,  dirks,  pistols  and  other  arms,  shall 
be  rigorously  enforced. 

The  nightly  assemblages  of  people  of  color  are  prohibited. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  city  are  forbidden  to  leave  it,  either  by  land  or 
water,  without  a  passport ;  and  those  who  leave  the  province  are  to  give 
security  for  the  payment  of  their  debts. 

Persons  coming  in,  by  land  or  water,  are  to  present  themselves  at  the 
government  house. 

Those  who  harbor  convicts,  or  deserters,  from  the  land  or  naval  service, 
are  to  be  punished. 

Any  large  concourse  of  people,  without  the  knowledge  of  government, 
is  inhibited. 

None  are  to  walk  out  at  night  without  urgent  necessity,  and  not  then 
without  a  light. 

No  house  or  apartment  to  be  rented  to  a  slave. 

Tavern  keepers  are  to  shut  their  houses  at  regular  hours,  and  not  to  sell 
spirituous  liquors  to  Indians,  soldiers  or  slaves. 

Purchases  from  soldiers,  Indians,  convicts,  or  slaves  are  prohibited. 

Regulations  are  made  to  prevent  forestalling,  hogs  running  at  large  in 
the  streets,  to  restrain  the  keeping  too  great  a  number  of  dogs,  and  the 
removal  of  dead  animals. 

Measures  are  taken  to  guard  against  conflagrations,  for  draining  the 
streets,  and  keeping  the  landing  on  the  levee  unobstructed. 

Verbal  sales  of  slaves  are  forbidden. 

Don  Pedro  Piernas  succeeded  Miro  as  colonel  of  the  regiment  of 
Louisiana. 

At  the  close  of  the  war,  there  had  been  considerable  migrations  to  the 
banks  of  the  Ohio  and  the  western  part  of  Virginia.  A  district  had  here 
been  formed  called  Kentucky,  the  population  of  which  exceeded  twelve 
thoiisand  souls.  There  was  also  a  large  number  of  settlers  in  the  state  of 
North  Carolina,  on  the  western  side  of  the  mountains,  and  many  had  sat 
down  on  the  banks  of  Cumberland  river.  These  found  the  incon- 
venience of  their  situation,  from  the  immense  distance  of  the  eat  of 
government,  near  the  shore  of  the  Atlantic,  so  grievous,  that  in  the 


a 


"  uisoandJ 
wencourael 
Spanish  do  J 


HISTORY  OP   LOUISIANA. 


247 


iTVice, 
.)re  the 

»erfion9 

•c  t\>r  a 
hI.  He 
Retake 
ve  thoije 
uj;  them 
Aenco  »>{ 

cti  in  the 
uht't'ul  to 
elry,  and 

nd  agninf^t 
nuH,  shall 


by  land  or 
are  to  give 

jlves  at  the 

ival  service, 
overnment, 
a  i\ot  then 

^(1  not  to  sell 

Lhibited.   . 
IT  at  large  in 
logs,  ftw*l  ^^^^ 

Iraining  the 

regiment  of 

l-ationstot^^ 
riot  bad  here 

leeded  twelve 

1  the  state  ot 

Lnvlwdi'at 

the  inco'^: 
the    eatot 


preceding  year  they  had  made  an   attempt  to  erect  th«MnHelve«  into  a 
(nMuinite  jjovernment  under  the  ntylo  of  the  Htate  of  Franklin. 

Thi'  people  of  Kisntueky  had  the  same  wish,  and  thoHo  of  Virj^inia  were 
not  averse  to  its  j^ratifieation.  They  enjoyed  no  part  of  the  attention  of 
general  government.  Tlieir  commnnieation  with  the  Atlantie  waH  ol»strueted 
f)V  an  immense  wilderness  and  lofty  mountains ;  and  wlnsre  these  ohntacdes 
were  surmounted,  the  distance  to  a  sea  port  was  still  immense.  The  climate 
was  favoral)lo  to  agriculture;  and  although  their  land  produced  much 
more  than  they  could  consume,  they  could  tind  no  market  for  the  surplus. 
Attempts  had  been  made  to  seek  one  on  the  Mississippi,  hut  their  boats 
had  l>een  met  and  seized  by  Spanish  ofHcers  ascending  the  stream  with 
Hupplies  for  St.  Louis.  A  convention  of  the  peoi)lo  met  at  Danville  to 
delioer'ite  on  the  propriety  of  an  application  to  congress,  soliciting  admis- 
piou into  the  Union  as  an  indeoendent  state;  but  the  majority  of  that 
l)o(ly  concluded  that  the  impulation  of  the  district  was  too  small  and 
sparse  to  support  the  expenses  of  a  separate  government.  Congress 
seenu'd  unwilling  to  take  any  measure  to  procure  them  a  free  navigation 
of  the  Mississippi. 

Chabert  and  lieggio  were  the  ordinary  alcades  for  the  year  1787. 

The  population  of  the  district  of  Onelousas  and  Attakapas  was  hereto- 
fore supposed  to  be  so  inconsideraole,  that  it  had  been  thought  one 
comniandant  was  sufficient  for  both.     Don  Nicholas  Forstall,  a  regidor, 
now  appointed   commandant  of  the  former,  and  the  Chevalier  de 


was 


that  m 


the 


Clouct,  who  before  presided  over  both,  was  left  in  charge  of  the  latter. 
On  his  departure,  Forstall  claimed  the  right,  as  he  was  leaving  the  cabildo 
on  the  king's  service,  to  apnoint  a  lieutenant,  in  proxy,  to  represent  him 
in  it ;  but  that  body  refused  to  recognize  such  a  right. 

The  four  Irish  priests  from  the  seminary  of  Salamanca,  chosen  by  the 
bishop,  according  to  the  request  of  the  kmg,  reached  New  Orleanslj  and 
were  sent  to  Baton  Rouge,  Natchez,  and  other  parts  of  the  territory 
conquered  from  Great  Britain,  during  the  last  war. 

Although  no  treaty  had  been  entered  into  between  the  United  States  and 
the  Catholic  king,  the  latter  had  sent  a  minister  to  the  former.  This 
gentleman,  Don  Diego  de  Guardoqui,  now  formed  a  plan  for  encouraging 
migration  from  the  district  of  Kentucky  and  the  western  part  of  North 
Carolina,  to  the  right  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  between  the  settlements 
near  the  river  Arkansas  and  those  near  the  Missouri.  George  Morgan,  of 
Pennsylvania,  who  offered  himself  as  the  leader  of  the  emigrants,  received 
the  grant  of  a  large  tract  of  land,  on  which  he  laid  the  foundation  of  a 
citv,  which  he  dignified  with  the  name  of  New  Madrid.  A  company  of 
infantry,  under  the  orders  of  Pierre  Foucher,  was  sent  from  New  Orleans 
to  build  and  garrison  a  fort  near  the  intended  site  of  the  city. 

At  the  same  time,  Don  Diego  admitted  the  proposition  of  the  Baron  de 
Steuben,  a  general  officer,  who,  having  served  the  United  States  with 
distinction  during  the  late  war,  had,  together  with  other  officers  of  rank, 
and  a  number  of  respectable  citizens  of  the  United  States,  solicited  an 
extensive  tract  of  country  on  the  same  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  for  the 
purpose  of  establishing  a  military  colony,  chiefly  composed  of  such 
persons  as  were  lately  in  the  army,  and  were  left  without  employment,  on 
Its  disbandment.  The  cabinet  of  Madrid,  however,  did  not  think  proper 
to  encourage  the  formation  of  a  colony,  composed  of  such  materials,  in  the 
Spanish  dominions. 


Ill 


f  <• 


nm 


■     H 


'■:-M 


248 


HIHTOUY  OK   LOUISIANA. 


Morjj;iin'H  plan  hiul  Imt  ii  imrtiiil  oxcoiition. 

The  foundation  whk  n«»\v  liiid  of  a  foininercial  intercourse},  tliroujih  tho 
MissiHsi|)i)i,  hctwi'iMj  tln>  United  Statew  and  New  Orleann,  whieii  litis  ]h'vu 
eontinuecl,  with  but  little  interruption,  to  this  diiv,  and  has  increiisod  to 
an  immense  degree ;  and,  to  tho  future  extent  of*  which  the  imajriiiatioa 
can  hardly  contemplate  any  limit.  Hitherto,  the  boats  of  the  wcstorn 
people,  venturinii  on  the  Mississippi,  were  arrested  by  tho  tirst  SimriiHlj 
oHicer  who  mot  them ;  and  confiscation  ensued,  in  every  case;  all  coni- 
munication  between  the  citizens  of  tho  United  States  ami  the  SpaniiirdH, 
boinf?  strictly  prohibited.  Now  and  then,  an  emif^rant,  dosir<>us  of  settling 
in  tho  district  of  Natchez,  by  personal  entreaty  and  the  solicitations  (if  hjs 
friends,  obtained  a  tract  of  land,  with  permission  to  settle  on  it  with  his 
family,  slaves,  farnnnp  utensils,  and  furniture.  He  was  not  allowed  to 
brinu  anythin}?  to  sell  without  paying  an  enormous  duty.  An  unexpoctt'd 
inciclent  changed  tho  face  of  aflairs,  in  this  resi)ect. 

Tho  idea  of  a  regular  trade  was  first  conceived  by  general  Wilkinson, 
who  had  served  with  distinction  as  an  ofHcer  in  tho  late  war,  and  whose 
name  is  as  conspicuous  in  the  annals  of  the  west,  as  any  other.  He  hud 
connected  with  it  a  scheme  for  tho  settlement  of  several  thousaiul 
American  families  .in  that  part  of  tho  present  state  of  Louisiana,  now 
known  as  the  parishes  of  East  and  West  Feliciana,  and  that  of  Washita, 
and  on  White  river  and  other  streams  of  the  j)rosent  territory  of  Arkansas. 
For  those  services  to  the  Spanish  government,  he  expected  to  olituin  the 
privilege  of  introducing,  yearly,  a  considerable  quantity  of  tobacco  into 
the  Mexican  market. 

With  a  view  to  the  execution  of  his  plan,  AVilkinson  descended  the 
Mississippi,  with  an  adventure  of  tobacco,  flour,  butter  and  bacon.  He 
stopped  at  Natchez  while  his  boat  was  floating  down  the  stream  to  New 
Orleans,  the  commandant  at  the  former  place  having  been  induced  to 
forbear  seizing  it,  from  an  apprehension  that  such  a  step  would  be  disap- 
proved by  Miro,  who  might  oe  desirous  of  showing  some  indulgence  to  a 
general  officer  of  a  nation  with  Avhom  his  was  at  peace — especially  as  the 
boat  and  its  owner  were  proceeding  to  New  Orleans,  where  he  could  act 
towards  them  as  he  saw  fit. 

Wilkinson,  having  stopped  at  a  plantation  on  the  river,  the  boat  reached 
the  city  before  him.  On  its  approaching  the  levee,  a  guard  was  inin)edi- 
atelv  sent  on  board,  and  the  revenue  officers  were  about  taking  nieisures 
for  its  seizure,  when  a  merchant,  who  was  acquainted  with  Wilkinson  and 
had  some  influence  with  Miro,  represented  to  him  that  the  step  Navarro 
was  about  to  take  might  be  attended  with  unpleasant  consequences ;  that 
the  people  of  Kentucky  were  already  much  exasperated  at  the  conduct  of 
the  Spaniards  in  seizing  all  the  property  of  those  who  navigated  the 
Mississippi,  and  if  this  system  was  pursued,  they  would  probably,  in  spite 
of  congress,  take  means  themselves  to  open  the  navigation  of  the  river  bv 
force.  Hints  were,  at  the  same  time,  thrown  out,  that  the  general  was  ii 
very  popular  character  among  those  who  were  capable  of  infianiing  tlie 
whole  of  the  western  people,  and  that  probably,  his  sending  a  boat  before 
him,  that  it  might  be  seized,  was  a  scheme  laicl  by  the  government  of  the 
United  Stntes,  that  he  might  on  his  return,  influence  the  minds  of  his 
countrymen ;  and,  having  brought  them  to  the  point  he  wished,  induce 
them  to  choose  him  for  their  leader,  and,  spreading  over  the  country, 
carry  fire  and  desolation  from  one  part  of  Louisiana  to  the  other. 


n 

cl 

frc 

so 
the 
W'if< 
the 
infc 
So  t. 
wit}; 
thoi 
the 
hinis 
if  su( 
them 
Mil 
prod  11 
niarni 
sioncr 
had  b( 
of  a  ft 
excite  i 
procure 
the  \\es 
could  ti 
do  no  h 
i'iflucn( 
till  flirt 
sailed  h 
A  Juci 
that  city 
however, 
Ijranch  . 
vessels  e 
out  to  tJi 
vessels, 
forwardec 
informed 
"'orked  , 
place  if  J, 


or 


jipl'arent 

'"wrniati: 

C'lrpoes, 

all  cond, 

,  The  siii 

nowever,  ; 

''annexion, 

sufficient  t 

l^fheirda 

I  'avor  them 


niHTOUY   OK   I,(H  IHl.VNA. 


219 


Wilkinson, 
iiivl  whose 
..     lie  \m\ 
[    thousanil 
iniana,  now 
of  NVashita, 
if  Arkansas. 
)  obtain  the 
tobaeci)  into 

eBcetuled  the 
bacon.    He 
i-eain  to  New 
[X  in(\ufi'il  to 
v\l(l  be  (lisap- 
lul^ence  to  a 
ecially  as  the 
he  could  act 


On  this,  Miro  cxproHsod  his  wish  to  Niiviirro  that  tho  j?uanl  ini},'ht  l)0 
rt'nutvt'il.  This  wuh  doiu^ ;  and  Wilkinson's  frit»nd  was  permitted  t(»  tiiko 
ch:irn«>  of  tho  bout,  an«l  si'll  t)\r  car^o,  without  jxiyin^  any  «hity. 

On  his  Hrst  interview  with  iMiro,  Wilkinson,  that  he  lui^ht  notiU'ro^atu 
from  the  character  his  friend  hud  given  him,  by  appearing  eonceriH'fl  in 
go  trifling  an  adventure  us  u  boatload  of  tobacci),  flour,  (>te.,  <tl>served  that 
the  cargo  belonge«l  to  severul  of  his  fellow  <'itizens  in  Kentucky  who 
winhed  to  uvail  tlieniselves  of  his  visit  to  New  Orleans  to  nink«'  u  trial  of 
the  temper  of  th((  colonial  gov«!rninent.  On  his  return  ho  could  then 
inform  the  United  States  government  of  the  steps  taken  under  his  eye : 
HO  that  in  future  proper  measures  might  be  adopted.  He  ai'knowle<lgea 
with  gratitude  the  attention  and  respect  manifested  towards  himself,  and 
the  favor  shown  to  the  merchant  who  hud  been  ^x^rmitted  to  takt!  cure  of 
the  boat;  adding,  ho  did  not  wish  that  the  nitendunt  should  expuso 
hiuHclf  to  the  anger  of  the  court,  l>y  forbearing  to  selz(!  the  bout  und  curgo, 
if  mc\\  were  hiK  instructions,  und  he  hud  no  authority  to  depart  from 
them  when  circumstances  might  require  it. 

Miro  supposed,  from  this  conversation,  that  Wilkinson's  object  was  to 
produce  a  rupture  rather  than  to  avoid  onv.  He  became  more  und  more 
alarmed.  For  two  or  three  veurs  before,  particularly  since  the  comnns- 
oioiHTs  of  the  state  of  (Jeorgiu  cume  to  Nutchez  to  claim  the  country,  he 
had  been  feurful  of  an  invusion  at  every  rise  of  tho  water;  and  the  rumor 
of  a  few  bouts  huving  been  seen  together  on  the  Ohio  was  sutHcient  to 
excite  his  apprehensions.  At  his  next  interview  with  Wilkinson,  huving 
procured  further  informution  of  the  character,  nundjer,  und  disposition  of 
the  western  people,  and  having  resolved,  in  his  mind,  what  measures  ho 
could  take,  consistently  with  his  instructions,  he  concluded  that  he  could 
do  no  better  than  to  hold  out  u  hope  to  Wilkinson,  in  order  to  secure  his 
influence  in  restruining  his  countrymen  from  un  invasion  of  Louisiana, 
till  further  instructions  could  be  received  from  Madrid.  The  general 
sailed  in  September  for  Philudelphiu. 

A  lucrative  trude  hud  begun  to  be  carried  on  between  New  Orleans  and 
that  city,  at  which  the  colonial  government  appeared  to  wink.  Guunhxiui, 
however,  finding  that  he  did  not  participate  in  the  profits  of  tliis  new 
branch  of  commerce,  his  friends  not  obtaining  the  consignment  of  the 
vessels  engaged  in  it,  notwithstanding  various  hints  and  threats  thrown 
out  to  the  cuj)tuins  and  supercargoes,  i)rocured  a  list  of  the  names  of  the 
vessels,  cai)tttins  and  owners  in  New  Orleans,  real  or  pretended,  and 
forwarded  it  to  Navarro,  with  u  h<evere  renrimund ;  adding,  that  he  had 
informed  the  court  of  the  disregard  of  tlie  laws  in  Louisiana.  He  so 
worked  upon  the  fears  of  the  intendant,  that,  apprehensive  of  losing  his 
place  if  he  did  not  recur  to  severe  measures,  the  latter  prosecuted,  with 
ap|)arent  impartiality  and  unrelenting  rigor,  all  those  against  whom 
intorniation  was  lodged,  seizing  vessels  on  their  arrival,  confiscating  their 
cargoes,  and  impris(ming  the  owners,  captains  and  crews.  These  were 
all  condemned  to  the  mines  for  various  terms  of  years. 

The  spirit  of  the  government  and  the  venality  of  its  officers  was, 
however,  apparent.  The  favorites  of  those  with  whom  the  officers  had 
connexions  in  business  escaped  by  bringing  proofs  that  were  thought 
sufficient  to  destroy  those  sent  by  Guardoqui,  by  receiving  timely  nf>tice 
of  their  danger,  by  orders  forwarded  to  the  commandant  at  the  lialize  to 
favor  them,  by  not  suffering  them  to  enter,  and  allowing  those  who  had 
u 


^l-^.. 


P*^* 


250 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


entered,  but  not  reached  New  Orleans,  to  return  and  put  back  to  sea,  with 
such  part  of  their  cargoes  as  they  could  not  conveniently  land  on  the 
plantations  along  the  banks  of  the  river — the  owners  having  ordered  those 
vessels  to  foreign  ports,  pretended  they  were  lost  during  their  voyage,  and 
they  were  ignorant  of  any  thing  concerning  them  since  they  left  New 
Orleans. 

It  was  the  practice  in  Spanish  colonies  to  condemn  all  contral)and 
traders  to  the  mines ;  but  in  such  cases  the  law  was  rarely  carried  into 
execution  when  there  had  been  no  violent  resistance  or  blood  shed.  The 
offender  was,  however,  imprisoned,  and  after  a  short  time,  suffered  to 
escape — the  jailor  reporting  him  as  runaway  or  dead.  Some  of  the 
persons  who  were  thus  condemned  an  imprisoned  in  New  Orleans,  were 
soon  after  liberated.  A  few  were  permitted  to  command  other  vessels. 
after  having  made  some  change  or  alteration  in  their  names.  One  of  them 
who  had  been  imprisoned  and  returned  as  dead,  by  the  gaoler,  went  to 
Madrid  where  he  obtained  the  review  and  reversal  of  the  sentence  against 
him,  and  came  back  to  New  Orleans. 

The  congress  of  the  United  States  this  year  erected  the  territory  to  the 
northwest  of  the  Ohio  into  a  distinct  government,  at  the  head  of  which 
they  placed  Arthur  St.  Clair,  an  officer  of  the  late  revolution,  and  once 
their  president. 


CHAPTER    XX. 

The  ordinary  alcades,  for  the  year  1788,  were  Foucher  and  Argotte, 
Pedesclaux  now  succeeded  Rodriguez  in  the  office  of  clerk  of  the  cabildo, 
which  he  held  during  the  remainder  of  the  Spanish  government  in 
Louisiana. 

On  the  twenty-first  of  March,  (Good  Friday)  the  chapel  of  a  Spaniard, 
in  Chartres  street.  New  Orleans,  took  fire  about  three  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon ;  and,  the  wind  being  very  high  at  the  time,  a  conflagration 
ensued,  which,  in  a  few  hours  consumed  nine  hundred  houses,  and  other 
property  of  immense  value. 

In  order  to  relieve  the  inhabitants  in  some  degree,  from  the  distress  into 
which  this  event  had  plunged  them,  the  colonial  government  made  a  large 
contract  for  flour,  to  be  purchased  within  the  United  States,  on  which  it 
made  great  advances  in  money ;  and  in  order  to  induce  contractors  to 
deliver  it  on  the  best  terms,  the  privilege  was  allowed  them  of  introducing 
an    unlimited   quantity   of    merchandise    on   paying   the    usual  duty. 
Guardoqui,  finding  that  the  information  he  had  given  made  him  enemies 
in  the  United  States,  that  the  colonial  government  had  seized  the  oppor- 
tunity presented  by  the  late  conflagration,  to  release  all  the  individuals 
imprisoned  in  consequence  of  the  prosecutions  he  had  instigated  during 
the  preceding  year,  and  to  restore  the  property  confiscated,  (a  measure 
approved  by  the  king,  to  whom  a  representation  had  been  made  by  his 
officers  in   Louisiana),  and  that  no  benefit  could   result  to  him  from 
continuing  his  interference,  desisted  from  any  further  attempt  to  obstruct 
the  commercial  intercourse  between  Philadelphia  and  New  Orleans ;  and 
his  agents  induced  by  motives  of  prudence,  and  perhaps  by  a  share  in  the 
profits,  did  every  thing  in  their  power  to  augment  it. 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


251 


on  the 
(1  those 
ige,  and 
eft  New 

itra\)and 
ried  into 
ed.    The 
ffered  to 
,e  of  the 
ans,  were 
jr  vessels, 
le  of  them 
r,  went  to 
ice  against 

tory  to  the 
i  of  which 
,,  and  once 


Miro  now  received  and  executed  a  commission  of  judge  of  residence  of 
Galvez. 

On  the  eighth  of  August,  Wilkinson's  agent  in  New  Orleans  procured 
from  the  colonial  government,  permission  to  send  to  the  city  one  or  more 
launclies  loaded  with  tobacco  from  Kentucky. 

Several  individuals  from  the  Wabash,  Kentucky  and  Cumberland  rivers, 
came  to  Louisiana  to  ascertain  whether  their  migration  to  the  province 
would  be  allowed,  and  to  view  the  country.  They  were  informed  that  they 
would  be  permitted  to  introduce  their  property ;  such  as  was  for  sale, 
paying    a    duty    of    twenty-five    per    cent;    that    their    slaves,    stock, 

Srovisions  for  two  years,  and  farming  implements,  would  be  free  from 
uty ;  that  land  would  be  granted  and  protection  afforded  them,  as  long 
as  they  demeaned  themselves  well. 
A  census,  which  was  taken  this  year,  presents  the  following  results  : 


Within  the  city  of  New  Orleans,    . 

From  the  Balize  to  the  city 

At  the  Terre-aux-Boeufs, 

On  the  bayous  St.  John  and  Gentilly, 

Barataria, 

Tchoupitoulas    . 

Parish  of  St.  Charles, 

St.  John  the  Baptist, 

St.  James, 

Lafourche, 

Lafourche,  interior, 

Iberville, 

Pointe  Coupee, 

Opelousas, 

Attakapas,    . 

New  Iberia, 

Washita, 

Rapides, 

Avoyelles, 

Natchitoches 

Arkansas, 

In  Lower  Louisiana, 

St.  Genevieve, 

St.  Louis, 

In  Upper  Louisiana, 

Manshac, 

Galvezton,     . 

Baton  Rouge, 

Feliciana, 

Natchez, 

Mobile, 

Pensacola, 

Total,    '." 


5,338 

2,378 

661 

772 

40 

7,589 

2,381 

1,368 

1,559 

1,164 

1,500 

944 

2,004 

1,985 

2,541 

190 

232 

147 

209 

1,021 

119 

896 
1,197 

284 
268 
682 
730 
2,679 
1,368 
265 


34,142 


2,093 


6,376 
42,611 


The  increase  between  the  census  of  1785,  which  gave  a  grand  total  of 
32,114,  is  10,497,  in  three  years ;  which  is  about  thirty-one  and  a  half  per 
"ent.    This  is,  perhaps,  accounted  for,  by  the  accession  of  population 


■A 


:*■ 


r 


'  ^'' 


252 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


brou<?ht  by  the  Acndians  since  the  first  census.  The  increase  in  Iberville 
Manshae,  Lafourche,  Opelousas  and  Attakapas,  the  parts  of  the  province 
in  which  these  people  settled,  presents  an  increase  of  fiftv-one  per  cent. 
The  number  of  Acadian  emigrants  may  in  this  way  be  reckoned  at  about 
3,500. 

The  number  of  white  persons  was  19,445 ;  that  of  free  persons  of  color 
1,701 ;  that  of  slaves,  21,405. 

Don  Martin  Navarro,  the  intendant,  now  left  the  province  for  Spain ;  and 
the  two  offices  of  intendant  and  governor  were  united  in  the  person  of 
Miro.  Navarro's  last  communication  to  the  king,  was  a  memorial  which 
he  had  prepared,  by  order  of  the  minister,  on  the  danger  to  be  appre- 
hended by  ►Spain,  in  her  American  colonies,  from  the  emancipation  of  the 
late  British  provinces  on  the  Atlantic.  In  this  document,  he  dwells  much 
on  the  ambition  of  the  United  States,  and  their  thirst  for  conquest ;  whose 
views  he  states  to  be  an  extension  of  territory  to  the  shores  of  the  Pacific 
ocean  ;  and  suggests  the  dismemberment  of  the  western  country,  by  means 
of  pensions  and  the  grant  of  commercial  privileges,  as  the  most  proper 
means,  in  the  power  of  Spain,  to  arrest  the  impending  danger.  To  effect 
this,  was  not,  m  his  opinion  very  difficult.  The  attempt  was  therefore 
strongly  recommended,  as  success  would  greatlj?^  augment  the  power  of 
Spain,  and  forever  arrest  the  progress  of  the  United  States  to  the  west. 

The  suggestion  was  well  received  at  Madrid,  and  became  the  ground 
work  of  the  policy  which  thereafter  actuated  the  court  of  Spain. 

It  would  not  have  been  difficult  for  the  king  of  Spain,  at  this  period,  to 
have  found,  in  Kentucky,  citizens  of  the  United  States  ready  to  come 
into  his  views.  The  people  of  that  district  met  this  year,  in  a  second 
convention,  and  agreed  on  a  petition  to  congress  for  the  redress  of  their 
grievances  :  the  principal  of  which  Avas,  the  occlusion  of  the  Mississippi. 
Under  the  apprehension  that  the  interference  of  congress  could  not  be 
obtained,  or  might  be  fruitless,  several  expedients  were  talked  of,  no  one 
of  which  was  generally  approved ;  the  people  being  divided  into  no  less 
than  five  parties,  all  of  which  had  different,  if  not  opposite,  views. 

The  first  was  for  independence  of  the  United  States,  and  the  formation 
of  a  new  republic,  unconnected  with  them,  who  was  to  enter  into  a  treaty 
with  Spain. 

Another  party  was  willing  that  the  country  should  become  a  part  of  the 
province  of  Louisiana,  and  submit  to  the  admission  of  the  laws  of  Spain. 

A  third  desired  a  war  with  Spain,  and  the  seizure  of  New  Orleans. 

A  fourth  plan  was  to  prevail  on  congress,  by  a  show  of  preparation  for 
war,  to  extort  from  the  cabinet  of  Madrid,   what  it  persisted  in  refusing. 

The  last,  as  unnatural  as  the  second,  was  to  solicit  France  to  procure  a 
retrocession  of  Louisiana,  and  extend  her  protection  to  Kentucky. 

It  was  in  the  western  part  of  the  United  States,  that  the  inemcacy  of 
the  power  vested  in  congress  was  most  complained  of.  With  a  view  of 
remedying  this  evil,  a  convention  of  deputies  from  all  the  states,  except 
that  of  Rhode  Island,  met  at  Philadelphia ;  and,  on  the  seventeenth  of 
September,  submitted  to  their  fellow-citizens  a  plan  of  government  for 
their  adoption,  calculated  toeflfect  a  more  perfect  union,  establish  justice, 
insure  domestic  tranquillity,  provide  for  the  common  defense,  promote  the 
general  welfare,  and  secure  the  blessings  of  liberty  to  them  and  their 
posterity. 


m 

1 

aU[ 

A 

Ch.1 

C 

seco 

Fun. 

sevei 

thee 

nuns 

On  t 

disch; 

of  the 

theatr 

mi 

him  hi 
countr 
grant  o 
ductior 
Acco] 

such   86 

themsel 
the  proj 
tnder  t 
with  ani 
'Made  sh 
return  in 
times.    ( 
remained 
immuniti 
and  cattJ( 
districts  ( 
tobacco,  M 
the  provir 
opened  a 
fittsburg} 
fi^'se,  theii 
t'len  to  he 
tjie  barrel, 
'"lies  of  sc 
I    '^nunii),* 
,  ♦''e  Florid;] 

I  fame  aid  a& 
I  '"aJaga  u  fl 
J  "^as  inform/ 

0^  those  pr( 
J  ''nie,  would 

m  coui( 

J  tfleniselves 
|«fanted,  an, 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


253 


erville, 
[•ovince 
er  cent. 
,t  about 


[vin ;  and 
erson  of 
al  which 
)e  av\)re- 
Lon  of  the 
ells  much 
jst ;  whose 
;he  Pacific 
by  means 
ost  proper 
To  effect 
3  therefore 
e  power  of 
the  west. 
the  ground 

n. 

lis  period,  to 

(iy  to  come 
in  a  second 

iress  of  their 

r  Mississippi. 

•ould  not  be 

,d  of,  no  one 
into  no  less 

fiews. 

he  formation 
into  a  treaty 


The  choice  of  the  cabildo,  for  ordinary  alcades,  for  the  years  1789  and 
1790,  fell  on  Ortega  and  Almonaster. 

Don  Andrew  Almnnaster  succeeded  Regnio  as  perpetual  regidor  and 
alferez  real. 

A(!cording  to  the  king's  order  obtained  by  Forstall,  Don  Carlos  de  la 
Chaise  took  his  seat  in  the  cabildo,  as  lieutenant  in  the  former. 

Charles  the  third  had  died  on  the  14th  of  December  last,  in  the  seventy- 
second  year  of  his  age,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  Charles  the  fourtn. 
Funeral  rites  were  performed,  in  honor  of  the  departed  monarch,  on  the 
seventh  of  May,  with  as  much  pomp  and  solemnity  as  the  smallness  of 
the  chapel  of  the  hospital  could  admit  of.  This  chapel,  and  that  of  the 
nuns,  were  the  only  places  of  worship  which  the  conflagration  had  spared. 
On  the  next  day,  the  new  sovereign  was  proclaimed,  under  repeated 
discharges  of  artillery  from  the  forts  and  shipping,  and  the  acclamations 
of  the  colonists.  At  night,  the  city  was  brilliantly  illuminated,  and 
theatrical  exhibitions  were  presented  to  the  people. 

Wilkinson  visited  New  Orleans  for  the  second  time.  Miro  informed 
him  he  was  instructed  to  permit  the  migration  of  settlers  from  the  western 
country ;  but  he  was  without  information  of  his  sovereign's  will  as  to  the 
grant  of  land  for  colonization,  on  the  large  scale  proposed,  or  the  intro- 
duction of  tobacco  into  the  viceroyalty  of  Mexico. 

Accordingly,  the  colonial  government  granted  several  tracts  of  land  to 

such  settlers  from  the  western  part  of  the  United  States  as  presented 

themselves.    They  were  favored  with  an  exemption  from  duty,  as  to  all 

the  property  they  brought,  invested  in  the  produce   of  their   country. 

Under  the  denomination  of  settlers,  all  those  who  had  an  acquaintance 

with  any  person  of  influence  in  New  Orleans,  obtained  passports,  and 

made  shipments,  which  were  admitted  free  from  duty.     Pretending  to 

return  in  order  to  bring  their  families,  they  repeated  the  speculation  several 

times.    Others  came  with  slaves  and  stock,  and  returned.    A  few  only 

remained,  and  they  were  those  who  availed  themselves  the  least  of  the 

immunities  offered  by  the  Spanish  government.    They  had  a  few  slaves 

and  cattle,  and  but  little  of  other  property.    They  settled  chiefly  in  the 

districts  of  Natchez  and  Feliciana,  where  they  increased  the  culture  of 

tobacco,  which  was  the  only  article  of  exportation  raised  in  this  part  of 

the  province.    The  encouragement  thus  given  to  migration  and  speculation 

opened  a  market  for  the  produce  of  Ohio.    Flour  was  brought  down  from 

Pittsburgh ;   and  the  farmers,  finding  a  vent  for  every'^hing  they  could 

raise,  their  land  rose  in  value,  and  industry  was  encouraged.    Flour  was 

tiien  to  he  had  on  the  Monongahela,  at  from  eighteen  to  twenty  shillings 

the  barrel,  ($2.40  to  $2.66.^  Its  quality  was  so  inferior,  that  it  was  used  in 

times  of  scarcity  only,  or  in  making  liiiscuit. 

A  number  of  Irish  families  were  desirous  of  removing  to  Louisiana  or 
the  Floridas,  in  the  hope  that  the  king  of  Spain  would  afford  them  the 
same  aid  as  had  been  extended  to  emigrants  from  the  Canary  islands  and 
"  ilaga  a  few  years  before ;  but  on  their  application,  the  captain-general 
was  informed  from  Madrid,  that  no  settlers  could  be  admitted  in  either 
of  those  provinces,  whose  passage  out,  or  whose  maintenance  for  a  limited 
time,  would  have  to  be  paid  out  of  the  royal  treasury ;  and  those  foreigners, 
only,  could  be  received,  who  of  their  own  free  will,  should  present 
I  themselves  and  swear  allegiance  to  the  king.  To  such,  land  might  be 
[granted,  and  surveyed  gratuitously,  in  proportion  to  the    number  of 


sf--..- 


s;  ^m 


254 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


Ifl 


persoTiB  in  the  family ;  they  were  not  to  be  molested  on  account  of  their 
reli}j;ion,  but  no  other  mode  of  public  worship  was  to  be  allowed  than  the 
Catholic ;  they  were  not  to  be  required  to  bear  arms,  but  in  the  defense  of 
the  province,  should  an  enemy  invade  it.  No  other  aid  or  assistance  was 
to  be  given  them,  but  land,  protection  and  good  treatment.  They  might 
bring  with  them  property  of  any  kind ;  but,  in  case  of  exporting  it,  they 
were  to  pay  a  duty  of  six  per  cent. 

Few  or  no  settlers  emigrated  from  Ireland. 

Don  Louis  de  las  Casas,  a  brigadier-general  of  the  royal  armies,  was 
appointed  captain-general  of  the  Island  of  Cuba,  and  of  the  provinces  of 
East  and  West  Florida. 

The  bishopric  of  Cuba,  of  which  the  provinces  of  Louisiana,  East  and 
West  Florida  made  a  part,  was  divided.  The  southern  part  of  the  island 
was  erected  into  the  archbishopric  of  Cuba,  and  the  northern  into  the 
bishopric  of  Havana,  of  which  these  provinces  now  made  a  part.  Don 
Santiago  Joseph  de  Tres  Palacios  was  the  first  incumbent  of  the 
bishopric. 

The  people  of  the  several  states  having  adopted  the  constitution  proposed 
by  the  late  convention,  the  new  government  went  into  operation  on  the 
fourth  of  March  of  this  year,  under  the  auspices  of  general  Washington, 
the  first  president  of  the  United  States. 

The  high  ground  taken  by  the  British  government  on  the  attack  of  the 
settlements  at  Nootka  Sound,  and  the  vigor  with  which  it  armed  to 
support  its  pretensions,  furnished  strong  ground  for  the  belief  that  a  war 
would  soon  be  commenced.  In  the  United  States,  the  juncture  was 
considered  as  a  favorable  one,  for  urging  their  claim  to  the  navigation 
of  the  Mississippi ;  and  their  charge  des  affaires  at  Madrid  was  instructed 
not  only  to  press  this  point  with  earnestness,  but  to  secure  the  unmolested 
use  of  that  river  in  future,  by  obtaining  a  cession  of  the  island  on  which 
New  Orleans  stands,  and  the  Floridas. 

The  federal  government  was  not  yet  ready  to  purchase  this  cession,  for 
several  millions  of  dollars,  as  it  did  afterwards.  They  expected  that  in 
the  security  of  the  friendship  of  the  United  States,  and  the  security  which 
would  be  given  to  the  dominions  of  Spain  on  the  west  of  the  Mississippi, 
she  would  find  a  fair  equivalent  for  the  cession  ;  as  not  only  tlie  United 
States  would  have  no  object  in  crossing  the  stream,  but  their  real  inteiv;«t 
would  require  that  Spain  should  retain  the  immense  possession  she 
claimed  to  the  west. 

Carmichael,  the  charge  des  affaires  of  the  United  States  at  Madrid,  was 
further  directed  to  draw  the  attention  of  the  Catholic  king's  ministers  to 
the  peculiar  situation  of  these  states,  to  one-half  of  which  the  use  of  the 
Mississipi)i  was  so  necessary,  that  no  effort  could  prevent  them  from 
acquiring  it.     He  was  instructed  to  urge,  that  their  doing  so,  by  acting 
separately,  or  in  conjunction  with  Great  Britain,  was  one  of  those  events 
which  human  wisdom  would  in  vain  attempt  to  prevent.      To  the  serious 
consideration  of  the  Spanish  government,  were  submitted  the  consequences 
that  would    result    to  all   the  Spanish  possessions  in   America,  from 
hostilities  with  Great  Britain,  or  the  seizure  of  New  Orleans  by  the  United 
States. 

The  opinion  that  in  the  event  of  a  war  between  Great  Britain  and  Spa 
Louisiana  would  be  invaded  from  Canada,  was  not  a  mere  suggestion  for  j 
aiding  the  negotiations  at  Madrid;  it  was  seriously  contemplated  bythei 


Ai 

Uu 
iiifi 

ttT} 

ntU 

T 

inat 

iinii.' 

foiDc 

the  I 

pi'ose 

the  i] 

Louis 

thoC: 

To( 

of  the 

well  0 

mm 

immed 

of  AUfr 

Ontl 

to  proot 

Las  Cat 

governm 

of  mone 

to  be,  to 

ivatched,, 

abortive, 

The  o\\ 

^rabasJi  d 

of  the  mil 

^^'ivages,  iJ 

'^f  reiease  1 

"'porous  d 

by  the  pre] 

them,  if  pi 

^'eWementl 
,  ^yith  thf 
""ndred  u] 
^Keived  a  J 
ashes  the  v| 
provisions 
f'le  India  n'f^ 
•'on^ress,  iJ 

pfesident,  tl 
"icreased  th 

.,^0'iRressL 
r^f^  Carol! 

HJi'vest  <H 

;'"'"""  Blc 
Tennessee. 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA 

American  government  •  anH  ih     ..  255 

the  niwiHuros  which  Vvrnfl?!  k^'^ ''^^^"tion  of  the  exppnr 

"'a.Io  for  permits  on  to  "1^'  ^''".^'"^  *°  P«rsue   shon m'' '""f- *"^"«^J  to 

territory  of  the  Unitec   S^n?  ''^-  ''   '^^^^  of  troons  tS    >  ^ill^^^^ation   be 

attempt  .should  be  mul  v/f'h'  "?*"  ^he  dominio  «  nfi?^-'  *^«.  ""settled 

.  The  western  peoTi' con  frV?'"""««^«"-  ^    "'  ^'  ^^  '""'^  «" 

inattention  of  congross  fn  li^  "u^^  ^^"^"^  and  fustJv  fn 

i"u.8ual  degree  onmnnrf     ^"^  ^^'^^^^^  teinperV  thl  T.  i-''''"'P^^^n  <>f  the 

fomented  by  the   ntr  Eup.T?."^"/  ^'^^n  by  tl*  a  n/pT''""''  *^  ''^'^^'^  an 

the  northern  Indians  fvo'p  ?^\  ""^  ^''^^  ^ntain  an  f S^„^"'''«»  th«t  it  was 

the  nitiuence  of  the   <ml       ^  ^'''^   been  stimulnfp  l  ♦     ^^  *.^®  ^"«a»s  of 

Louisiana,  had  been  nfrT'T-.^^  ^^st  Florkla  S       ^«»t"^«e;  and  to 

the  Creeks.        ^''"  P'"'^"^^  attributed  the  h  te  Slu";^,r^^^P«  to  that  of 

To  conciliate  the  lattP.  t..i:  .  ""^  ^  negotiation  with 


Las 

'0  be,  to  embarmsf  h.° Purchase  flour ;  buthkJ^?",  •"""  "  '"■'g''  "urn 
"•atehod,  and  ZZroslZ^'^Y''""'  '"th  the  Creek   ^''S''  ""'  "^""ve" 

;?--.. .e :r  " " ^^'*' ""'^ "--'"^ »?->« 

ngorous  exertion  of  milit^f    J^"  'omahawk  and  «no i.  •     'f  <">"W  "nly 
bythepresident  of  thT;    -7 /"'■<'«;  and  Kenern?  H      !""«  '^'"'e.  I'Y  thi 

Sarnafl;^  ^^I^^^^rd'^the-'aS^  o-f^  °^  »'- 
a'ho.^  the  villages  of  f\i    October;  but  finally  «„pS^°^.  Kentucky,  he 


,%.'%. 


256 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


1% 


Morales  and  Marigny  de  Mandeville  were  chosen  ordinary  alcades  for 
the  year  1791. 

Don  Nicholas  Maria  Vidal  succeeded  Postego,  as  auditor  of  war  and 
assessor  of  government. 

Congress  now  added  a  new  regiment  to  the  military  establishment,  and 
authorized  the  president  to  raise  a  body  of  two  thousand  men  for  six 
months.  The  president  placed  this  force  under  major-general  tSt.  Clair, 
governor  of  the  Northwestern  Territory,  who  had  served  with  distinction 
in  the  army  of  the  revolution,  and  had  filled  the  chair  of  congress. 

In  the  summer  and  fall,  two  expeditions  were  conducted  against  the 
villages  on  the  Wabash,  in  which,  with  a  very  small  loss,  a  few  of  the 
Indian  warriors  were  killed,  some  of  their  old  men,  women  and  children 
made  prisoners,  and  several  of  their  towns  with  extensive  fields  were 
destroyed.  The  first  was  led  by  general  Scott  in  May,  and  the  second  by 
general  Wilkinson  in  September. 

The  major-general  was  more  unfortunate.  His  small  army  consisting 
of  about  fourteen  hundred  effective  rank  and  file,  was  routed  by  the 
Indians  on  the  third  of  November.  His  defeat  was  complete.  Six 
hundred  and  thirty-one  were  killed  or  inissing,  and  two  hundred  and 
sixty-seven  wounded.  Among  the  killed  was  the  brave  and  niuoh 
lamented  general  Butler.  This  happened  about  fifty  miles  from  the  Miami 
villages. 

The  j)eople  of  Kentucky  complained  that  congress  were  too  sparing  in 
furnishing  means  for  their  protection.  They  were  clamorously  calling  for 
admission  into  the  Union  as  a  state.  Although  Miro  favored  thom  with 
an  intercourse  with  Louisiana,  in  which  they  found  a  vent  for  their 
produce,  they  were  dissatisfied  with  the  terms  under  which  they  were 
permitted  to  enjoy  the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi. 

In  the  night  of  the  twenty-third  of  August,  a  preconcerted  insurrection 
took  place  throughout  the  f'rench  part  of  the  island  of  Hispaniola,  and  an 
immense  portion  of  its  white  inhabitants  were  massacred.  Those  who 
were  so  fortunate  as  to  make  their  escape,  sought  a  refuge  in  the  islands  of 
Cuba  and  Jamaica,  or  the  United  States,  and  a  few  came  to  Louisiana. 
Among  these,  was  a  company  of  comedians  from  Cape  Francois ;  and  the 
city  of  New  Orleans  now  enjoyed,  for  the  first  time,  the  advantiige  nf 
regular  dramatic  exhibitions.  Some  of  the  other  refugees,  availing 
themselves  of  the  wants  of  the  province,  opened  academies  for  the  instruc- 
tion of  youth.  Hitherto,  the  only  means  of  education  were  confined  to  a 
school  in  which  a  Spanish  priest,  aided  by  two  ushers,  taught  the  elements 
of  the  Spanish  language,  and  the  convent  of  the  Ursuline  nuns. 

Miro  sailed  for  the  peninsula,  where  he  was  employed  in  the  army,  and 
obtained  the  rank  of  mariscal  de  camp.     He  carried  with  him  the  pcod 
wishes  and  the  regrets  of  the  colonists.    Although  not  a  man  of  suiurior  j 
talents,  he  governed  the  province  in  a  manner  that  accorded  with  the  i 
views  of  his  sovereign  and  of  the  colonists.     He  showed  every  possiMe  | 
indulgence  to  a  commerce  with  the  United  States.    Since  the  conflagnition. 
vessels  came  freely  from  Philadelphia,  and  some  other  ports  of  the  I'ninn: 
and  the  people  of  Tennessee  afterwards  manifested  their  gratitude  towani; 
him,  by  giving  his  name  to  one  of  their  judicial  districts. . 

On  the  fourth  of  March,  the  state  of  Vermont  was  admitted  into  thej 
confederacy  of  the  United  States,  as  its  fourteenth  member. 


at\cs  for 


wax 


Mv\ 


neut,  and 
n  for  six 
.  St.  Clair, 
iiHtiuction 
•cs*s. 

jruinst  the 
few  of  the 
,a  cbiUlren 
fields  were 
e  second  by 

J  consisting 
ited  l)y  the 
Aplcte.  >^ix 
umdved  and 
.  and  nuiph 
im  the  ^liawi 

,00  sparing  in 
islycuUinglor 
ed  them  with 
vent  for  their 
lich  they  were 


llniitted  iBto  tk| 
et. 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

Don  Francisco  Louis  Hector,  Baron  dc  Carondclct,  C(>U>nol  of  the  rf)yal 
armies,  was  promoted  from  the  government  of  San  Salvador,  in  tho 
province  of  (luatimala,  to  tho  rank  of  governor  and  intendant  of  the 
j)rovinces  of  Louisiana  and  West  Florida,  and  entered  on  the  duties  of 
these  offices  on  the  first  of  January,  1792. 

The  ordinary  alcades,  for  this  year,  were  Marigny  de  Mandeville  and  de 
in  Pona. 

Don  Nicholas  Maria  Vidal,  the  auditor  of  war,  received  a  commission 
of  lieutenant-governor. 

The  Baron's  handn  de  buen  (johicrno  was  published  on  the  twenty-second 
of  Jknuary.  Among  the  new  regulations  it  intrt)du('ed,  it  provided  for 
the  division  of  the  city  of  New  Orleans  into  four  wards,  in  each  of  which,  an 
alcade  de  barrio,  or  commissary  of  police,  was  to  be  appointed.  In  order 
to  ])rocure  to  government  a  knowledge  of  all  tho  inhabitants,  and  every 
stranger  among  them  or  in  the  city,  it  was  made  the  duty  of  all  persons 
renting  houses  or  apartments,. to  give  the  names  of  their  new  tenants  to  the 
alcade  of  tho  district,  on  the  first  day  of  their  occupation,  or,  at  farthest, 
on  the  succeeding  one.  The  alcades  dc  b<(rrio  were  directed  to  take 
charge  of  fire  engines  and  their  implements,  and  to  command  the  fire  and 
(txc  men  companies,  in  case  of  conflagration.  They  were  also  empowered 
to  preserve  the  jjoace,  and  to  take  cognizance  of  small  debts. 

In  one  of  his  first  communications  to  the  cabildo,  the  Baron  recom- 
mended to  them  to  make  provision  for  lighting  the  city  and  employing 
watchmen.  The  revenue  of  the  corporation  did  not  amount,  at  this 
period,  to  seven  thousand  dollars.  To  meet  the  charges  for  the  purchase 
ofhunpsand  oil.  and  the  wages  of  watchmen,  a  tax  of  one  dollar  and 
twelve  and  a  half  cents  was  laid  on  every  chimney. 

In  a  letter  to  the  minister,  tho  Baron,  this  year,  mentioned  that  the 
population  of  New  Orleans  was  under  six  thousand. 

Having  received  instructions  from  the  king  to  attend  to  the  humane 
treatment  of  slaves  in  tho  province,  he  issued  his  proclamation  on  the 
eleventh  of  July,  establishing  the  following  regulations  : 

1.  That  (!ach  slave  should  receive  inontlily,  for  his  food,  one  barrel  of 
corn,  at  least. 

2.  That  every  Sundav  should  bo  exclusively  his  own,  without  his 
being  oomijclled  to  work  for  his  master,  except  in  urgent  cases,  when  he 
must  be  paid  or  indemnified. 

3.  That,  on  other  days,  they  should  not  begin  to  work  before  day- 
break, nor  to  continue  after  dark.  One-half  hour  to  be  allowed  at 
breakfast,  and  two  hours  at  dinner. 

4.  Two  brown  shirts,  a  woolen  coat  and  pantaloons,  and  a  pair  of  linen 
pantaloons,  and  two  handkerchiefs,  to  be  allowed,  yearly,  to  each  male 
!>lave,  and  suitable  dresses  to  female. 

0.  None  to  be  punished  with  more  than  thirty  lashes,  within  twenty- 
four  hours. 

fi.  Delinquents  to  be  fined  in  the  sum  of  one  hundred  dollars,  and  in 
grave  cases,  the  slave  may  be  ordered  to  be  sold  to  another. 

At  the  solicitation  of  the  cabildo,  tho  Baron  issued  a  proclamation 
[prohibiting  the  introduction  of  negroes  from  the  French  and  British 
35 


4""i 


!      1 


,%^'- 


2.'8 


IIISTOUY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


islands,  the  pmviiuM^  Woinj?,  by  such  importation,  druined  of  its  spccjo 
and  ai)[)i'ehension  bcin^i;  entertained  of  an  insurrection. 

In  the  month  of  .lune,  the  people  of  Kentucky  were  admitted  into  the 
Union,  as  a  state. 

A  settlement  of  the  ditticulties  relating  to  Nootka  Sound  havinji;  taken 
l>lace,  without  a  rupture  between  (rreat  Britain  and  Spain,  the  latter 
j)ower  had  expressed  a  wish  for  an  adjustment  of  the  matters  in  contro- 
versy between  it  and  the  United  States,  by  a  negotiation  to  bo  carried  on 
nt  Madrid.  Carmiehael  and  Short  were  chosen  by  the  president  as 
conimissioners  for  thi't  purpose.  In  the  meanwhile,  the  omeers  of  that 
monarchy  persisted  in  measures  calculated  to  embroil  the  United  States 
in  a  war  with  the  southern  Indians.  By  their  intrigues,  they  succecdcil 
in  [)reventing  the  ratification  of  the  treaty  entered  into,  in  171)0,  with 
M'Gillivrey ;  and  tlu^  line  agreed  on  as  the  boundary,  was  not  permitted 
to  l)e  run.  The  in<lefinite  claim  to  territory,  set  up  by  Spain,  was  said  to 
constitute  a  sufficient  objection  to  any  line  of  demarcation,  until  it  was 
settled ;  and  the  previous  treaties  and  relations  of  Si)ain  with  the  Cnieks 
were  declared  to  be  violated  by  the  acknowledgement  of  their  being  under 
the  protection  of  the  United  States. 

General  St.  Clair  having  resigned  the  command  of  the  vvostern  army,  it 
was  committed  to  general  Wayne,  and  the  greatest  exertions  were  niiule 
to  complete  its  ranks  ;  but  so  small  were  the  inducements  to  enter  into 
the  service,  that  the  highest  grades  below  the  first,  w^ere  tendered  in  vain 
the  money.  The  recruiting  service  went  on  so  slowly,  that  no  hope  was 
entertained  of  any  decisive  expedition  this  year;  and  it  was  thought 
expedient  to  negotiate  a  peace.  This  attemjjt  nroved  verv  unfortunate. 
at  least  for  those  who  Avere  engaged  in  it.  Colonel  Hardin  and  major 
Trueman,  having  been  dispatched  severally  with  propositions  of  peace, 
were  both  mui'dered  by  the  Indians. 

Serano  and  Daunoy  were  the  ordinarv  alcades  for  the  years  1793 
and  1794. 

The  king  expressed  to  the  Baron  his  approbation  of  the  prohibition  of 
the  importation  of  slaves  from  the  British  and  French  West  India  island-s, 
but  declared  his  wish  to  have  their  importation  from  Guinea,  by  his 
subjects,  encouraged  and  promoted ;  and,  for  this  purpose,  he  issued  a 
royal  schedule  on  the  first  of  January. 

After  stating  that  Spain  was  one  of  the  first  nations,  the  ships  of  which 
visited  Africa  in  search  of  negroes,  and  his  belief  that  great  advantages 
would  result  to  his  subjects  if  they  were  to  resume  that  trade,  the  king 
declares  that  every  Spaniard  ma^  send  vessels  to  the  coast  of  Africa  for 
negroes  from  any  part  of  his  dommions  in  Europe  or  the  Indies,  provided 
the  master  and  one-half  of  the  crew  be  Spaniards;  and  all  merchandise 
purchased  for  that  trade  shall  be  exempted  from  duty,  as  well  as  every 
foreign  vessel  expressly  purchased  for  the  purpose  of  being  employed 
therein. 

Vessels  continued  to  trade  between  Philadelphia  and  New  Orleans  since 
the  conflagration  of  1788.  Miro,  in  the  latter  years  of  his  administration. 
and  the  Baron,  from  the  commencement  of  his,  connived  at  this  violation 
of  the  positive  instructions  of  the  minister  of  finance  in  Europe ;  but  on 
the  representation  of  the  governors  of  the  utility  of  the  measure,  it  was 
approved  by  the  king.  From  this  period,  a  number  of  merchants  in 
Philadelphia  established  commercial  nouses  at  New  Orleans. 


con 
rcHi 
oft 
an  i 
So  c 
Thv 
in  t\ 
imxl 
the  c 
vessej 
conip, 
tin-  go 
while 
Lou 
and  tl; 
Jv'ing  d( 
Thet 
nianifen 
in  Xew 
delicate 
hy  the  c 
against 
■"'ihscri]! 
loyalty  i 
'support 
iiadofia 
tjie  exhilf 
!*ix  indiv] 
J»rincip]ol 
''t'  ari'csjj 
'■('.''jJectfill 

''('Iievingr 
rendered  , 

The  forf 
«J't'ap„f 

'''atejy  all 

""•'astro] 

one  other , 

TJiere  iv.-is  L 

^1^0  siirro  J 

,  The  Uvo  I 

*'iied,  and! 

f'"  the  oppi 

We  had  t| 

•^ccordinl 


lliaTOIlY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


259 


nt«»  the 

\^  taken 
le  liittor 
I  contvo- 
vrriod  on 
ident  us 
H  of  that 
,e(l  States 
meceeilecl 
7^)0,  with 
permitted 
as  said  tt» 
mtil  it  was 
the  Creeks 
eiug  under 

i-n  army,  it 
were  made 
1  enter  into 
ered  in  vain 
vo  hope  was 
vas  thouglit 
unfortunate. 
^  and  major 
ins  of  peace, 


years 


1793 


rohibition  of 
[ndia  ishinds, 
linea,  by  \f 
he  issued  a 

Ihips  of  whicli 
Vt  advantages 
lade,  the  king 
of  Africa  for 
lies,  provider! 
,  merchandise 
Iwell  as  every 
|ing  employed 

Orleans  since 
Iministration. 
this  violation 


lurope 


but  on 


lieasure,iuva^ 
merchants  m 


■  All  trade  is  absolutely  forbidden  in  the  colonies  of  Spain,  by  the  letter 
of  the  commercial  law,  to  any  but  natural  subjects  ornaturalized  persons 
residing  there.  The  extreme  rigor  of  tliis  provision  had,  however,  in 
some  degree,  defeated  it,  as  the  very  existence  of  several  ccdonies  depended 
upon  its  relaxation,  which  in  New  Orleans,  began  to  take  place  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  administration  of  Miro,  after  the  conflagration,  and  was 
continued  bv  the  Haron,  who  extended  it  in  favor  of  foreign  merchants 
residing  in  t)ie  province,  although  not  naturalized.  After  this,  theodicers 
of  the  customhouse  contented  themselves  with  the  simple  declaration  of 
an  individual,  generally  the  consignee,  that  he  was  owner  of  the  vessel. 
No  oath  was  administered ;  the  production  of  no  document  was  required. 
The  declaration  was  even  accepted  from  an  individual  who  did  not  n^side 
in  the  province,  on  liis  asserting  that  he  meant  to  do  so,  or  on  his 
producing  a  license  to  import  goods,  No  one  was  thereby  deceived,  but 
the  customhouse  officers  were  furnished  with  a  pretext  for  registering  a 
vessel  as  a  Spanish  bottom,  and  thus  to  preserve  an  appearance  of  a 
compliance  with  the  law.  So  little  attention  was  paid  to  this,  that  at  times 
the  governor  and  intendant  certified  that  a  vessel  was  American  projjcrty 
while  she  appeared  on  the  customhouse  books  as  a  Spanish  vessel. 

Louis  the  sixteenth  died  on  the  scaffold,  on  the  21st  of  January,  1708, 
and  the  popular  i)arty  being  now  jjredominant  in  France,  the  Oatholic 
king  declared  war  against  the  now  republic. 

The  sympathies  and  partiality  of  the  people  of  Louisiana  now  began  to 
manifest  themselves  strongly  in  favor  of  the  French  patriots,  principally 
in  New  Orleans.  The  situation  of  the  Baron  was  rendered  extremely 
delicate,  by  the  (drcumstance  of  his  being  a  native  of  France,  and  obliged 
by  the  duties  of  his  station,  if  not  urged  by  inclination,  to  restrain  excesses 
against  a  monarchical  government.  He  prepared,  and  promoted  the 
subscription  of  a  paj>er,  in  which  the  colonists  gave  assurances  of  their 
loyalty  to,  and  affection  for  the  Catholic  king,  and  bound  themselves  to 
support  his  government  in  Louisiana.  He  ))ut  a  stop  to  a  practice,  which 
had  of  late  been  introduced,  of  entertaining  the  audience  at  the  theatre  with 
the  exhibition  of  certain  martial  dances  to  revolutionary  airs.  He  caused 
six  individuals,  who  had  manifested  their  approbation  of  the  new  French 
principles,  and  evinced  a  desire  to  see  them  acted  upon  in  Louisiana,  to 
lie  arrested  and  confined  in  the  fort.  At  the  intercession  of  several 
respectable  inhabitants  of  New  Orleans,  he  promised  to  liberate  them,  but 
ln'heving  afterwards  that  he  had  discovered  new  causes  of  alarm,  which 
rendered  a  decisive  step  necessary,  he  shijiped  them  for  Havana,  where 
they  were  detained  during  a  twelve-month. 

The  fortifications,  with  which  the  French  had  surrounded  the  citj'  being 
a  heap  of  ruins,  he  caused  new  ones  to  be  erected.  A  fort  was  built  imme- 
iliately  al)ove,  and  another  immediately  below  the  city,  upon  the  river, 
iind  a  strong  redoul)t  on  the  back  part  towards  the  middle  of  the  city,  and 
one  other  at  each  of  the  angles.  They  were  connected  by  deep  ditches. 
There  was  a  l)attery  in  the  middle  of  each  flank  of  the  city,  which  were 
also  surrounded  by  strong  palisades. 

The  two  batteries  built  l)y  the  French  at  the  English  Turn  were  aban- 
doned, and  the  fort  of  St.  Philip  erected  on  Plaquemines,  with  a  small  one 
on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river. 
He  had  the  militia  trained,  and  enforced  the  laws  relative  to  it. 
According  to  a  statement  which  he  sent  to  Madrid  this  year,  it  appeared 


2(K1 


HISTORY  OF   LOirrMIANA. 


th(!re  \V('n»  iK'twcon  five  and  hIx  thouHtmd  men  onrolltMl,  and  he  wjih  of 
opinion  that  tlu'  colonial  government  eoukl,  at  any  time,  hring  three 
thonsand  men,  within  three  weekw,  to  anv  given  point  in  the  province. 

There  were  four  e(»m])anies,  of  one  hundred  men  each,  hetween  the  HaUzc 
and  th(!  city. 

In  New  (')rh'ant<  there  were  five  companies  of  vohmteers,  one  of artillury 
and  two  of  riflemen  ;  each  of  one  hundred  men. 

The  legion  of  the  Minsissiopi,  couHiHting  of  the  militia  of  Baton  Koiijic, 
(lalvezton,  I'ointe  C'oupee,  teliciana,  Attakaj)as  and  Opelousas,  luul  tw(> 
eonipanicH  of  grenadiers,  ten  of  fuHilierH,  and  four  of  dragoons. 

At  Avoyelles  a  com])any  of  infantry,  at  Washita  one  of  cavalry;  ut  tho 
Illinois,  two  of  each. 

A  regiment  of  the  (terman  and  Acadian  coasts,  of  one  thousand  men. 

At  Mol)ile,  a  company  <)f  infantry  and  one  of  cavalry. 

The  attention  of  the  colonists  was,  however,  drawn  to  matters  niorp 
imme(liately  inten^sting  to  them,  hy  the  i)ul)lication  of  a  royal  schedule 
of  the  month  of  February,  extending  great  commercial  advantages 
to  them. 

In  the  ])reamhle  of  this  document,  the  king  declares  his  impression  of 
the  imposHil)ility  of  the  merchants  of  New  Orleans  continuing  their 
expeditions  to  the  ])orts  of  France  designated  in  tho  schedule  of  the 
twenty-second  of  January,  1782,  and  the  conse<iuent  necessity  of  some 
provision  for  the  exportation  of  the  produce  of  the  provinces  of  Louisiana. 
East  and  West  Florida,  and  for  enabling  the  inhabitants  to  import  the 
merchandise  they  stood  in  need  of.  With  the  view  of  encouraging  the 
national  commerce,  and  that  of  these  provinces,  the  period  of  ten  years. 
mentioned  in  said  schedule,  is  provisionally  prolonged,  until  regulations 
suitable  to  these  provinces  and  the  general  system  of  commerce  in  the 
other  colonies  of  Spanish  America  may  be  made. 

Permission  is  given  to  the  inhabitants  of  these  colonies  to  carry  on 
commerce  freely,  in  Europe  and  America,  with  all  the  nation.s,  with 
which  Spain  had  treaties  of  commerce,  from  the  ports  of  New  Orleans, 
Pensacola,  and  St.  Augustine,  to  any  ports  of  said  nations,  (the  vessels 
of  which  may  there  be  also  received)  under  the  condition  of  stopping,  in 
going  and  returning,  in  the  port  of  Concurbion,  in  Galicia,  or  that  of 
Alicante,  to  take  a  passport. 

2.  The  merchandise,  produce  and  effects,  transported,  in  this  foreign 
commerce,  shall  be  charged  with  a  duty  of  importation  of  fifteen  per 
cent,  and  one  of  exportation  of  six ;  but  the  exportation  of  slaves  was  to 
continue  exempt  from  duty.  The  exportation  of  specie  for  any  purpose 
whatever,  to  continue  i)rohibited. 

3.  The  commerce  between  the  peninsula  and  these  provinces  is 
likewise  to  be  free ;  and  the  king  declares  he  will  view  with  particular 
benevolence,  those  who  may  in  any  manner  encourage  it. 

4.  Spanish  subjects  are  permitted  to  trade  to  the  provinces,  from  anv 
port  of  the  peninsula,  to  which  the  commerce  of  the  Indies  is  permitted, 
in  vessels  exclusively  Spanish,  providing  themselves  with  regular 
documents. 

5.  Permission  is  given  to  import  into  the  ports  of  the  peninsula,  all 
kinds  of  foreign  goods,  wares,  and  merchandise  destined  for  any  of  these 
provinces,  although  their  introduction  be  prohibited  for  all  other 
purposes.    Likewise  tobacco,  or  any  other  article  of  produce  of  these 


HISTOUY  OF   LOriSIANA. 


961 


was  of 

^    {\\XV\i 
UJ'C. 

artvWcry 

hiul  two 

•y ;  at  tho 

id  men. 

LtcrH  more 

vavantagos 

pression  of 
luinR  thciv 
lule  of  the 
ity  c)f  sonic 
f  Louisiana. 
,  imvort  the 
)uraf?in}?  the 
)f  ten  years. 
il  regulation? 
ncrce  in  the 

to  carry  on 
lations,  with 
^ew  Orleans, 
I  (the  vessel? 
¥  stopping,  in 
[a,  or  that  ot 

this  foreign 

af  fifteen  per 

slaves  was  to 

' .  any  pvupo^^ 

provinces  is 
Uth  particular 

Ices,  from,  a")' 
Is  is  permitteu, 
■  with  regular 

,  peninsula,  a^^ 
Lr^anv  of  thf 
Ifor  'all  ortier 


prnvinf'08,  and  the  importation  of  which  is  forbidden  to  individunlH  may 
III'  brought  in,  nrovidt'd  it  be  afterwards  exported  to  a  foreif^n  jiort. 

6.  Such  proliibited  pnxhice,  the  importation  of  which  in  only  allowed 
t(i  fiicilitatc  returns  from  these  i)rovinres,  shall  bo  denosited  on  landing 
in  tin-  warehouses  of  the  customhouse,  from  which  it  shall  bo  drawn  only 
to  he  carried  on  board  of  the  vessels  in  whieh  the  importation  is  to  be 

iiuulc. 

7.  The  importation  of  rice  from  foreign  countries  into  Spain  is 
nroiiiliited ;  and  the  king  declares  he  will  likewise  prohil>it  that  of  any 
other  article  of  produce,  whieh  these  provinces  may  supply,  in  sufHciont 
quantity  for  eon8umi)tion. 

H.  (loods  exported  from  any  of  the  allowed  ports  of  the  peninsula,  for 
tlio  commerce  of  the  jmjvinces,  to  be  exempt  from  duty  and  that  which 
may  have  been  paid  on  their  exportation  shall  be  returned. 

9.  Foreign  merchandise  coming  from  any  of  the  allowed  ports  of  the 
iicninsulaon  its  imimrtation  in  any  of  these  jjrovinces  in  foreign  bottoms, 
fijiall  pay  a  duty  of  three  per  cent. ;  but  that  imi)orted  in  national  vessels 
shall  not  pay  any. 

10.  Merchandise  or  8])ecie,  exported  from  these  provinces  to  any  of  the 
nlloweilj)orts  of  the  peninsula,  shall  be  free  from  duty. 

11.  The  exportation  to  foreign  ports  of  the  produce  of  these  provinces, 
lirought  to  any  of  the  allowed  ports  of  the  peninsula,  shall  be  free  from 
duty. 

12.  The  exemptions  from  duty  then  granted  include  that  of  all  local  or 
municipal  ones,  which,  bv  custom  or  otherwise,  may  be  claimed. 

13.  In  order  to  enjoy  tne  exemptions  hereby  granted,  every  vessel  must 
1)6  provided  with  a  manifest  of  her  cargo,  aistinguishing  national  from 
foreign  goods,  certified  at  the  customhouse  of  the  place  of  her  departure, 
and  give  bond  with  security  to  present  it  at  the  place  of  destination,  and 
l)ring  a  certificate  of  the  landing  of  the  goods ;  and  every  vessel,  on  her 
return,  shall  be  provided  with  a  manifest  and  certificate  that  the  whole  of 
her  cargo  is  of  tne  produce  of  the  country. 

14.  Spanish  vessels  bound  from  the  peninsula  to  Louisiana  or  either  of 
the  Floridas,  which  may  desire  to  return  with  the  produce  of  the  country, 
directly,  to  any  port  of  Europe,  may  do  so  on  paying  a  duty  of  three  per 
cent,  on  the  (>roduce  thus  exported. 

15.  But  this  advantage  is  not  to  be  enjoyed  by  vessels  engaged  in  a 
direct  trade  between  a  foreign  port  and  these  provinces. 

16.  Vessels  of  the  king's  subjects,  sailing  from  New  Orleans,  Pensacola 
or  St.  Augustine,  are  to  have  a  manifest  of  their  cargo,  to  be  presented  to 
his  consul,  and  on  their  return  they  are  to  bring  another,  subscribed  by 
him,  to  be  presented  at  the  customhouse ;  and  those  proceeding  directly 
from  Spain  to  these  provinces,  are  to  bring,  on  their  return,  besides  the 
manifest  of  the  inward  cargo,  a  certificate  of  the  landing  of  the  outward, 
in  order  to  have  their  bonds  cancelled. 

17.  The  ports  of  Bilbao  and  San  Sebastian,  which,  being  in  exempt 
provinces,  are  reputed  foreign,  may,  as  such,  trade  to  these  colonies, 
according  to  the  faculty  herein  granted,  paying  the  duties  imposed  thereon ; 

^  but,  in  consideration  of  the  importance  of  enlarging  and  extending  the 

maritime  relations  between  the  mother  country  and  these  colonies,  vessels 

Itrora  these  two  ports  shall  enjoy  the  favors  of  exemptions  granted  to  the 

1  allowed  ports  oi  the  peninsula,  with  the  sole  difference  that  the  vessels 


><' 


1  i% 


202 


IIIHTOUY  OK   Lol'ISlANA. 


Ill 


'I 


I 


from  Hilhao  n\u\  San  8i>l>aHtiiii)  nliall  hv  ImmiikI  to  tuiicli  at  Htm  Aixlcr  to 
take  a  itaMHport,  ln'lori'  they  proj-fi'd  on  tlirir  vova^fM. 

IH.  VohhcIh  from  i\\v  allowed  ports,  an<l  from  liilltao  and  San  Scliastiun, 
trading  to  Ni;w  Orleans,  iVunai  ola,  or  St.  AufiUKtinc,  are  proliiltitid  tVnin 
entering  any  «)ther  port  of  tli(>  king's  dominions  in  America. 

W).  Kxportations  from  New  Orleans,  I'ensaeola,  or  St.  Augustine,  tor 
any  other  port  of  these  d(»minions,  are  proliil>it(Ml,  except  in  eases  of  tlii> 
most  urgent  necessity,  to  \)v  certitie<l  hv  the  governor,  who  will  jrivt- 
licenses  therefor.  But  then  nothing  can  ))o  exported  except  articles  nf 
the  product!  of  the  provii\ces. 

20.  Tiu'  king  remits  to  his  suhjects  all  duties  heret(>forc  payaMo  mi 
vessels  expressly  punduised  for  this  trade. 

21.  The  governor  and  intondant  are  directed  to  nuike  a  new  taritl",  ti» 
he  suhmitted  to  the  king. 

On  tlie  representation  of  the  Baron  the  ollice  of  intondant  was  sepunitiMl 
from  that  of  governor,  and  Don  Francisco  do  Kendon,  who  had  Ikcii 
employed  as  secretary  of  legation  from  Spain  "n  the  Unitecl  States,  haviii;; 
heen  invested  with  the  former,  came  to  New  O  leans  in  the  heginning  of 
the  vear  17!)4. 

Tlie  pope  divided  the  bishopric  of  Havana;  and  the  jirovinces  of 
Louisiaiui,  East  and  West  Florida,  were  erected  into  a  distinct  one.  Don 
Louis  de  I'enalvert,  ])rovisor  and  vicar-general  of  the  hisliop  of  llavaiiii, 
was  called  to  the  new  sec,  and  established  his  cathedral  in   New  Orleans. 

Two  canons  were  added  to  the  clergy  of  the  province. 

(lenet,  the  minister  of  the  French  republic  in  Philadelphia,  had  jdanntil 
two  expeditions  from  the  western  part  of  the  United  States,  aganist  the 
dominions  of  Snain  on  the  Mississippi  and  the  CJulf  of  Mexico.  Scvenil 
citizens  of  the  United  States  had  accepted  commissions  from  him.  Many 
of  these  had  been  seduced  by  him  in  Charleston,  where  he  luul  landed,  iii 
Philadelphia,  and  in  the  states  of  North  Carolina,  Virginia  and  Maryland. 
Others  (antl  their  nund)er  was  not  small)  had  yielded  their  aid  to  liis 
agents  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  under  the  belief  that  the  interest.s  of 
the  western  people  would  be  promoted  by  the  success  of  the  enterprise; 
inuigining  that  the  French  once  in  possession  of  Now  Orleans,  the 
American  government  would  find  it  easy  to  obtain  free  navigation  of  the 
Mississippi.  The  idea  of  a  separation  of  the  western  peo|)le  from  their 
brothers  on  the  Atlantic,  and  an  alliance  or  union  with  the  Frencli  nf 
Louisiana,  was  still  fostered  by  many.  W^ith  these  views,  soldiers  were 
secretly  recruited  for  the  enterprise.  Auguste  de  la  Chaise,  a  creoIe  nf 
Louisiana,  (grandson  of  the  former  commissary  ordonnateur)  had  lieii) 
sent  to  Kentucky  to  superintend  the  recruiting  service  there,  and  was  ti» 
be  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  expedition  against  the  Spanish  territory  on  the 
Mississippi.  Another  individual,  of  the  name  of  Clarke,  was  on  a  siniilar 
errand  in  the  back  counties  of  Georgia,  fronj  which  state  and  the 
neighboring  one,  another  ex})edition  was  to  be  directed  against  East  Floridii 
The  aid  of  a  considerable  body  of  Indians,  raised  among  the  Crooks  iinl 
Cherokees,  had  l)een  obtained. 

The  Baron  had  early  information  of  the  danger  that  threatened  the 
province  under  his  care,  from  the  Spanish  minister  at  Philadelphia,  mul 
took  early  measures  to  avert  it.  Ho  completed  the  fortifications  of  Xew 
Orleans,  and  visited  most  of  the  parishes  to  animate  the  people,  and  put 
the  militia  in  a  situation  of  being  useful.    His  care  did  not  stop  here. 


success i 

fiiie  of  tl 
hi  anil 
hi."  inten 
'>f.June  . 
the  groin 
that,  tin's 

A  ])nm 
horses  (If 

fravoJers, 
frees. 

About  , 
•^f  six  feel 
M'av. 

indigo 

planters  oj 

I  '"iiccess  lijif 

"«l'f  had 

lii'faoked  A 

I  ifs  ra\-ajreJ 

I'fwpnted  ,1 

,  /■inf'e  till 

J-ifandonedr 
IWafcw 
JJ'iem  in  the 
I'^ff  plant 
■and  the  otJ 
Etienne 


ItlHTOUY   OK   I.OI'IHIANA. 


26n 


itnl  t'rouj 

AHtint',  fur 

y^^>}^  of  tUf 

will  nivt; 

uiticl*'?*  nf 

piiyuM*'  till 

jw  tiiviff,  t.t 

tvt<  Hi'\taviitotl 
to  hml  ^H»'U 

provincof*  <»t' 

1)  of  Uavnuil, 
New  Orleivus. 

a,  had  )>\anniMl 
>n,  ai^iunst  tlu' 

liuhiin.  M""y 
hail  \iin.\o(l.  in 
anelMuvylau.l. 

neir  aia  t'>  ^>i^ 
hie  intovests  •>! 
the  enterprise; 
Iv  Orleans,  the 
Ivipivtion  oftk 
L\e  from    1hi 
'  'the  Frencli  nf 
,    siAtli*'^"^  were 
se,  a  cr^"'^';  "' 
tcur)  ba.l  U....1 
'.re,  and  wn^  '• 
territory  ;>nli'' 
■usonasunilf 

Htate  an<l  ^^ 
j,Bt  East  Florida. 

[the  Creeks*  «"'! 

,  tlircatenoa  the 
Luaclelpbia.  ^ 
Lation«  of  >^ 
[people,  and  P 
*^  not  stop  l^ef^- 


]]{'  ilis|)nt(')i('<l  TlintiioH  iNiwor,  an  intelli^uni  Kti^liHlinmn,  to  Kentucky, 
who,  un<lcr  the  pretense  of  liein^  (Mi^a^ed  in  eolleetin^  iniiteriiilH  tor  a 
luitural  hintory  of  the  western  part  of  tl«e  Tnited  Stati's,  was  to  prepan; 
the  way  for  the  execution  of  tht' phm  proposed  hy  Navarro,  s»)ven  yearn 
'  .fore.  l»y  eonvcrsinj?  with  the  ini)Ht  inthiential  individuals,  anions  those 
wild  '\'  •<'  disposed  t(»  promote  a  siiparation  from  th(!  Athnitic  states,  and 
!in  iillinff'*'  »"■  «onnection  with  Spain,  and  j?ivin}^  them  assurances  of  the 
,|,<rrt'ul  oitriM  innee  of  the  colonial  government  of  I^ouisiana,  and  its 
iviiili'x  '^  to  supply  them  with  arms,  annnunition  and  mon(>y. 

This  year,  hi'  Monittid'  <}v  lo    LniiiHitnic,    the    <»nly    p<'riodical    pa|>er 
,  ijl/li-^lied  in  the  p(((VJnee  during  its  wuhjection  to  Spain,  mad«i  its   first 

appeiirfi '!'•<'• 

Tii«'  Uarou  did  not  surt\>r  the  care  he  took  fortius  protection  of  th(»  jirovince 
to  direct  his  attention  from  the  improvement  of  the  citv.  On  tin  ninth  of 
Mav.  he  }iavenotic«>of  iii.  intention  to  din  a  canal,  whiidi,  carryiuj^  nil  the 
water  (»f  the  city  and  its  environs  intooiu;  of  the  hranehes  of  tliehay»ui  St. 
Jehu,  would  rill  New  Orleans  of  the  sta^jnatiuK  i)onds,  which  rendered  it 
sickly,  ami  the  multitude  of  mosiiuitoes,  which  harrassed  the  inhabitants. 
He  mentioned  that  the  expenses  of  the  warallowinj?  no  hope  of  obtaining 
the  assistane«;  of  the  king  for  digging  a  <!onsideral)le  canal  of  navigation, 
lie  liad  asked  from  his  majt^sty  onlv  tlie  labor  of  the  negro  (ionvieta,  which, 
with  that  of  a  few  hands  that  might  be  furnished  by  able  and  zealous 
individuals,  might  afford  a  canal  for  conveying  oft  the  water,  and  in 
siuocessive  vears  it  might  be  deepened,  so  as  to  be(!ome  a  convenient  canal, 
niivi;iiil)le  for  schooners,  facilitating  the  intercourse  between  the  opposite 
side  of  the  lakes,  Mobile  and  Pensacola,  with  New  Orleans. 

In  announcing  the  king's  assent  to  this  i)roposition,  the  Baron  declared 
hii' intention  of  requesting  from  the  inhabitants  of  the  city,  in  the  month 
ofJunc  following,  such  a  number  of  negroes  as  they  might  spare,  to  clear 
the  ground  through  which  the  canal  was  to  pass,  and  expressed  his  belief 
thiit,  this  being  done,  the  convicts  might  complete  the  work. 

A  passage,  eight  feet  in  breadth,  was  to  l)e  left  on  each  side,  for 
horsps  drawing  tlatboats,  and  in  time,  schooners.  A  wide  levee,  for  foot 
travelers,  was  to  afford  an  agreeable  promenade,  under  a  double  row  of 
trees. 

About  sixty  negroes  were  sent,  and  the  canal  was  begun  with  a  depth 
of  six  feet  only.  It  turned  around  the  large  trees  which  obstructed  its 
wav. 

fndigo  had  hitherto  been  the  principal  object  of  the  attention  of 
planters  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi ;  but  during  several  years,  its 
success  had  sadly  disappointed  their  hoj)es.  At  first,  the  failure  of  the 
ernps  had  resulted  from  the  vicissitudes  of  the  seasons ;  of  late,  an  insect 
attacked  the  ]dant  and  destroyed  its  leaves.  In  the  years  1798  and  1794, 
I  it?  ravages  were  so  great  that  almost  every  plant  perished,  and  the  fields 
I  presented  nothing  to  the  eye  but  naked  stems. 

Since  the  year  1766,  the  manufacture  of  sugar  had  been  entirely 
I  abandoned  in  Louisiana.  A  few  individuals  had,  however,  contrived  to 
[plant  a  few  canes  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  city  :  they  found  a  vent  for 
Ithem  in  the  market.  Two  Spaniards,  Mendez  and  Solis,  had  lately  made 
jlarger  plantations.  One  of  them  boiled  the  juice  of  the  cane  into  syrup, 
jaml  the  other  had  set  up  a  distillery,  in  which  he  made  indifferent  taflfia. 
Etienne  Bore,  a  native  of  the  Illinois,  who  resided  about  six  miles 


m 


m,' 


'dill 


.  -f 


m 


.  mm 


'.K'viti 


v    ' 


264 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


above  the  city,  finding  his  fortune  considerably  reduced  by  the  failure  of 
the  indigo  crops  for  several  successive  years,  conceived  the  idea  of 
retrieving  his  losses  by  the  manufacture  of  sugar.  The  attempt  was 
considered  by  all  as  a  visionary  one.  His  wife,  (a  daughter  of  Destrohan, 
the  colonial  treasurer  under  the  government  of  France,  who  had  \>wn  one 
of  the  first  to  attempt,  and  one  of  the  last  to  abandon,  the  manufacture  of 
sugar)  remembering  her  father's  ill  success,  warned  him  of  the  risk  he 
ran  of  adding  to,  instead  of  repairing  his  losses,  and  his  relations  and 
friends  joined  their  remonstrances  to  hers.  He,  however,  persisted  ;  and 
having  procured  a  quantity  of  canes  from  Mendez  and  Soils,  began  to 
plant. 

This  year,  Don  Andre  Almonaster,  a  perpetual  regidor  and  alferez  real, 
completed  at  his  own  expense  the  erection  of  a  cathedral  church  in  New 
Orleans,  having  laid  the  foundation  of  it  in  1792.  He  had  before  built 
and  endowed  a  hospital. 

A  contlagration  reduced  a  considerable  part  of  the  city  to  ashes,  and  in 
the  month  of  August  the  province  was  desolated  by  a  hurricane. 

The  ordinary  alcades  for  the  year  1795,  were  de  Lovio  and  Pontalba. 

The  cabildo  made  a  representation  to  the  king,  and  prayed  tliiit  six 
more  offices  of  regidor  might  be  created ;  the  increase  of  population 
rendering,  in  their  opinion,  this  measure  necessar}'. 

They  also  prayed  that  the  zealous  services  of  the  Baron  might  be 
rewarded  by  the  appointment  of  captain-general. 

It  seems  that  the  progress  of  the  French  revolutionary  principles  \\i\» 
great  in  the  province,  and  that  the  hope  that  Lachaise  would  succeed  in 
gathering  such  a  force  in  Kentucky  as  might  enable  him,  in  the  language 
of  the  day,  to  "  give  freedom  to  the  country  of  his  birth,"  inflamed  the 
minds  of  many ;  for,  on  the  first  of  June,  the  Baron  issued  a  proclamation 
for  establishing  several  regulations  of  police ;  in  the  preamble  of  which  he 
comi)lains  of  "  the  success  with  which  evil  minded,  turbulent,  and  enthu- 
siastic individuals,  who  certainly  had  nothing  to  lose,  had  spread  fal.*e 
rumors,  calculated  to  give  rise  to  the  most  complete  mistrust  Itetweeii 
government  and  the  people,  whereby  the  province  is  threatened  with  all 
the  disasters  to  which  the  French  colonies  have  fallen  a  ^  /ey." 

After  this  the  proclamation  announces  that  to  restore  ortter  and  public 
tranquillity,  syndics,  chosen  among  the  most  notable  planters,  are  to  liu 
appointed,  residing  within  about  nine  miles  from  each  other,  to  be  sultor- 
dinate  to  the  commandant,  to  whom  they  are  to  give  weekly  accounts  of 
every  important  occurrence. 

It  is  made  the  duty  of  every  one  having  the  knowledge,  even  by 
hearsay,  of  any  offense  or  seditious  expressions,  tending  to  excite  alarm 
or  disturb  public  tranquillity  to  give  immediate  notice  to  the  syndii. 
commandant  or  governor. 

Every  assemblage,  of  more  than  eight  persons,  to  consult  on  publii' 
matters,  is  absolutelv  forbidden. 

Every  individual  is  bound  to  denounce  to  the  commandant,  any  syndic 
guilty  of  an  offense  in  making  use  of  any  seditious  expressions. 

Every  traveller  found  without  a  passport  is  immediately  to  be  arrestdl. 
carried  before  the  syndic,  who  is  to  examine  and  send  him  to  the 
commandant. 

Every  traveller,  possessed  of  any  important  event,  is  first  to  give  notice 
of  it  to  the  syndic,  who  is  to  take  a  note  of  it  and  register  his  name,  ami 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


265 


failure  of 
:  idea  of 
ein\tt  was 
^ewtrehan, 
I  l«>en  one 
ifaeture  of 
ne  ri(*k  he 
iitions  anil 
isteil;  and, 
is,  l)egau  to 

alforez  veal, 
rch  in  New 
before  built 

ishes,  and  in 

ne. 

kI  Poutalbii. 
tyed  that  six 
f  population 

•on  might  be 

n-inciples  was 
lid  succeed  in 
I  the  language 
['  inflamed  the 
proclamatien 
le  of  which  ho 
nt,  and  enthu- 
id  spread  false 
jtrust  V.etween 
tened  with  all 

tier  and  public 
nters,  are  to  hf 
ax,  to  be  subor; 
iy  accounts  ol 

Ledge,  even  by 
lo  excite  alarw 
[to  the  syndu'. 

Lalt  on  publi*' 

lnt,any?ywli''. 

tsions.  , 

I  to  be  arrest  I- 
l,d  him  to  the 

Bt  to  give  notice 
his  naine.an^' 


afterwards,  according  to  circumstances,  permit  or  forbid  the  communication 
of  the  event,  giving  information  of  it  to  the  commandant. 

Syndics  are  to  direct  patrols  from  time  to  time. 

Tlie  vigilance  of  the  executive  of  the  United  States  was  such  that 


Lachaise's  efforts  proved  abortive,  and  the  legislature  of  South  Carolina 
took  measures  which  ended  in  the  arrest  of  Genet's  agents  in  the  sout 
and  the  expedition  against  East  Florida  failed. 


•uth, 


The  Baron  thought  the  strictest  vigilance  was  required  in  the  city,  and 
he  availed  himself  of  the  circumstance  of  some  nocturnal  depredations, 
to  issue  a  proclamation  enforcing  a  severe  police,  and  directing  the 
shutting  of  the  gates  at  an  early  hour. 

The  canal  behind  the  city  was  widened  to  fifteen  feet.  About  one 
hundred  and  fifty  negroes  were  sent  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  and 
its  neighborhood,  and  all  the  convict  slaves  were  employed  on  it.  In  the 
month  of  October,  the  Baron,  bv  a  publication  in  the  Moniteur,  brought 
to  view  the  future  grandeur  of  I?ew  Orleans,  its  increasing  commerce,  the 
necessity  of  opening  a  communication  between  the  city  and  the  sea, 
through  the  lates,  and  announced  that  six  days  more  of  the  labor  of  the 
slaves  in  the  city,  and  within  fifteen  miles  above  and  below,  would  enable 
the  colonial  government  to  complete  the  canal. 

Another  publication,  on  the  twenty-third  of  November,  draws  the 
attention  of  the  inhabitants  to  the  facilities  they  have  found  in  procuring 
wood  through  the  canal,  the  marked  diminution  of  mortality  (luring  the 
preceding  three  months,  and  asks,  as  the  last  assistance  which  he  would 
require,  the  labor  of  the  slaves  for  eight  days  more. 

A  number  of  French  royalists  had  come  to  New  Orleans,  and  proj^osed 
plans  for  the  removal  of  a  number  of  their  countrymen  to  Louisiana, 
from  the  United  States,  where  they  had  sought  an  asylum,  and  the  colonial 
government  was  induced  to  make  several  very  extensive  grants  of  land. 
The  principal  was  to  the  Marquis  de  Maison  Rouge,  a  knight  of  St.  Louis. 
He  offered  to  bring  down  thirty  families,  who  were  waiting  on  the  banks 
of  the  Ohio,  and  were  anxious  to  form  an  establishment  on  those  of  the 
Washita,  to  raise  wheat  and  manufacture  it  into  flour. 

The  encouragement  given  by  the  colonial  government  was  not  confined 
to  a  grant  of  land.     It  covenanted  to  pay  two  hundred  dollars  to  every 
family,  composed  of  at  least  two  white  persons,  fit  for  agriculture  or  the 
arts  necessary  in  the  settlement,  as  carpenters,  blacksmiths,  etc.     Four 
hundred  dollars  to  those  having  four  laborers,  and  the  same  proportion 
to  those  having  only  an  artisan  or  laborer.    They  were  to  be  assisted  with 
guides  and  provisions  from  New  Madrid  to  Washita.    Their  baggage  and 
implements  of  agriculture  were  to  be  transported  from  New  Madrid  at  the 
king's  expense.    Each  family,  consisting  of  at  least  two  white  persons  fit 
for  agriculture,  was  entitled  to  four  hundred  acres  of  land,  with  a  propor- 
tionate increase  to  larger  ones.    Settlers  were  permitted  to  bring  white 
European  servants,  to  be  bound  to  them  for  six  or  more  years,  who,  at 
the  expiration  of  their  time,  were  to  receive  grants  of  land  in  the  same 
proportion. 
This  agreement  was,  a  few  months  after,  approved  by  the  king. 
The  Baron,  in  these  plans  for  colonizing  the  banks  of  the  Washita,  had 
not  lost  sight  of  his  favorite  one  for  the  separation  of  the  western  people 
from  the  Union,  the  idea  of  which  was  still  entertained  by  several  influ- 
ential individuals  in  Kentucky,  whom  Power  had  visited,  and  who  had 

36 


W^'^-^'A 


'^^^ 


4#! 


T» . 


266 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


Ill 


1^ 


recommended  that  an  officer  of  rank  should  be  sent  by  the  colonial 
government,  to  meet  part  of  them  at  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio.  He  made 
choice,  for  this  purpose,  of  Don  Manuel  Gayoso  de  Lemos,  who  commanded 
at  Natchez,  and  who  set  off  early  in  the  summer.  The  ostensible  object 
of  this  officer's  journey  was  to  lead  a  number  of  soldiers,  who  were  to  erect 
and  garrison  a  fort  at  the  Chickasaw  bluff's.  Having  set  these  men  at 
work,  Gayoso  proceeded  to  New  Madrid,  from  whence,  according  to  a 
previous  arrangement,  he  dispatched  Power  to  Red  Banks,  for  the  purpose 
of  bringing  down  Sebastian,  Innis,  Murray  and  Nicholas,  who  had  been 
chosen  to  hold  a  conference  with  the  officer  to  be  sent  by  the  Baron  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Ohio.  Power  found  Sebastian  at  the  Red  Banks,  who  informed 
him  that  some  family  concerns  prevented  Innis  fnmi  leaving  home;  that, 
as  the  courts  were  now  in  session,  the  absence  of  Nicholas,  a  lawyer  in 
great  practice,  would  excite  suspicion,  and  that  Murray  had,  for  some 
time  past,  got  into  such  a  state  of  habitual  intoxication,  that  he  was 
absolutely  incapable  of  attending  to  any  kind  of  business.  He  added,  he 
was  authorized  by  Innis  and  Nicholas,  to  treat  with  Gayoso  in  their  names 
and  accordingly  })roceeded,  in  Power's  boat,  to  the  Mississippi,  where  they 
found  Gayoso.  He  had  employed  his  people  in  building  a  small  stockade 
fort,  on  the  right  l)ank  of  the  river,  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio,  with 
the  view  of  having  it  believed  that  this  fortification  was  the  object  of  his 
journey.  He  j)roposed  to  Sebastian  to  come  down  to  New  Orleans  and 
confer  with  the  Baron.  This  was  agreed  to;  and,  after  a  short  stay,  they 
proceeded  down,  Gayoso  and  Sebastian  in  the  former's  galley ;  Power  and 
a  Mr.  Vander  Rogers  in  a  king's  barge.  They  proceeded  to  Natchez,  where 
they  stopped. 

VV^hilst  a  part  of  the  white  population  evinced  their  anxiety  to  imitate 
the  French  in  a  struggle  for  freedom,  it  is  not  extraordinary  that  the 
slaves  should  have  been  seduced  into  an  attempt  to  rise  by  the' reports  of 
the  success  of  the  blacks  in  Hispaniola.  An  insurrection  was  planned  in 
the  parish  of  Pointe  Coupee,  an  insulated  one,  in  which  the  number  of 
slaves  was  considerable.  The  conspiracy  was  formed  on  the  plantation 
of  Julicn  Poydras,  a  wealthy  planter,  who  was  then  absent  on  a  journey 
to  the  United  States ;  from  thence  its  progress  had  been  extended  to  all 
parts  of  the  parish.  The  indiscriminate  slaughter  of  every  white  man 
was  intended.     A  disagreement  as  to  the  day  the  massacre  was  to  take 

Slace,  gave  rise  to  a  quarrel  among  the  principal  leaders,  which  led  to  a 
iscovery  of  the  plot.  The  militia  was  instantly  put  under  arms ;  and 
the  Baron  on  the  first  information,  sent  a  part  of  the  regular  force.  The 
slaves  attempted  a  resistance  and  twenty-five  of  them  were  killed  before 
those  that  had  been  selected  for  trial  were  arrested  and  confined.  Serano. 
the  assessor  of  the  intendancy,  went  up  to  assist  Dupart,  the  civil 
commandant  at  the  trials.  Fifty  were  found  guilty  ;  others  were  severely 
flogged.  Sixteen  of  the  first  were  hung  in  different  parts  of  the  parish; 
the  nine  remaining  were  put  on  board  of  a  galley,  which  floated  down  to 
New  Orleans.  On  her  way  one  of  them  was  landed  near  the  church  of 
each  parish  along  the  river,  and  left  hanging  on  a  tree.  This  timely 
exercise  of  severity  quieted  for  awhile  the  apprehensions  of  the  inhabi- 
tants who  had  been  considerably  alarmed. 

In  the  meanwhile,  Wayne  had  concluded  a  treaty  of  peace  with  the 
hostile  Indians,  on  the  northwest  of  the  Ohio,  on  the  twentieth  of  August, 
and  the  plenipotentiaries  of  the  United  States  and  Spain  had  signed  a 
treaty  at  San  Lorenzo,  on  the  twenty-seventh  of  October. 


CHAPTER   XXII. 
Bv  the  Spanish  treatv  tv,^       *i- 

along  the  middle  of  ^0^5^'^^^  «"  ^^^^^'  Sern  I  oun!?'^^^^  ^*"  '^^ 

latitude.  '^'^  channel,  to  the   thirtv^firs  T     '^'  "i-^'^^ng 

The  king  agrees  that  th  •  ^'"^^  ^^  "ortfi 

breadth,  from  its  source  to  th-"''''!^''*^''"  "^  *^«  Mississinni  ,'     •.       , 
the  colonies  of  the  Unkp^Vf  .  ^"^f'  ^^all  be  free  onlv  to  P^''  '"I  •'*«  ^^'^ole 

the  privilege  to  the  Ss  o1  oth""'^'^  '^^^  ^PecL^o^ntentfon  t^'^'"'!  """'.^ 
The  parties  promise  to  nfn^.-''';  Powers.  "mention,  he  extends 

and  harmonvamonffthp«n,f    */"'"'  '^^  '^"  the  means  in  fh  • 

adjacent  to  \he  sonthnr,T^'*''V^'^tions  of  Indians  inHniv^'""  P?'^^^-  I'^ace 

to  attain  this  obiecfhoH   ^«"ndarv  of  the  U„   ed  g^fi^^^^^g  ^^^  cointry 

by  force,  all  hoSW  on  tEf  n''.  T^  '^^^"exZL^f,  '^'  '^^"^^ 
territories,  and  to  imlr«  „*  P'^^*  ^f  Indian  nations  ?/-^' ^®  ^^'^^^ain, 

Indian  nation  JivUvv^^^  except  a  treaty  of  no?  ''^*^^-".  '^'^^^ 

Provision  is  madf  S  the  nrnto?*^'^  ."^  ^^^  "tS?.    ^  P'"'^'  ^^^^^^  ^"J 
and  seizure  for  dehf  ^.       -P^^^^^^on  of  vessels    fnr-  « 

pirates,  the  estates  of  the  de'S  .'*''^^  «^  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
courts  of  justice,  etc.  ^''"^^«d'  P^«^Ports,  contraband  trade^nT^'    ^/ 

The  pnncinle  thuf  fr^^  .u-  iraae,  access  to 

United  ItaTee       "'  """'<'  *»•  ■''"'ning  the  southern  bounri,      r 

Tlie  king  promises  fn  ,.       •.    .  "wundary  line  of  the 

period  of  ten  ye™s   from'lh?''  ?  ^'^""^  «'  the  United  St„      ^     ■ 
merchandise  and  eflctfi  ,>^  .1     ratification  of  the  treVtv  f   1""'  <'"''"g  ■> 
from  duty,  excent  »  f.;    V^"  !">"■'  <>' New  Orlenn.  „t  J'  '°  ''•-'Posit  their 
extend  the  S  ssion  if^f  f  *■"'  *•>«  use  of  Sa™l<;f  r '  """"  ^"^ 

"rijSfVhTdSnt^^^^^^ 

"«&  inte  «^^^^^^^ 

;« thetrt'5  ^?.tfV5V^^^^^^  ^-P- 


desired 


«•»  success  In  h  s  ff'Jf  *■"'•  """■■  ""'«''■ 

'  attempt  to  ,na„„faeture  sugar,  ^s  very 


'■1  'iwi 


«">"    ^  -JviJ,  f 


'fA 


2G8 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


(  ( 


1™ 


BJ;! 
I] 


great,  and  he  sold  his  crop  for /twelve  thousand  dollars.     His  example 
induced  a  number  of  other  planters  to  plant  cane. 

IJy  a  royal  order,  given  at  Armijuez,  on  the  20th  of  June,  Don  Carlos  tie 
Jaen,  a  licentiate  of  Havana,  was  appointed  judge  of  residence  of  Miro. 
He  did  not,  however,  come  over  for  several  years. 

Don  Francisco  de  Rendon,  having  hecMi  ai)pointed  intendant  and 
corrigidor  of  the  province  of  Zacatecas,  sailed  from  New  Orleans,  and  the 
functions  of  the  intendant  devolved  on  Don  Juan  Benaventura  Morules 
the  contador. 

This  year  the  canal  behind  the  city  was  completed,  and  a  number  of 
schooners  went  through  it  to  a  basin  that  had  been  dug  near  the  ramparts. 
The  cabildo,  as  a  mark  of  their  gratitude  for  the  administrator,  to  whose 
care  this  important  improvement  was  due,  directed  that  it  should  be  called 
"  the  Canal  Carondelet." 

The  project  of  inducing  French  loyalists  to  migrate  to  Louisiana, 
continued  to  be  a  favorite  one  with  the  Baron ;  and,  with  a  view  of 
promoting  it,  verv  extensive  grants  of  land  were  made. 

The  most  considerable  one  was  that  made  to  the  Baron  de  Bastrop.  It 
was  of  twelve  square  leagues,  on  the  banks  of  the  Washita.  The  emigrants 
were  intended  to  be  employed  in  the  culture  of  wheat  and  the  manufacture 
of  flour.  The  colonial  government  took  upon  itself  the  charge  of  bringing 
them  down  from  New  Madrid,  and  of  providing  for  their  subsistence 
during  six  months.  It  promised  not  to  molest  them  on  account  of  their 
religion ;  but  declared  that  the  Roman  Catholic  was  the  only  one  the  rites 
of  which  would  be  allowed  to  be  performed. 

Another  grant  was  to  James  Ceran  Delassus  de  St.  Vrain,  an  officer  of 
the  late  royal  navy  of  France,  who  had  lost  his  fortune  in  the  late 
revolution  in  his  own  country,  and  who,  having  been  compelled  to  remove 
to  the  United  States,  had  rendered  himself  useful  to  Spain,  in  assisting 
the  emissaries  of  the  Baron  in  defeating  the  plans  of  Genet  against  the 
king's  dominions  on  the  Mississippi  and  the  gulf.  This  grant  was  often 
thousand  square  arpents.  The  grantee  proposed  to  exert  his  industry  in 
discovering  and  working  lead  mines.  The  privilege  was  given  him  of 
locating  his  grant  in  several  mines,  salines,  millseats,  and  other  places,  as 
might  best  suit  his  interests,  without  any  obligation,  on  his  part,  of 
making  any  settlement  thereon,  as  the  execution  of  his  plan  would  require 
large  disbursements,  and  could  be  realized  only  in  places  remote  from  the 
white  population  and  among  the  Indians. 

Julien  Dubuc  had  made  a  settlement  on  the  frontiers  of  the  province 
on  land  purchased  from  the  Indians  in  the  midst  of  whom  it  was  effected, 
and  opened  and  Avorked  several  lead  mines,  which  he  called  "  the  mine? 
of  Spain."  The  Baron  now  granted  him  all  the  land  from  the  coast  above 
the  little  river  Maquequito  to  the  banks  of  the  Mosquebemanque,  forming 
about  six  leagues  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Mississippi  river,  by  a  depth 
of  three  leagues. 

The  Marquis  de  Maison  Rouge  having  completed  his  establishment  on 
the  Washita,  the  Baron,  on  the  twentieth  of  June,  appropriated 
conclusively  thirty  thousand  superficial  acres  of  land  for  the  Marquis' 
establishment ;  it  being  understood  that  no  American  settler  was  to  be 
admitted  within  the  grant. 

The  expenses  of  lighting  the  city  of  New  Orleans  and  the  wages  of 
thirteen  watchmen,  had  originally  been  provided  for  by  a  tax  on  chimneys. 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


269 


example 

Carlos  de 
3  of  Miro. 

dant  and 

s,  and  the 
a  Morales, 

number  of 
e  ramparts. 
,r,  to  whose 
Id  he  called 

Louisiana, 
ti  a  view  of 

Bastrop.  It 
he  emifirants 
manufacture 
re  of  bringing 
r  subsistence 
K>unt  of  their 
y  one  the  rites 

,  an  officer  of 
le  in  the  late 
jlled  to  remove 
n,  in  assisting 
let  against  the 
■ant  was  of  ten 
lis  industry  in 
given  him  of 
,thcr  places,  as 
his  part,  oi 
1  would  require 
remote  from  the 

bf  the  province 
fit  was  effected, 
led  "the mines 
1  the  coast  above 
lanque,fornnng 
tver,byaaeptli  | 

Ltablishment  on 
appropriatea 
br  the  Marquis  , 
[ettler  was  to  be 

Ld  the  wages  of 
'ax  on  chimneys. 


The  destruction  of  a  considerable  number  of  houses  by  the  late  confia- 
cration,  now  rendered  this  provision  insufficient,  and  the  Baron  proposed 
to  the  cabildo  that  three  hundred  toises  in  depth  of  the  land  of  the  city 
bevond  the  fortifications  in  its  rear,  should  be  parcelled  out  into  small 
tracts,  to  be  leased  out  for  gardens,  from  which  the  market  could  be 
supplied  with  vegetables ;  and  he  expressed  his  belief  that  by  the  draining 
of  tne  land,  the  city  would  be  relieved  from  the  noxious  exhalation  of 
such  an  extent  of  ground,  covered  with  water  during  the  greatest  part  of 
the  year.  This  proposition  was  not,  however,  adopted ;  and  a  tax  was 
laid  on  wheat  bread  and  meat.  It  was  thought  the  tax  on  bread  would 
fiiU  on  the  rich  only ;  the  poorer  class  of  people  using  corn  and  rice ;  and 
that  a  part  of  both  would  be  borne  by  travellers  and  sojourners.  The 
Baron  urged  the  necessity  of  continuing  to  light  the  city,  and  retaining 
the  watchmen,  on  the  ground  of  the  city  being  full  of  French  people,  the 
nocturnal  assemblages  of  whom,  as  well  as  that  of  the  slaves,  it  was 
prudent  to  prevent. 

The  king  s  officers  in  New  Orleans  appeared  impressed  with  the  idea 
that  the  late  treaty  between  Spain  and  the  United  States,  would  never  be 
carried  into  effect.  They  thought  that,  at  the  time  it  was  entered  into,  the 
affairs  of  Europe  rendered  the  neutrality  of  the  United  States  of  ^reat 
importance  to  Spain  ;  and,  according  to  them,  the  object  of  Great  Britain 
in  iier  late  treaty  with  those  States,  was  to  draw  them  over  to  her  interests, 
and  render  them  in  some  measure  dependent  on  her.  They  believed  that 
their  sovereign  had  ratified  the  treaty  for  the  purpose  of  counteracting  the 
views  of  Great  Britain,  and  concluded  that  as  that  power  had  failed  in  her 
object,  Spain  on  her  part,  would  be  no  longer  interested  in  fulfilling  the 
stipulations  of  the  treaty. 

Accordingly,  the  Baron  had  sent  Power  to  Kentucky,  in  the  beginning 

of  the  year,  to  keep  alive  the  hopes  of  those  who  still  favored  the  plan  of  a 

secession  of  the  western  people  from  the  Atlantic  states.     The  messenger 

delivered  the  Baron's  packets  to  Wilkinson,  at  Greenville,  in  the  latter 

part  of  May,  and  was  dispatched  by  him  to   New  Madrid,  to  take  charge 

of  a  sum  of  money  (about  $10,000)  deposited  by  the  Baron  in  the  hancls 

of  Don  Thomas  Portell,  the  commandant.      After    overcoming    some 

difficulty,  resulting  from  his  having  no  written  order  from  Wilkinson,  the 

money  was  delivered  to  him.      He  concealed  it  in  barrels  of  sugar  and 

coffee,  and  brought  it  up  in  safety.      On  his  return  to  New  Orleans,  he 

reported  to  his  employer  that  whatever  might  heretofore  have  been  the 

disposition  of  the  people  of  Kentucky,  they  were  now  perfectly  satisfied 

with  the  federal  government,  and  their    leading  men   (with  very  few 

exceptions)  manifested  an  utter  aversion  to  the  hazardous  experiments 

heretofore  thought  of — especially  as  their  own  government  had  now 

obtained  from  them,  by  the  late  treaty,  the  principal  object  which  they 

expected  to  attain  by  a  separation  from  the  Union. 

The  Baron's  attention  was  now  momentarily  drawn  from  his  favorite 
plan  by  the  necessity  of  protecting  the  province  under  his  care  from 
impending  danger.  The  governor  of  Canada  had  assembled  a  considerable 
number  of  troops  on  the  southern  border  of  that  province ;  a  circumstance 
which  induced  the  belief  that  an  expedition  was  contemplated  from 
thence,  through  the  western  territory  of  the  United  States,  against  the 
dominions  of  Spain  on  the  Mississippi.  The  minister  of  the  catholic  king 
at  Philadelphia,  communicated  to  tne  department  of  state  the  information 


( 


i  *. 


vl'llil 


270 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


1» 


he  had  received  on  this  head,  and  demanded  that,  according  to  a  stipu- 
lation  in  the  late  treaty,  the  United  States  should  oppose,  in  the  nio^t 
effectual  manner,  the  intended  violation  of  their  territory. 

Spain  had  concluded  a  treaty  of  peace  with  the  French  republic,  and 
on  the  7th  of  October  had  declared  war  against  Great  Britain.  The 
Catholic  king,  in  the  declaration  of  war,  mentions  the  late  treaty  between 
Great  Britain  and  the  United  States,  as  one  of  the  motives  that  bad 
influenced  his  conduct  in  this  respect. 

Serano  and  Argotte  were  the  ordinary  alcades  for  the  years  171)7  and 
1798. 

By  a  royal  order  of  the  fourteenth  of  May,  the  royal  audience  of  .Santo 
Domingo  was  removed  to  Puerto  del  Principe,  a  town  in  the  island  of 
Cuba. 

The  king  having  acceded  to  the  proposition  of  the  cabildo,  in  regard  to 
an  additional  number  of  regidors,  Francisco  de  Riano,  Louis  d'Ailiy 
d'Anicant,  Jayme  Jordan,  John  Leblanc,  Gilbert  Andry  and  Franeisco 
Castanedo,  took  their  seats  in  that  body  as  such. 

It  had  been  stipulated,  in  the  late  treaty  between  the  United  States  and 
Spain,  that  commissioners  of  both  nations  should  meet  at  Natchez,  within 
six  months  from  the  ratification.  Accordingly,  Andrew  Ellicot  had  been 
appointed  commissioner  on  the  part  of  the  United  States,  and  Don 
Manuel  Gayoso  de  Lemos  on  that  of  the  Catholic  king. 

Gayoso,  according  to  the  instructions  of  the  Baron,  as  soon  as  he  heard 
of  Ellicot's  approach  with  a  small  bod.v  of  infantry  under  the  orders  of 
Lieut.  M'Leary,  sent  an  officer  to  meet  him,  with  a  request  that  he  would 
not  attempt  to  come  to  Natchez  as  vet,  but  stop  at  bayou  Pierre,  as  the 
fort  was  not  ready  to  be  surrendered,  and  some  disorder  might  result 
from  the  approximation  of  the  troops  of  the  two  nations. 

Ellicot  disregarded  this  message,  and  reached  Natchez  with  his  men  in 
the  month  of  February,  and  displaved  the  flag  of  his  country  near  the 
fort. 

The  Baron,  wishing  to  gain  time,  urged,  as  his  reason  for  delaying  a 
compliance  with  the  stipulations  of  treaty,  that  they  were  not  sufficiently 
explicit,  and  doubts  had  arisen  in  his  mind  as  to  the  manner  in  which 
the  posts  were  to  be  delivered.  It  appeared  to  him  questionable  whether 
they  were  to  be  so,  with  all  the  forts  and  edifices  standing,  as  the  United 
States  seemed  to  understand,  or  evacuated,  razed  and  abandoned,  as  he 
conceived,  in  order  that  Spain  might  avoid  involving  herself  into 
difficulties  with  the  Indian  nations,  who,  by  formal  treaties,  had  ceded  to 
her  the  land  at  the  Chickasaw  bluft's.  Walnut  Hill,  and  Tombecbee,on  the 
express  conditions  that  she  should  erect  fortifications  there,  to  prevent 
their  country  from  being  invaded.  He  therefore  declared  his  determi- 
nation to  await  the  orders  of  his  sovereign,  or  those  of  his  minister  at 
Philadelphia,  retain  the  posts  on  the  Mississippi,  and  defend  upper 
Louisiana,  until  congress,  acting  upon  the  representation  of  the  latter, 
should  take  measures  to  restrain  any  expedition  against  those  Indians, 
according  to  the  stipulations  of  the  treaty. 

For  the  purpose  of  receiving  possession  of  the  posts  to  be  surrendered, 
a  larger  detachment,  under  th?  orders  of  Lieutenant  Pope  soon  followed 
the  former.  The  in8tructi(;;  s  of  that  officer  render  it  probable  that  the 
government  of  the  United  States  apprehended  some  difficulty  from  that 
of  Spain.    The  lieutenant  was  directed,  in  the  first  instance,  to  proceed  to 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


271 


o  a  sti\)U- 
the  moHt 

i\blic,  aiul 
iiiii.  The 
y  between 
,  that  bad 

•s  IT'.)"  and 

!e  of  Santo 
e  isUiud  of 

in  regard  to 
>uis  (I'Avby 
lI  Fraiu'isci) 

d  State:*  and 
tchez,  within 
cot  bad  lieen 
3S,  and  Don 

(I  as  he  heard 

the  orders  of 

,hat  he  would 

Pierre,  as  the 

might  result 

.th  his  men  in 
intry  near  the 

for  delaying  a 
vot  sutfteiently 
[net  in  which 
[nable  whether 
as  the  United 
mdoned,  as  he 
(   herself  into 
I  had  ceded  to 
Jbecbee,onthe 
[re,  to  prevent 
his  deternn- 
lis  minister  at 
defend  upper 
I  of  the  latter, 
[those  Indians, 

Le  surrendered, 
Isoon  foUowe'l 
ibable  that  the 
lulty  from  that 
0  toproceeato 


Fort  Massac  on  the  Ohio,  and  there  to  await  the  return  of  an  officer 
previously  sent  to  New  Madrid  for  official  information  in  regard  to  the 
delivery  of  the  posts ;  and.  on  the  certainty  or  probability  of  such  an 
event,  he  was  to  proceed  to  Natchez,  and  on  his  arrival  there,  to  keep  up 
the  most  perfect  discipline  among  the  troops,  so  as  to  prevent  every  Kind 
of  disorder,  and  promote  harmony  and  friendly  interchange  of  good 
offices  with  the  subjects  of  the  Catholic  king,  and  to  treat  the  Spanish  flag 
with  respect. 

Tlie  commandant  at  New  Madrid,  being  without  instructions,  was 
unable  to  give  any  information  respecting  the  views  of  the  colonial 
government,  and  lieutenant  Po|>e,  concluding  that  possession  would 
i)rol)ably  be  given,  descended  the  Mississippi,  and  had  proceeded  as  far  as 
'New  Madrid,  where  he  was  met  by  a  messenger  from  tne  Baron,  warning 
him  to  proceed  no  farther.  The  lieutenant  thought  it  best,  however,  to  go 
on.  and,  at  the  Walnut  Hills,  found  a  letter  from  Gayoso,  requesting  him 
to  stop  there.  He  tarried  awhile,  but  on  receiving  a  letter  from  Ellicot, 
advisinfj  him  to  come  to  Natchez,  he  departed,  and  joined  Ellicot  soon  after, 
and  immediately  increased  his  force  by  enlistment,  and  apprehended 
several  deserters  from  the  army  of  the  United  States,  who  had  taken 
refuge  under  the  i>rotection  of  the  Spanish  flag. 

The  most  considerable  part  of  the  population  of  the  district  of  Natchez 
had  removed  from  the  United  States,  or  were  descendants  of  emigrants 
from  the  British  provinces,  after  the  peace  of  1762.  They  were  anxious 
for  a  change  of  government,  and  appeared  to  disregard  ttie  authority  of 
the  officers  of  Spain.  Gayoso  issued  a  proclamation  on  the  twentieth  of 
March,  calculated  to  bring  them  back  to  their  duty. 

The  Baron  had  resolved  that  his  determination,  in  regard  to  the  delivery 
of  the  posts  of  the  United  States,  should  be  regulated  by  the  success  or 
failure  of  a  last  attempt  to  detach  the  western  country  from  the  Union, 
and  had  accordingly  sent  Power  thither  on  this  errand. 

The  avowed  object  of  his  mission  was  the  delivery  of  a  letter  to  Wilkinson, 
who.  on  the  death  of  Wayne,  had  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the 
American  forces,  to  induce  him  not  to  insist  on  the  immediate  evacuation 
of  the  [losts  of  Spain ;  the  real  object  of  the  journey,  however,  and 
(concerning  which  the  Baron,  in  order  to  avoid  all  danger  of  detection,  had 
given  only  verbal  instructions)  was  to  sound  the  disposition  of  the  western 
people,  whose  militia,  the  Baron  had  heard,  had  received  orders  to  be  ready 
to  march  at  the  first  call.  In  the  event  of  this  proving  true.  Power  was 
directed  to  send  immediate  information  of  it  to  the  commandant  at  New 
Madrid. 

He  was  instructed  adroitly  to  give  it  out  among  those  with  whom  he 
might  have  an  opportunity  of  conversing  in  the  course  of  his  travels,  that 
the  surrender,  to  the  forces  of  the  United  States,  of  the  posts  occupied  by 
those  of  Bpain,  on  the  Mississippi,  was  in  direct  opposition  to  the  interests 
of  the  Avestern  people,  who,  as  they  must  one  day  be  separated  from  the 
Atlantic  states,  would  find  themselves  without  any  communication  with 
the  sea,  excepting  through  Louisiana,  from  whence  they  might  expect 
powerful  succors  in  artillery,  arms,  ammunition  and  money,  openly  or 
secretly,  as  soon  as  they  determined  on  a  secession,  which  must  secure  to 
them  ipdejpendence  and  prosperity. 

The  wish  was  expressed  that  it  might  be  suggested  that,  for  this  reason, 
Congress  was  determined  on  hastening  the  taking  possession  of  these 


m 


■ifi:'" 


.  «';;3-i 


(  i''«'i 


t  "mm. 


•»         s» 


272 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


I   '    1/" 

II 


I 


W- 


posts,  and  the  western  people  would  forge  fetters  for  themselves,  if  tht'v 
consented  to  furnish  their  militia,  and  other  means,  which  the  United 
States  could  find  among  them  only. 

It  was  urged  that  these  hints,  if  diflused  through  the  papers,  mijrht 
make  a  strong  impression  on  the  people,  and  dispose  them  to  throw  off 
the  yoke  of  the  Atlantic  states ;  ana  if  they  could  be  dissuaded  from  aidinjr 
congress,  it  could  not  give  law  to  the  Spaniards. 

Assurances  were  given  that,  if  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  properly 
distributed  in  Kentucky,  could  induce  the  people  to  resist,  that  sum  wo\i\(l 
be  readily  furnished.  The  messenger  was  authorized  to  promise  this, 
and  an  equal  sum  to  procure  arms,  in  case  of  necessity,  with  20  i)iect'!s  of 
artillery. 

The  packet  for  Wilkinson,  securing  to  the  bearer  the  best  opportunity 
of  viewmg  the  army  and  ascertaining  its  force,  discipline  and  disposition, 
he  was  directed  to  improve  it,  and  transmit  to  his  employer  without 
delay,  the  most  correct  and  minute  information  he  could  obtain.  A  doul»t 
was  expressed  whether  a  person  of  Wilkinson's  character  would  prefer 
the  command  of  the  armv  of  the  United  States,  to  the  glory  of  being  the 
founder,  the  liberator,  indeed  the  Washington  of  the  western  states.  lUti 
part  was  said  to  be  brilliant  and  easy ;  all  eyes  were  fixed  on  inni ;  he 
possessed  the  confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens,  and  principally  of  the 
Kentucky  volunteers ;  at  the  slightest  movement,  the  peo])le  would  hail 
him  the  general  of  the  new  republic.  His  reputation  would  raise  him  an 
army,  and  France  and  Spain  enable  him  to  pay  it. 

Pursuing  his  prophetic  strain,  the  Baron  added  that,  on  Wilkinson's 
taking  Fort  Massac,  he  would  instantly  send  him  small  arms  and  artillery 
from  New  Orleans ;  and  Spain,  limiting  herself  to  the  posts  at  Natchez 
and  Walnut  Hills,  would  cede  all  the  left  bank  of  the  Mississippi  as  high 
as  the  Ohio,  which  would  form  an  extensive  republic,  connected,  by  its 
situation  and  interests,  with  Spain,  who  in  conjunction  with  it,  would 
force  the  Indians  to  seek  its  alliance  and  confound  themselves,  in  time, 
with  its  citizens. 

The  Baron  added  that  the  western  people  were  dissatisfied  with  the  tax 
on  whisky,  and  Spain  and  France  were  enraged  at  the  connexion  of  the 
United  States  with  Great  Britain ;  the  army  was  weak  and  devoted  to 
Wilkinson,  and  the  threat  of  congress  authorized  him  (the  Baron)  to 
succor  the  western  poople  immediately  and  openly  ;  money  would  not  be 
wanting ;  and  he  was  about  dispatching  a  vessel  to  Vera  Cruz  for  a  supply 
of  it,  and  ammunition ;  so  that  nothing  was  required  but  an  instant  o( 
firmness  and  resolution  to  render  the  western  people  free  and  happy 
But,  if  they  suffered  the  opportunity  to  pass  unimproved,  and  the 
Spaniards  were  compelled  to  surrender  the  posts,  Kentucky  .and  Tennessee 
would  forever  remain  under  the  oppressive  yoke  of  the  Atlantic  states. 

These  instructions  concluded  with  an  assurance  to  Power,  that  if,  by 
forcibly  urging  these  arguments,  he  succeeded  in  bringing  over  Wilkinson, 
Lacasagne,  Sebastian,  Brackenridge,  and  the  other  principal  men,  and  if,  I 
by  dint  of  promises,  which  he  (the  Baron)  pledged  himself  should  be 
faithfully  redeemed,  and  by  the  general  diffusion  of  these  notions  among  I 
them,  the  public  generally  could  be  engaged  to  second  their  efforts,  the  I 
object  of  his  expedition  would  be  accomplished,  and  he  would  acquire  I 
imperishable  renown,  and  a  claim  to  the  most  brilliant  rewards ;  whilst,! 
on  the  other  hand,  should  he  unfortunately  fail,  his  employer  would  bej 


HI8T0UY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


273 


s,  if  thoy 
le  Vnited 

(VP,  niinht 
tlirow  off 
oni  aiding 


n  Wiliiinpon's 
IS  and  artillery 
8t8  at  ^'atchez 
lissippi  as  high 
lnnected,byijs 
with  it,  wouW 
selves,  in  time, 


alilo  to  procure  him  an  appointment,  which  woiiM  place  him  heyond  tlie 
roiicii  of  the  envy  or  hatred  of  liis  enemies. 

In  the  meanwhile,  other  agents  were  sent  among  the  nations  of  Indians 
within  the  territory  of  the  United  Htates,  Avith  sp<'eches  calculated  to 
induce  them  to  withdraw  from  the  protection  of  congress,  and  take  up 
the  hatchet  against  the  citizens  of  the  United  States. 

The  Banm,  at  the  same  time,  reinforced  the  garrison  of  Fort  Pannnire, 
and  tliat  of  the  Walnut  Hills ;  a  measure  which  he  said  was  resorted  to, 
as  one  of  precaution  against  the  descent  which  the  British  meditated  from 
Caiiiida.  The  people  of  the  district  of  Natchez  viewed  it  as  a  prelud(;  to 
the  arrest  of  those  among  them  who  had  manifested  a  i>artiality  to  the 
ifovcrnnient  of  the  United  States.  Their  alarm  was  such  us  to  drive  a 
few  of  them  to  some  violent  ste^)s.  The  suhsecjuent  commotion  in  the 
neii;lihorhood  was  so  great  as  to  induce  (layoso  with  his  family,  to  seek 
an  asylum  in  the  fort,  on  thy  seventh  of  June. 

Four  days  after,  he  issued  an  elaborate  proclamation,  warning  the 
people  of  the  conse<iuences  of  their  illegal  proceedings,  requiring  them  to 
return  to  their  duty  and  allegiance  to  their  sovereign,  submission  to  his 
laws  and  obedience  to  his  officers  ;  commanding  those  who  had  eml)odied 
themselves,  to  disperse  and  return  to  their  usual  and  lawful  occupations, 
as  the  only  means  of  obtaining  an  amnesty  for  the  past  and  security  for 
the  future. 

A  general  meeting  of  the  people  to  deliberate  on  the  state  of  the  district, 
was  proposed  and  was  generally  approved  of,  but  an  apprehension  was 
entertained  that  Gayoso  would  break  up  their  assembly,  by  arresting 
those  who  might  attend.  Lieutenant  Pope  assured  the  inhabitants  he 
would  ])rotect  them  at  all  hazards.  He  recommended  that  they  should 
come  forward  and  assert  their  rights  in  the  most  solemn  manner,  and  join 
the  forces  of  the  United  States  in  case  the  Baron  sent  more  soldiers  there 
from  New  Orleans.  The  lieutenant's  conduct  was  countenanced  by 
Ellicot. 

The  meeting  took  place  on  the  twentieth  of  June.  They  remembered 
the  conduct  of  O'Reilly  in  1769,  and  felt  apprehensive  of  the  consequences 
of  any  step  they  might  take ;  they  feared  that  Gayoso's  proclamation  might 
only  bo  intended  as  a  snare,  and  were  anxious  to  fix  the  terms  of  their 
surrender  ao  as  to  avoid  every  ambiguity  of  expression.  At  last  they 
assented  to  Ellicot's  proposition  for  the  appointment  of  a  committee  of 
safety,  of  which  lieutenant  Pope  was  a  member. 

This  committee  called  on  Gayoso,  and  proposed  that  he  should  recognize 
their  existence  as  a  body — that  none  of  the  people  should  be  injured  or 
prosecuted  on  account  of  the  part  they  had  taken  against  government — 
that  they  should  be  exempted  from  serving  in  the  militia,  under  the 
t^panish  authorities,  except  to  suppress  riots  or  repress  the  insults  of 
Indians — that  they  should  be  considered  as  in  a  state  of  neutrality, 
ahhough  governed  by  Spanish  laws,  and  none  of  them  should  be  sent  out 
of  the  country  under  any  pretense  whatsoever. 

Gayoso  gave  his  ready  assent  to  these  propositions,  and  the  Baron 
ratified  what  he  had  done,  with  a  single  and  unimportant  exception. 

The  fall  of  this  year  was  very  sickly  in  New  Orleans,  and  the  city  was 
visited  by  the  yellow  fever. 

The  Baron  was  now  appointed  president  of  the  royal  audience  of  the 
I  province  of  Quito,  and  left  Louisiana. 

37 


^s;i;'lJ^ 


lt*k' 


lU'll 


.id 


•»    I  'i  'u 


(.■      r 


--*    ii 


274 


HISTORY  OF  LOl'IHIANA. 


i 


\ih 


TliiH  year,  tlio  people  of  the  HouthweHtorn  Territory  of  the  United  States 
were  luhnitted  into  the  Union,  us  the  stute  of  Tennessee,  nnd  formed  the 
sixteenth  nieniher  of  the  confederaev. 

Jctlin  AdaniH  succeeded  general  Washington  in  the  presidency  of  the 
United  States. 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

Dox  Manuel  Gayoso  de  Lemos,  a  brigadier-general  of  the  royal  armies, 
who  conmuinded  at  Natchez,  succeeded  the  Haron  de  Carondelet,  in  the 
government  of  the  provinces  of  Louisiana  and  West  Florida,  and  was 
succeeded  in  his  former  command  by  Don  Carlos  de  Grandpre.  The 
latter  ofticer,  being  obnoxious  to  the  people  of  the  district  of  Natchez, 
declined  going  there,  and  major  Minor,  a  native  of  New  Jersev,  who  came 
to  Louisiana  m  the'  year  1778,  and  had  accepted  of  a  commission  in  the 
Catholic  king's  service,  acted  as  commandant,  until  the  establishment  of 
the  government  under  the  authority  of  the  United  States. 

Power  now  returned  from  the  western  country,  and  in  his  report  to 
Gayoso,  which  bears  date  on  the  fifth  of  December,  stated  that  he  met 
Sebastian  at  Louisville,  and  communicated  to  him  the  real  and  ostensible 
objects  of  his  mission,  when,  rftcr  conferring  together,  they  were  of 
opinion  it  was  indispensable  to  add  four  propositions  to  those  the  Barer 
liad  authorized  Power  to  make.  <:Vithout  the  first,  neither  Sebastian,  nor 
any  other  person  concerned  or  intticsted  in  the  important  undertaking, 
would  take  any  step  for  its  success.    These  propositions  were,  that : 

1.  If  any  person  should  lose  his  office,  on  account  of  promoting  the 
Baron's  views,  he  should  be  indemnified  by  the  king  of  Spain. 

2.  The  northern  boundary  of  the  king's  dominion  snould  be  a  line 
drawn  from  the  mouth  of  the  river  Yazoo  to  the  river  Tombeckbee;  and 
the  northernmost  ^^panish  fort  should  be  six  miles  below  that  line. 

8.  But  the  king  should  retain  the  fort  of  San  Fernando  de  Barancas 
(Chickasaw  bluffs)  with  the  land  around  it,  ceded  to  him  by  the  Indians 
by  their  treaty  with  Gayoso. 

4.  The  king  should  not  interfere,  directly  or  indirectly,  with  the  form 
of  government  or  laws,  which  the  western  people  should  adopt. 

Sebastian  undertook  to  conmiunicate  the  Baron's  propositions,  with 
the  above  amendments,  to  Innis  and  Nicholas.  To  conceal  the  real  object 
of  Power's  journey,  and  avoid  the  resentment  of  the  people  of  Louisville, 
who  were  enraged  at  his  frequent  visits  and  threatened  to  tar  and  feather 
him,  it  was  agreed  that,  after  having  seen  Wilkinson  at  Detroit,  he  should 
return  by  Greenville,  Cincinnati,  Newport,  Georgetown,  and  Frankfort, 
to  meet  Innis  and  Nicholas,  and  be  informed  of  the  success  of  their  efforts ; 
and  that  Sebastian,  and  another  person,  should  accompany  him  to  New- 
Orleans.  Notwithstanding  he  (Sebastian)  was  of  opinion  that,  for  the 
present,  all  the  means  and  efforts  used  to  stimulate  the  western  people  to 
secede  from  the  union,  would  be  of  no  avail,  he  promised  that  nothing 
should  be  wanting,  on  his  i)art,  to  obtain  what  was  so  much  desired. 

Power  arrived  in  the  neighborhood  of  Detroit  on  the  sixteenth  of 
August,  and  finding  that  Wilkinson  was  then  at  Michilimackinac,  he  did 
not  enter  the  fort.     The  general,  immediately  after  his  return,  hearing  of 


Pi 

th 
in 
to 
otl 
wit 
ini] 
iat( 
witi 
if  i 
that 
vexji 
from 
natif 
raife 
riip.tt 
to  |)u 
the  tr 
ills  Ja 
hi»  cy 
and  d 
howevi 
'•^pain  I 
probab 
of  proi 
H-ith  tJ 
Trudeai 
hidian  I 
come  a 
with  tht 
On  tl 
and  imu 
way  of 
On  pass] 
order  to 
Power 
ofKentu 
Jiad  told 
States,  L( 
and  insir 
^'tiniuiate 
l^s,  thai 
^entuckj 
on  foot,  uf 
^'enet.    T 

o"Jy  to  pJ 

Murine 

«/Kentucl 
tnrough  J\ 
f'liMdelpb 
^ad  been  e| 


BY  OF   LOriBIANA. 


275 


A  Stiites 


IB  report  to 
hat  ne  met 
(i  ostensible 
ley  were  of 
(0  the  Baron 
L'bastian,  nor 
unilertakuig, 

},  that ; 
romoting  the 


Power's  arrival,  had  him  Tenied  ai  .  brought  to  the  fort,  u  hI  i  lus  got 
the  Baron'H  diHpatches.  lie  gave  ;  ro\d  reception  to  the  i,eai.T,  and 
informed  him  that  the  governor  of  tlu  northv'  <tern  territory  hii'l  <'rdern 
to  arrest  an<l  send  him  to  Phihidclphia,  which  iild  be  i  evented  in  no 
other  manner  than  by  sending  him,  under  a  st  ,ig  guar('  to  New  Madrid, 
without  dehiy.  Mo  a(Uled,  the  HanmV  projt  ♦  was  i  chimerical  one, 
impossible  to  be  executed,  as  the  western  peopU ,  having  obtained,  bv  tho 
late  treatv,  all  that  they  wanted,  have  no  need  of  anv  ('(mnexion  or  aliianco 
with  Spain,  n(»r  any  motive  for  a  separation  from  tlie  Atlantic  states,  even 
if  France  and  Spain  should  make  them  the  most  advantageous  otters — 
that  the  ferment  whicrh  existed  four  vears  ago,  had  now  subsided,  and  tho 
vexations  and  depredations  which  the  American  commence  had  suttered 
from  the  privateers  of  France,  created  an  implacable  hatred  for  that 
nation.  He  added  that  the  people  of  Kentuckv  had  proposed  to  him  to 
raine  an  army  of  ten  thousand  men,  to  take  ^Jew  Orleans,  in  case  of  a 
rup,ture  with  Spain,  and  the  governor  of  Louisiana  had  no  other  measure 
to  pursue,  under  the  present  circumstances,  than  fully  to  comply  with 
the  treaty.  He  complained  that  all  his  plans  were  overturned,  and  all 
his  labors  for  ten  years  past  lost.  He  added  that  he  had  destroyed  all 
his  cyphers  and  burnt  his  correspondence  with  the  governors  of  Louisiana, 
and  duty  and  honor  did  not  permit  him  to  continue  it.  The  Baron, 
however,  need  not  api)rehend  his  confidence  should  be  abused — that  if 
Spain  surrendered  the  district  of  Natchez  to  the  United  States,  they  would 
probably  make  him  governor,  and  he  should  not  then  lack  the  opportunity 
of  promoting  his  political  projects.  He  complained  that  his  connection 
witn  the  colonial  government  had  been  divulged — that  Don  Zenon 
Triideau,  the  commandant  at  St.  Louis,  had  sent  emissaries  among  tho 
Indian  nations  within  the  territory  of  the  United  States,  inviting  them  to 
come  and  settle  within  that  of  Spain,  as  the  Spanish  king  was  at  war 
with  the  British,  and  would  soon  be  with  the  French. 

On  the  sixth,  Wilkinson  delivered  his  answer  for  the  Baron,  to  Power, 
and  immediately  compelled  the  latter  to  depart  for  New  Madrid,  by  the 
way  of  the  Wabash,  under  a  guard  commanded  by  captain  Shaumburg. 
On  passing  through  Vincennes,  Power  sent  an  express  to  Louisville,  in 
order  to  apprise  Sebastian  of  what  happened. 

Power  .concluded  his  report,  by  stating  that,  with  regard  to  the  people 
of  Kentucky,  Sebastian's  opinion  differed  from  Wilkinson's.  The  former 
had  told  him  that  should  war  be  declared  between  Spain  and  the  United 
States,  Louisiana  would  have  nothing  to  fear  from  the  people  of  Kentucky : 
and  insinuated  it  would  more  likely  be  the  circumstance  which  should 
stinmlate  them  against  the  United  States.  The  reporter's  own  opinion 
was,  that  a  great  proportion  of  the  most  influential  characters  in 
Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  had  been  the  instigators  of  the  expeditions  set 
on  foot,  under  Lachaise  and  Clark,  against  the  dominions  of  Spain,  by 
Genet.  The  rest  were  unambitious  of  conquest  from  Spain,  and  desired 
only  to  preserve  the  boundary  secured  to  them  by  the  treaties. 

l)uring  this  winter,  general  Collet,  who  had  travelled  through  the  states 
of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  by  order  of  the  French  government,  passed 
through  New  Orleans.  It  was  supposed  Adet,  the  French  minister  at 
Philadelphia,  sent  him  on  an  errand  similar  to  that  on  which  Lachaise 
had  been  employed  by  Genet. 


,t,. 


•■*■■■'(>  I 


-im 


111* 


Uif 


\w 


all 


27C) 


IIISTORV  OF  LorisrAXA. 


(Jiiyosn  iHHiU'd  his  hdndn  <h'  hvrn  ijnUin')\n,  in  tho  month  of  January,  1?I,S, 
It  (Iocs  not  contain  any  important  new  rc^nhition. 

On  the  following (hiy,  he  pultliHhcdaHct  of  instru(;tionH  tooonnuaiiilaiits 
in  rcjjjiinl  to  the  jirant  of  land,  as  foMows  : 

1.  They  are  f»>rhi<hh!n  to  j^rant  hmd  t(t  a  n«!\v  Hcttler,  eoniinj:  fnitn 
another  post,  where  ht^  has  ohtjrincd  a  j^rant.  Such  a  one  must  huy  '  md, 
or  olita'n  a  j^rant  from  tlie  governor. 

2.  If  a  settler  he  a  foreij?ner,  unmarried,  and  without  either  sIjivch. 
money,  or  other  oroiu-rty,  no  i^rant  is  to  l»e  made  to  him  until  ho  nlmli 
have  remained  tour  years  in  the  post,  demeaning  himself  well  in  somi' 
honest  and  useful  occupation. 

I>.  Mechanics  ar(>  to  he  protecttid,  hut  no  land  is  to  he  fjranted  i  hem 
until  thijy  shall  have  aciiuired  some  property,  and  a  rosidenee  of  tlirw- 
years  in  the  exercisi;  of  their  trade. 

4.  No  grant  of  land  is  to  he  made  to  any  unmarried  emigrant  who  has 
neither  trade  nor  property,  until  after  a  residence  of  four  years,  dufin^ 
which  time  he  must  have  heen  employed  in  the  culture  of  the  ground. 

5.  Hut  if,  after  a  resi<lenc(!  of  two  y»'ars,  such  a  i)erson  should  iiiarrv 
the  daughter  of  an  honest  farmer,  with  his  consent  and  he  hy  him  recoiii- 
mended,  a  grant  of  land  imiy  he  made  to  him. 

().  Lihertv  of  conscience  is  not  to  ho  extended  hoyond  the  first  gener- 
ation :  the  eliildren  of  the  emigrant  must  he  Catholic  ;  and  emigrants  not 
agreeing  to  this  nnist  not  he  admitted,  hut  removed,  even  when  tliey  hrinjr 
])ropertv  with  them.  This  is  to  he  exi)lained  to  settlers  who  do  not  profess 
the  CatHiolic  religion. 

7.  In  Upi)er  Louisiana,  no  settler  is  to  he  admitted  who  is  not  a  farmer 
or  a  mechanic. 

^.  It  is  expressly  reeommended  to  commandants  to  watch  that  no 
preacher  of  any  religion  l>ut  the  Catholic  comes  into  the  ]>rovin('e. 

U.  To  every  married  emigrant  of  the  ahove  description,  tw(»  lunidred 
arjients  may  he  granted,  with  the  addition  of  fifty  for  every  child  he 
hnngH. 

10.  If  he  hrings  negroes,  twenty  additional  arpents  are  to  he  grunted 
him  for  each  :  hut  in  no  case  are  more  than  eight  hundred  arpents  to  b(! 
granted  to  an  emigrant. 

11.  No  land  is  to  he  granted  to  a  trader. 

12.  Immediately  on  tlx'  arrival  of  a  settler,  the  oath  of  allegiance  in  to 
l3e  administered  to  him.  If  he  has  a  wife,  proof  is  to  he  demanded  of 
their  marriage ;  and,  if  they  hring  any  proi)erty,  they  are  to  he  required 
to  declare  what  part  helongs  to  either  of  them ;  and  they  are  to  be 
informed  that  the  discovery  of  any  wilful  falsehood  in  this  declaration, 
will  incur  the  forfeiture  of  the  land  granted  them,  and  the  improvements 
made  thereon. 

18.  Without  proof  of  a  lawful  marriage,  or  of  ahsolute  ownership  of 
negroes,  no  grant  is  to  Ije  made  for  any  wife  or  negro. 

14.  The  grant  is  to  he  forfeited,  if  a  settlement  he  not  made  within  the 
year,  or  one-tenth  part  of  the  land  put  in  cultivation  within  two. 

15.  No  grantee  is  to  he  allowctl  to  sell  his  land  until  he  has  produced 
three  crops  on  a  tenth  i)art  of  it ;  hut  in  case  of  death  it  may  pass  to  an 
heir  in  the  province,  hut  not  to  one  without,  unless  he  come  and  settle  it. 

IT).  If  the  grantee  owes  dehts  in  the  province  the  proceeds  of  the  first 
four  crops  are  to  be  applied  to  their  discharge,  in  preference  to  that  of 


MlrtTOUY  OF  I.oriSIANA. 


Ui 


iry,  17'»H. 

\\\^   fniiu 
\)uy  '  mil. 

i  \»c  ttlmll 
\\  ii-  M)nu' 

,eil  1  '  ilit'Hi 
H'  of  tlirci' 

vnt  wlv>  l^ii!* 

irrouwl. 
iiovild  uuirry 
'  liim  rocoiu- 

0  tirnt  trmu'T- 
•iniiirants  nut 
,cu  thoy  hxw 
(U)  not  protefi"* 

s*  not  a  farmer 

,vatch  that  no 
ovim-o. 

two  hunilreu 
'very  ohiUl  he 

to  be  granted 
ur\)eut8  to  be 

IvUegianceisto 
B  demanded  ot 
L  be  required 
Ihey  are  to  be 
lis 'declaration, 
hu\)roveu\ent? 

ownership  of 

:iade  within  the 

In  two.       ,     , 

V'  has  produced 

may  pass  to  an 

L  ami  settle  It 

leedH  of  the  fc 

Ircncetothatof 


(Iclitu  duo  abroad.  If,  lu'fore  tb«'  thinl  crop  bo  made,  it  bocomoH  norosnary 
to  evict  t)i<'  ^rant<<o  on  account  of  bis  bad  conduct,  tbc  bind  Hball  be  ^ivun 
til  the  youni;  man  and  young  woman,  rtvxiding  within  one  mile  of  it, 
whose  nood  conduct  may  show  tliem  to  \w  tb«»  best  dcHcrvinn  of  it ;  and 
the  decision  iH  to  bo  nuide  by  un  asseml)ly  of  notabb>  phmturs,  presided 
|)V  the  commandant. 

17.  Kmijirants  an^  to  settle  contiguous  to  old  cstablisbm(>nts,  without 
leaving  any  vacant  laml — that  the  people  may  more  easily  j)rotect  each 
other,  in  case  of  any  invasion  by  the  Indians;  and  that  tlie  adminis- 
tration <»f  justice,  and  a  compliance  with  police  regulations,  nuiy  bo 
facilitated. 

Karly  in  this  year,  the  dukes  of  Orleans  and  Montausier,  an<l  llic  count 
of  IJcaujolais,  came  to  New  Orleans  from  the  western  states.  These 
jrrandcliildren  of  the  duke  of  Orleans,  who  was  reg(>nt  of  France  during 
the  minority  of  Louis  XV.  and  descendants  of  liouis  XIII.  were  seen 
with  great  interest  by  the  inhaliitants.  After  a  stay  of  a  few  weeks,  they 
ilenarted  for  Kurope  by  the  way  of  Havami. 

|)on  Dcnysde  la  ilonde  and  Don  Pedro  de  la  Uoche  took  their  seats  in 
the  cabildo ;  the  former  as  successor  of  Almonaster,  and  the  latter  as 
lirincipal  provincial  alcade. 

Captain  (iuion,  an  officer  of  the  revolutionary  war,  came  this  winter  to 
Natchez,  with  a  strong  reinforcement,  and  took  the  command  of  the  forces 
Imaiitht  l»y  lieutenants  M'Nary  and  Pope.  On  the  2:id  of  March,  the  fort 
lit  tlie  Walnut  Hills,  and  on  the  twenty-ninth,  Fort  Pannuire,  were 
I'vaciiati'd  by  the  troops  of  Si)ain,  and  imme<liate  possession  taken  by 
thoce  of  the  United  States.  Shortly  after,  (Jayoso  gave  orders  to  William 
Dunhnr,  (who  had  succeeded  him  in  the  office  of  connnissioner,  on  the 
part  of  Spain,  for  running  the  line  of  demarcation  Ho  nmko  arrangements 
with  Ellicot,  in  order  that  the  operations  might  no  immedintely  begun. 
Major  Trueman  was  the  surveyor  on  the  part  of  the  United  States,  and 
I'ower,  the  Baron's  late  agent,  that  on  the  part  of  Spain. 

CoML'ress  on  the  seventh  of  April,  erected  the  countrv  bounded  on  the 
imrth  liy  a  line  drawn  due  east  from  the  mouth  of  the  river  Yazoo  to  the 
Catahonche  river ;  on  the  east  by  that  stream ;  on  the  south  by  the 
thirty-first  degree  of  north  latitude,  and  on  the  west  by  the  Mississippi — 
into  a  sei)arate  government,  to  be  called  the  Mississippi  territory ;  and  a 
form  of  government  was  established  therein,  similar  to  that  provided  for 
thi'  northwestern  territory,  by  the  ordinance  of  1787,  with  the  exception 
of  the  clause  prohibiting  slavery. 

The  state  ot  (Jeorgia  laid  claim  to  the  land  included  within  the  new 

gmernnient,  or  the  greatest  ])art  of  i+ ;  and  congress  decdareil  that  the 

estal)lishnient  of  the  territorial  body  should  not,  in  any  respect,  impair 

the  rights  to  any  land  west  of  that  state,  of  any  person  or  |»crsons,  either 

to  the  jurisdiction  or  soil  of  the  said  territory.      The  |)resident  of  the 

United  States  was  authorized  to  aj^point  commissioners  to  ascertain, 

conjointly  with  others  appointed  on  the  part  of  the  state,  her  right  to  any 

land  west  of  the  river  Catahouche,  north  of  the  thirty  first  degree  of  north 

latitude,  and  south  of  the  land  ceded  by  the  state  of  North  Carolina  to 

the  United  States ;  and  to  receive  proiwsals  for  the  relinquishment  or 

cession  of  the  whole  or  any  part  of  the  other  territory  claimed  by  the 

i'tate  of  Georgia  and  out  of  her  ordinary  jurisdiction. 

Winthrop  Sergeant  was  appointed  governor  of  the  new  territory ;    and, 


? 


f^ 


•^1  '• , 


M'  ,■!;■ 


.;!^:*?1 


it    '.;H=i«:' 


if* 


II '' 


!i'-" 


m 


278 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


on  his  arrival  soon  after,  with  the  secretary  and  judges,  its  government 
went  into  operation. 

The  Northern  Indians  continuing  to  manifest  pacific  dispositions,  it 
was  thought  proper  to  transfer  the  headquarters  of  tne  army  ot  the  United 
States  to  the  Mississippi ;  and,  accordingly,  Wilkinson  came  to  Natchez 
with  a  considerable  part  of  the  forces.  Here  was  fixed,  at  this  time,  the 
southernmost  post.  He  removed,  with  all  his  men,  to  the  spot  calletl  by 
the  French  Ja  Roche  a  Davion,  and  by  the  English  "  Loftus'  Heights,"' 
which  was  the  most  southerly  tenable  point  within  the  United  States,  and 
immediately  began  the  fortification  which  was  afterwards  called  Fort 
Adams. 

By  a  royal  schedule  of  the  twenty-first  of  October,  the  intendanoy  of 
the  provinces  of  Louisiana  and  West  Florida  was  put  in  possession,  to 
the  exclusion  of  all  other  authority,  of  the  privilege  of  dividing  and 
granting  all  kinds  of  land  belonging  to  the  crown — a  privilege  which 
under  the  royal  order  of  the  twenty-fourth  of  August,  1770,  belonged  to 
the  civil  and  military  government. 

Riano  and  Fonvergne  were  the  ordinary  alcades  for  the  year  1799. 

On  the  30th  of  April,  Don  Joseph  Vidal,  the  commandant  of  the  post 
of  Concordia,  opposite  to  Natchez,  entered,  by  order  of  Gayoso,  into  an 
airangement  with  the  governor  of  the  Mississippi  territory,  for  the 
reciprocal  surrender  of  runaway  slaves. 

Morales,  considering  that  three  years  had  elapsed  since  the  ratification 
of  the  treaty  between  his  sovereign  and  the  United  States,  did  not  think 
himself  authorized  to  allow  any  longer  the  citizens  of  the  latter  a  place 
of  deposit  in  the  city  of  New  Orleans ;  and  he  issued  an  order  accordingly. 
A  measure  which  excited  great  commotion  in  the  provinces  and  the 
United  States,  particularly  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee. 

Gayoso  and  Wilkinson,  on  the  first  oi  March,  entered  into  a  provisional 
convention  for  the  mutual  surrender  of  deserters  from  the  armies  of  Spain 
and  the  United  States,  seeking  an  asylum  within  the  limits  of  their 
respective  adjacent  territories. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  month,  the  running  of  the  line  of  demarcation 
was  completed,  except  a  small  portion  of  it  on  the  borders  of  East  Florida, 
which  was  deferred  on  account  of  the  hostile  appearance  of  the  Indians. 

On  the  seventeenth  of  July,  Morales  issued  a  set  of  regulations  in  regard 
to  the  grant  of  land,  bottomed  on  the  provisions  of  the  late  schedule,  as 
follows : 

1.  To  each  newly  arrived  family,  a  chaque  famille  nouvcUe,  who  are 
possessed    of   the    necessary  qualifications  to  be  admitted  among  the  i 
number  of  cultivators  of  these  provinces,  and  who  have  obtained  the 
permission  of  the  government  to  establish  themselves  on  a  place  which 
they  have  chosen,  there  shall  be  granted,  for  once,  if  it  is  on  the  bank  of 
the  Mississippi,  four,  six  or  eight  arpents  in  front  on  the  river,  by  the  i 
ordinary  depth  of  forty  arpents ;   and  if  it  is  at  any  other  place,  the 
Quantity  which  they  shall  be  judged  capable  to  cultivate,  and  which  shall  be 
deemad  necessary  ibr  pasture  for  their  beasts,  in  proportion  and  according 
to  the  number  of  which  the  family  is  composed  ;  understanding  that  thej 
conce'ision  is  never  to  exceed  eight  hundred  arpents  in  superfices. 

2.  To  obtain  the  said  concessions,  if  they  are  asked  for  in  tliis  city, 
the  permission  which  has  been  obtained  to  establish  themselves  in  the! 
placd  from  the  governor,  ought  to  accompany  the  petition ;  and  if,  in  any! 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


279 


endancy  of 

ividing  and 
ilege  which, 
belonged  to 


he  ratification 
did  not  thinli 
^  latter  a  place 
er  accordingly. 
inccB  and  tne 


tor  in  ^' 
lemselve 


of  the  posts,  the  commandant  at  the  same  time  will  state  that  the  lands 
asked  for  are  vacant,  and  belong  to  the  domain,  and  that  the  petitioner 
has  obtained  permission  of  the  government  to  establish  himself;  and 
referring  to  the  date  of  the  letter  or  advice  they  have  received. 

3.  Those  who  obtain  concessions  on  the  oank  of  the  river,  ought  to 
make,  in  the  first  year  of  their  possession,  levees  sufficient  to  prevent  the 
inundation  of  the  waters,  and  canals  sufficient  to  drain  off  the  water  when 
the  river  is  high  ;  they  shall  be  held,  in  addition,  to  make,  and  keep  in 
good  order,  a  public  highway,  which  ought  to  be  at  least  thirty  feet  wide, 
and  have  bridges  of  fifteen  feet  over  the  canals  or  ditches  which  the  road 
crosses ;  which  regulations  ought  to  be  observed,  according  to  the  usages 
of  the  respective  districts,  by  all  persons  to  whom  lands  are  granted,  in 
whatever  part  they  are  obtained. 

4.  The  new  settlers  who  have  obtained  lands  shall  be  equally  obliged 
to  clear  and  put  into  cultivation,  in  the  precise  time  of  three  years,  all  the 
front  of  their  concessions,  for  the  depth  of  at  least  two  arpents,  under  the 
penalty  of  having  the  lands  granted  reunited  to  the  domain,  if  this 
condition  is  not  complied  with.  The  commandants  and  syndics  will 
watch  that  what  is  enjoined  in  this  and  the  preceding  article  be  strictly 
observed ;  and  occasionally  inform  the  intendant  of  what  they  have 
remarked,  well  understanding  that  in  case  of  default  they  will  be 
responsible  to  his  majesty. 

5.  If  a  tract  of  land,  belonging  to  minors,  remain  without  being  cleared, 
or  as  much  of  it  as  the  regulations  require ;  and  that  the  bank,  the  road, 
the  ditches,  and  the  bridges,  are  not  made,  the  commandant  or  syndic  of 
the  district  will  certify  from  whom  the  fault  has  arisen ;  if  it  is  in  the 
guardian,  he  will  urge  him  to  put  it  in  order ;  and,  if  he  fails,  he  shall 
give  an  account  of  it ;  but,  if  the  fault  arises  from  want  of  means  of  the 
minor  to  defray  the  expense,  the  commandant  or  syndic  shall  address  a 
statement  of  it  to  the  intendancy,  to  the  end  that  sale  of  it  may  be  ordered 
for  the  benefit  of  the  minor,  to  whom  alone  this  privilege  is  allowed ;  if,  in 
the  space  of  six  months,  any  purchaser  presents  himself;  if  not,  it  shall 
lie  granted  gratis  to  any  person  asking  for  it,  or  sold  for  the  benefit  of  the 
treasury. 

6.    During  the  said  term  of  three  vears,  no  person  shall  sell  or  dispose 

of  the  land  which  has  been  granted  to  him,  nor  shall  he  ever  after  the 

term,  if  he  has  failed  to  comply  with  the  conditions  contained   in  the 

])reeeding  article ;  and  to  avoid  abuses  and  surprise  in  this  respect,  we 

1  (lech\re  that  all   sales  made  without  the  consent  of  the  intendancy,  in 

1  writing,  shall  be  null  and  of  no  effect ;  which  consent  shall  not  be  granted 

until  they  have  examined,  with  scrupulous  attention,  if  the  conditions 

I  have  or  havo  not  been  fulfilled. 

I,   To  avoid  for  the  future,  the  litigations  and  confusion  of  which  we 

ve  examples  every  day,  we  have  also  judged  it  very  necessary  that  the 

Inotaries  of  this  city,  and  the  commandants  of  posts,  shall  not  take  any 

laeknowledgment  oi  conveyances  of  land  obtained  by  concession  ;  unless 

Itlie  seller  (grantor)  presents  and  delivers  to  the  buyer  the  title  which  he 

Ihas  obtained,  and  in  addition,  being  careful  to  insert  in  the  deed  the  metes 

land  bounds,  and  other  descriptions,  which  result  from  the  title  and  the 

JKoffs  !vr/>f</  of  the  survey  whicli  ought  to  accompany  it. 

j  8.  In  case  that  the  small  depth  which  the  pomts,  upon  which  the  land 

m  the  river  is  generally  formed,  prevent  the  granting  of  forty  arpents, 


y    fi 


rn 


\   ^'Ki 


'ifm 


-  f  ■  -  - 


280 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


Iliii- 


m 


according  to  usage,  there  shall  be  given  a  greater  quantity  in  front  to 
compensate  it;  or,  if  no  other  person  asks  the  concession,  or  to  purcha.>ie 
it,  it  sluiU  be  divided  equally  between  the  persons  nearest  to  it,  who  may 
repair  the  banks,  roads,  and  bridges,  in  the  manner  before  prescribed. 

9.  Although  the  king  reitounces  the  possession  of  the  huulM  sold, 
distributed,  or  conceded  in  his  name,  those  to  whom  they  are  granttd  or 
sold  ought  to  be  apprised  that  his  majesty  reserves  the  right  of  taking 
from  the  forests  known  here  under  the  name  of  cypress  woods,  all  the 
wood  which  may  be  necessary  for  his  use,  and  more  especially  which  he 
may  want  for  the  navy,  in  the  same  manner  and  with  the  same  lihtrtv 
that  the  undertakers  have  enjoyed  to  this  time;  but  this,  notwithstaudinu; 
they  are  not  to  suppose  themselves  authorized  to  take  more  than  is 
necessary,  nor  to  make  use  of  or  split  those  which  are  cut  down  and  found 
unsuitable. 

10.  In  the  posts  of  Opelousas  and  Attakapas,  the  greatest  quantity  of 
land  that  can  be  conoeded,  shall  be  one  league  front  by  the  same  ((Uantity 
in  depth ;  and  when  forty  arpents  cannot  be  obtained  in  depth,  a  half 
league  may  be  granted ;  and,  for  a  general  rule,  it  is  established,  that,  to 
obtain,  in  said  posts,  a  half  league  in  front  by  the  same  quantity  in  depth, 
the  petitioner  must  be  owner  of  one  hundred  head  of  cattle,  some  horses 
and  sheep,  and  two  slaves,  and  also  in  proportion  for  a  larger  tract, 
without  the  power,  however,  of  exceeding  the  quantity  before  mentioniMl. 

11.  As  much  as  it  is  possible,  and  the  local  situation  will  permit,  no 
interval  shall  be  left  between  concessions ;  because  it  is  very  advantageous 
that  the  establishments  touch,  as  much  for  the  inhabitants,  who  can  lend 
each  other  mutual  support,  as  for  the  more  easy  administration  of  justice, 
and  the  observance  of  rules  of  police^  indispensable  in  all  places,  but  more 
especially  in  new  establishments. 

12.  If,  notwithstanding  what  is  before  written,  marshy  lands,  or  other 
causes,  shall  make  it  necessary  to  leave  some  vacant  lands,  the  com- 
mandants and  syndics  will  take  care  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  district 
alone  may  take  wood  enough  for  their  use  only,  well  understanding  they 
shall  not  take  more ;  or,  if  any  individual  of  any  other  post,  shall  attempt 
to  get  wood,  or  cut  fire-wood,  without  having  obtained  the  permission  of 
this  intendancy,  besides  the  indemnity  which  he  shall  be  held  to  jiay  th" 
treasury  for  the  damage  sustained,  he  shall  be  comdemned,  fur  the  first 
time,  to  the  payment  of  a  fine  of  twenty-five  dollars  ;  twice  that  sum  for 
the  second  offense ;  and,  for  the  third  ofi'ense,  shall  be  put  in  prison, 
according  as  the  offense  may  be  more  or  less  aggravated;  the  said  fines 
shall  be  divided  between  the  treasury,  the  judge  and  the  informer. 

13.  The  new  settler,  to  whom  land  has  been  granted  in  one  settlement, 
cannot  ol)tain  another  concession  without  having  previously  [)roven  that 
he  had  possessed  the  first  during  three  years,  and  fulfilled  all  the  conditions 
prescribed. 

14.  The  changes  occasioned  by  the  current  of  the  river,  are  often  the 
cause  of  one  i)art  of  a  concession  becoming  useless,  so  that  we  have 
examples  of  proprietors  pretending  to  abandon  and  re-unite  to  the  domain 
a  part  of  the  most  expensive,  for  keeping  up  the  banks,  the  roads,  the 
ditches,  etc.,  and  willing  to  reserve  only  that  which  is  good ;  and  seeing 
that  unless  some  remedy  is  provided  for  this  abuse,  the  greatest  mischief 
must  result  to  the  neighbors,  we  declare  that  the  treasury  will  not  admit 
of  an  abandonment  or  re-union  to  the  domain  of  any  part  of  the  land  the 


or 

Jar 

ou^ 

disi 

ced 

1( 

sent 

ther 

and  ( 

sent, 

to  hii\ 

and  a 

found 

the  pn 

the  or 

infend( 

which  J 

n. 

ordinar 
which  { 
contadoj 
under  t 
Jiave  a  J 
of  the  b( 
18.    E 
for  Jand 
fhe  first 
put  then 

"eglected 
for  a  Jon. 

necessarij 
said  deer 
P'«ce,  ant, 
owners  of 
forinaJitief 
IS.   -411 
tneir  excel 
fame  unde 
•ne  timQ  \y 
""  tJie  cont 
*•    TJio 
Pffceding  ■ 
"sfrompr,^ 
^'anie  more 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA 


owner  wishes  to  L'et  HrJ  ^r       ,  281 

whole  limits  inclmhdZ  ^i     ""'^^''^  ^^^e  abandonmnnf  « 

general  intendant  of  fh,-«  .       •     ^*^'^"  i"  the  naniP  nf  *u     ,  • 
or  one  particularly  n.  IK' "f'  ^^^«  «hall  order  //I  ^^  ^'"^^''  ^.^-  the 
land  by 'fixing  bounds  notl-^/  -^'i-"'  *«  "^«'tke  the  ^urvov  '''r^'^'^'^^'^-'^^ 
ought  to  be  clone  in  H,*''^^"^  front,  but  also  in  fh^  '"'•^''k  the 

district  and  of  wo  0/11'  ^''•'-''  "^  *'^^^     o'm  '^nd^  this  (survey) 

n"-i^'/  which  sh       bf  £  "nf  ^^"^-^i  '^"J  thre"CrXn'  '-^'"^'^^  "^'  '^^ 

16.    The  said  yiro'.  '^Z/Tvi/r^' ^"^^^-^^  ''''"  '^'' 

sfint  hv  t>iQ  o,,^..:'.      "^. 'f^'"^",  with   a  pprfiflAj    _ 


J>>'0(X'fi 


Tur    -T     "»-  "rawn  up  bv  thn  <=.,,.,  ^""^  ^^^aii 

•     i  he  said  prorcs  verba/  tu/fl  ^^e  surveyor. 

by  the  surveyor  tnlh    '-  .\^  certified  coov  of  fi. 
there  be  delivered' by  tbni'  "^*«»^J«nt,  to  the  eiT fh  .f"'?/"^' ^'^'^'^^  ^e 
paper;  to  this  ^yni he -xtf.''''fT  ""^ ^^^  ^^^^^^  *'^"  ^'"^'"^^'^ 

The  original shal   be dcrS/•^^?''*^■^      4>Vf  nv  ird;.!  '  "l^^^^^'^^^ry  title 
and  care  shall  be  t4pn^f.       , '"  *''^  ^^^'e  of  the  seo'  w!    ^"^/^  s»n  <  ^or. 
sent,  with  an  alnhab.ff  ^^^^'-^^e  annually  a  boot-  off  ^^/"/^^^  t^•<^'''^»rV' 
tohHve  recoursJtu  td  J.?'  '"  ""'  '"^^  ""-  Tsefu   wL?/,^^-'  ^^^^^^  '--^' 
and  against  all  ace  dents  S   ^i"'^*^"  ^«'«"rity,  to  the  end  ?h  V'  "««ossary 
found.    The  surveyor  .hJii'^  documents  which  shn]?i    ^''*'  '"^^  ''^"  ^""es 
the /.m...,.,,6«/^f^{gj/^a     also  have  another    ookiu!^d7""'r^  '^''  '^« 
he  original,   which  ou^bt^t  ^e  makes  shall  be  recokb"         'i'''  "'  ^^'^"^^ 
intended  to  be  annovpflTi*'' >®  fleposited   on  rl    1''  '"id,  aswdlon 

lave  a  like  Ck -^and  ofl'^*  T?'''-    Tim  chamber  "f/""""^™' ""''  «>  "' 

for  a  longer  thnp   t •  f  ""  ^''^  *^«  Property    Ld  J.  Vi  '''^ ,  ''^^^^  "^ade,  luive 

neces.saril?^;es,r\v?ir^'T."^  *^«  c^nfu^on  and  ^- ^"?^'  ^«"tinu  ng 
^'aicl  decrees  noAlir^  .''''^''}^^  ^^'-^t  no  one  of  thl!    i  '^T''^^''  ^^hich  will 

4e  time  when  it  h  ?„        i^"  SP"nish ;  and  thoS  S?     ^^  ''I'"''''  ""lien  it 
»» the  cent  ™v  he  i™P'  'P  "''""•'e,  so  ?ar  from  he  I,"  n™* '^«o<l  them  in 

'*  "lore  ?Sf  i''""»'"K  '»  'he  erown  ™u  '  ff  Cv'l  ''"'"■™  ">eretV„„ ' 
'  t^n  >-,  a  eompromis^  U- ^  ititr/trtllMi 


.■n-: 


282 


HISTORY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


,iV 


Ni 


arc  considort'd  as  owners,  that  is  to  sjiy,  they  shall  not  be  deprived  of 
their  lands.  Always  that,  after  infornuition,  and  summary  procedure, 
and  with  the  intervention  of  the  proeureur  of  the  king,  at  the  hoard  of 
the  treasury,  they  shall  be  obliged  to  pay  a  just  and  moderate  retribution, 
calculated  according  to  the  extent  of  the  lands,  their  situation,  and  other 
circumstances,  and  the  price  of  estimation  for  once  j)aid  into  the  roviil 
treasury.  The  titles  to  property  will  be  delivered,  on  referring  to  that 
which  has  resulted  from  the  proceedings. 

21.  Those  who  are  found  in  a  situation  expressed  in  the  18th  article,  if 
they  have  not  cleared  nor  done  any  work  upon  the  land  they  consider 
themselves  i>roprietors  of,  by  virtue  of  the  first  deci'ee  of  the  government, 
not  being  of  the  number  of  those  who  have  been  admitted  in  the  class  of 
new  comers,  in  being  deprived  or  admitted  to  com]>romise,  in  the  manner 
exi»lained  in  the  preceding  article ;  if  they  are  of  that  class,  they  shall 
ojjserve  what  is  ordered  in  the  article  following. 

22.  In  the  i)recise  and  peremptt)ry  term  of  six  months,  counting  from 
the  day  when  tliis  regulation  shall  be  published  in  each  post,  all  those 
who  occupy  lands  without  titles  from  the  governor,  and  those  who,  in 
having  obtained  a  certain  number  of  arpents,  have  seized  a  greater 
quantity,  ought  to  make  it  known,  either  to  have  their  titles  made  out. 
if  there  arc  any,  or  to  be  admitted  to  a  compromise,  or  to  declare  that  tlie 
said  lands  belong  to  the  domain,  if  they  have  not  been  occupied  more 
than  ten  years ;  understanding,  if  it  passes  the  said  term,  if  they  are 
instructed  l)y  other  ways,  they  will  not  obtain  either  title  or  compromise. 

2:'..  Those  who  give  information  of  lands  occupied,  after  the  exjnration 
of  the  term  fixed  in  the  preceding  article,  shall  have  for  their  reward  the 
one-fourth  part  of  the  price  for  which  they  are  sold,  or  obtained  by  way 
of  compromise;  and,  !f  desirable,  he  shall  have  the  preference,  either  hv 
comi)romisc,  at  the  i)rice  of  appraisement,  and  there  shall  be  made  a 
deduction  of  one-fourth,  as  informer. 

24.  As  it  is  impossil)le,  considering  all  the  local  circumstances,  that 
all  tlie  vacant  lands  belonging  to  the  domain  should  be  sold  by  auction, 
as  it  is  ordained  by  the  law  15th,  title  12th,  book  4th,  of  the  collection  of 
the  laws  of  these  kingdoms,  the  sale  shall  be  made  according  as  it  shall 
be  demanded,  with  the  intervention  of  the  king's  attorney  for  the  hoard 
of  finances,  for  the  price  they  shall  be  taxed,  to  those  who  wish  to 
purchase ;  understanding,  if  the  purchasers  have  not  ready  money  to  pay 
it  shall  be  lawful  for  them  to  purchase  the  said  lands  at  redeemable 
quit-rent,  during  which  they  shall  pay  the  five  per  cent,  yearly. 

2').  Besides  the  moderate  i)ricc  which  the  land  ought  to  be  taxed,  the 
purchasers  shall  be  held  to  pay  down  the  right  of  media  annatn,  or  half 
year's,  to  be  remitted  to  S])ain,  which,  according  to  the  custom  of  Havana, 
founded  on  law,  is  reduced  to  two  and  a  half  per  cent,  on  the  price  of 
estimation,  and  made  18  per  cent,  on  the  sum,  by  the  said  two  and  a  half 
per  cent. ;  they  shall  also  be  obliged  to  pay  down  the  fees  of  the  suiveyor 
and  notary. 

20.  The  sales  of  land  shall  be  made  subject  to  the  same  condition,  and 
charges  of  banks,  roads,  ditches  and  bridges,  contained  in  the  preceding 
article.  But  the  i)urchasers  are  not  subject  to  lose  their  lands,  if,  in  the 
three  first  ,years,  they  do  not  fulfil  the  said  conditions.  Commandant? 
and  syndics  shall  oblige  them  to  put  themselves  within  the  rule,  Iteginte 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


28;i 


rived  of 
:)ce(lun', 
lourd  of 
i-i\)Vit\()n, 
nd  other 
\\G  royiil 
ir  to  tiiat 

i\rticlo,  if 
'  consider 
verunAcnt, 
\e  class  of 
he  manner 
they  s\v.ill 

ntins  fi'<>"^ 
3t,  all  those 
ose  who,  m 
\   a  greater 
,  made  out. 
lave  that  tiie 
cupicd  more 
if  they  arc 
compvomise. 
he  expiration 
jir  reward  the 
■ained  hy  way 
,nce,  either  by 
\  be  made  a 

nstances,  that 
,1(\  hv  auction, 
.  collection  o 
Ang  as  it  shall 
for  the  hoavH 
who  wish  to 
money  to  nav 
at  redeemable 

[o  be  taxed  the 

,om  of  Havana, 
m  the  price  0 
two  and  a  halt 
i)f  thesuiveyor 

L  condition,  ajja 
Y  the  precedmg 

\  CoinmandanU 
Lrule,hegwto 


perform  the  conditions  in  ii  roasonal)lc  term,  and  if  they  do  not  do  it,  the 
said  work  shall  he  done  at  the  cost  of  the  pureliasers. 

27.  Care  shall  l)e  taken  to  observe  in  the  said  sales,  that  whiili  is 
recommended  in  the  11th  article,  seeing  the  advantages  and  utility  wliich 
result  from  consolidating  the  establishments  always  when  it  is  praeticaltle. 

28.  The  titles  to  tlie  property  of  lands  which  "are  sold,  or  granteil  by 
way  of  compronuse,  shall  be  issued  by  the  general  intendant,  who,  after 
tlie  price  of  estimation  is  fixed,  and  of  the  inrdla  anudfa  (half  year's)  rent 
or  quit-rent,  the  said  prico  of  estimation  shall  have  been  paid  into  the 
tn>asury,  shall  put  it  in  writing  a(!cording  to  the  result  of  the  proceeding 
which  has  taken  place  with  the  intervention  of  the  king's  attorney. 

29.  The  said  [)rocedure  shall  be  deposited  in  the  office  of  the  finance, 
and  the  title  be  transcribed  in  another  book,  intended  for  the  recording  of 
deeds  and  grants  of  land,  in  the  same  manner  as  is  ordered  by  the  17th 
article,  concerning  grutuitous  concessions.  The  principal  chamber  of 
recounts  shall  also  have  a  separate  book,  to  take  a  note  of  the  titles  issued 
for  sales  and  grants  under  compromise. 

80.  The  fees  of  the  surveyor  in  every  case  comprehended  in  the 
jjroscnt  regulation,  shall  be  proportionate  to  the  labor  and  tliat  which  it 
lias  been  customary  until  this  time  to  pay.  Those  of  tlie  Svjcretary  of 
finances,  unless  there  has  btjcn  extraordinary  labor,  and  where  the  now 
!;ettlers  are  not  poor  (for  in  this  case  he  is  not  to  exact  anything  of  them) 
shall  be  five  dollars ;  and  this  shall  include  the  recording  and  other 
formalities  prescribed,  and  those  of  the  appraisers,  and  of  the  interpreter, 
if,  on  any  occasion,  there  is  reason  to  employ  him  to  translate  i)ai>ers, 
take  declarations  or  other  acts,  shall  be  regulated  l)y  the  provincial  tariff. 

31.  Indians  who  possess  lands  within  the  limits  of  the  government, 
shall  not,  in  any  manner,  be  disturbed ;  on  the  contrary,  they  shall  be 
protected  and  supported ;  and  to  this,  the  commandants,  syndics  and 
surveyors,  ought  to  pay  the  greatest  attention,  to  conduct  themselves  in 
consequence. 

32.  The  granting  or  selling  of  any  lands  shall  not  be  ]n-oceeded  in 
without  formal  information  having  been  previously  received  that  they 
are  vacant ;  and,  to  avoid  injurious  mistakes,  we  ])rcmise  that,  beside  the 
signature  of  the  commandant  or  s3'ndic  of  the  district,  this  information 
oujiht  to  be  joined  by  that  of  the  surveyor,  and  of  two  of  the  neighbors, 
well  understanding.  If,  notwithstanding  this  necessary  precaution,  it 
shall  be  found  that  the  land  has  another  owner  besides  the  claimant,  and 
that  there  is  sufficient  reason  to  restore  it  to  him,  the  commandant  or 
syndic,  the  surveyor,  and  the  neighbors  who  have  signed  the  information, 
shall  indemnify  him  for  the  losses  he  has  suffered. 

33.  As  fiir  as  it  may  be  practicable,  the  inhabitants  must  endeavor  that 
the  petitions  presented  by  them,  to  ask  for  lands,  be  written  in  the  Spanish 
langua<;e;  on  which  ought,  also,  to  be  written  the  advice  or  information 
which  the  commandants  are  to  give.  In  the  posts  where  this  is  not 
practical )le,  the  ancient  usage  shall  be  followed. 

34.  All  the  lots  or  seats  belonging  to  the  domain,  which  are  found 
vacant,  either  in  this  city,  or  boroughs,  or  villages,  already  established,  or 
which  may  be  established,  shall  be  sold  for  ready  money,  with  all  the 
formalities  prescribed  in  article  the  twenty-fourth,   and   others,  which 

I  concern  the  sale  of  lands. 

35.  The  owners  of  lots  or  places,  Avhich  have  been  divided,  as  well  as 


i 


M'-vil 


^  :::l;i 


% 


^;';w_*'^ij 


m 


284 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


1 11%' 


those  in  front,  as  towards  the  N.  E.  and  8.  W.  extremities,  N.  E.  and  S. 
W.  slmll  within  three  months,  present  to  the  intendaney  the  titles  which 
tlioy  have  obtained ;  to  the  end  that,  in  examining  the  same,  if  anv 
essential  thin<J!  is  found  wanting,  it  may  be  supplied,  and  they  assured  of 
their  })r()j)ert.y  in  a  legal  way. 

8<).  Tiie  same  thing  must  be  done  before  the  sub-delegates  of  Mobile 
and  Pensacola,  for  those  who  have  olitained  grants  for  lots  in  these 
respective  establishments ;  to  the  end  that  this  intendaney,  being 
instructed  thereon,  may  order  what  it  shall  judge  most  convenient  to 
indemnify  the  royal  treasury,  without  doing  wrong  to  the  owner. 

o7.  In  the  office  of  comi)troller,  contadoria  of  the  army,  or  chambers 
of  iucounts  of  this  province,  and  other  boards  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
this  intendaney,  an  account  shall  be  kept  of  the  amount  of  sales  or  grants 
of  lands,  to  instruct  his  majesty  every  year  what  this  branch  of  the  roval 
revenue  produces,  according,  as  it  is  ordered  in  the  thirteenth  article  of 
the  ordinance  of  the  king,  of  the  15th  of  October,  1754. 

8S.  The  commandants,  or  syndics,  in  their  respective  districts,  are 
charged  with  the  collection  of  the  amount  of  the  taxes  or  rents  laid  on 
lands ;  for  this  purpose  the  papers  and  necessary  documents  are  to  be 
sent  to  them ;  and  they  ought  to  forward  annually,  to  the  general  treasury, 
the  sums  they  have  collected,  to  the  end  that  acquittances,  clothed  with 
the  usual  formalities  of  law,  may  be  delivered  to  them. 

Gayoso  now  received  and  executed  a  commission  of  judge  of  residence 
of  his  predecessor.  One  act  of  the  Baron's  administration  was  deemed 
reprehensible.  He  had  been  deluded,  by  an  excess  of  zeal  for  what  he 
conceived  to  be  the  public  good,  to  take  upon  himself  the  responsibility 
of  condemning  to  death  a  slave,  who  had  killed  his  overseer.  The  fact  was 
proven,  that  Vidal,  the  assessor  of  government,  conceived  that  the  circum- 
stances, which  attended  it,  did  not  bring  the  case  under  any  law  authorizing 
a  sentence  of  death  and  had  recommended  a  milder  one.  At  the  soHci- 
tation  of  a  number  of  respectable  planters,  and  of  the  owner  of  the  slave. 
Marigny  de  ISIandeville,  a  knight  of  St.  Louis  and  colonel  of  the  militia,  who 
represented  to  the  Baron  that  an  example  was  absolutely  necessary,  espe- 
cially so  soon  after  the  late  insurrection,  he  disregarded  the  opinion  of  his 
legal  adviser  and  ordered  the  execution  of  the  slave.  It  was  t^ought  the  life 
of  a  human  being,  although  a  slave,  ought  not  to  depend  on  the  opinion  of  a 
man,  in  any  case  where  his  sacrifice  was  not  expressly  ordered  by  law.  A 
fine  of  five  hundred  dollars  was  paid  by  the  Baron. 

Don  Francisco  de  Bouligny,  who  had  succeeded  Piernas  in  the  command 
of  the  regiment  of  Lousiana,  died  and  was  succeeded  by  colonel  Howard. 

The  Marquis  de  Someruelos,  succeeded  the  Count  de  Santa  Clara,  as 
captain-general  of  the  island  of  Cuba,  and  the  provinces  of  Louisiana 
and  East  and  West  Florida.  The  Marquis  retained  this  office  until  the 
cession. 

The  increase  of  the  commerce  of  the  United  States  with  New  Orleans, 
induced  the  appointment  of  a  consul  there,  and  the  President  commissioned 
Evan  Jones  as  such. 

The  post  of  New  Madrid  was  this  year  annexed  to  Upper  Louisiana. 

(layoso  died  on  the  18th  July,  in  his  forty-eighth  year.  Don  Maria 
Vidal,  the  lieutenant-governor,  now  acted  as  civil  governor  of  the  two 
provinces,  and  the  captain-general,  on  hearing  of  Gayoso's  death,  sent 
over  the  Marquis  de  Casa-Calvo,  to  act  as  military  governor. 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


285 


and  S. 
3  wliieh 
,  if  any 
jured  of 

f  Mobile 
in  tiiese 
:y,  being 
enient  to 

chambers 
[iction  of 
3  or  grants 
[  the  royal 
article  of 

stricts,  are 
iits  laid  on 
}  are  to  be 
ral treasury, 
jlothed  with 

of  residence 
was  deemed 
for  what  he 

The  fact  was 
latthecircum- 
iw  authoruing 

At  the  solici- 
X  of  the  slave. 

le  militia,  who 

eceseary, espe- 
opinionofhis 
koughtthehfe 
he  opinion  Ota 

'edbylaw.    A 

In  the  command 
bloiiel  Howard, 
'santa  Clara' as 
hs  of  ^oxxissm 
foffice  until  the 

^ew  Orleans, 
It  commissioned 

L  Louisiana. 
Ir     Don  Hana 
tnor  of  the  t^vo 
L's  death,  sent 
lor. 


Don  Ramon  de  Lopez  v  AnguUo,  a  knight  pensioner  of  the  royal  and 
tlifitinguished  order  of  Charles  IIL,  who  had  been  appointed  intendant  of 
the  provinces  of  Louisiana  and  West  Florida,  arrived  at  New  Orleans  in 
the  latter  part  of  the  year. 

A  report  made  by  Don  Carlos  Dehault  Delassus,  commandant-general 
of  Upper  Louisiana,  presents  the  following  result  on  the  last  day  of 
this  year : 

CENSUS. 

925 

184 


St.  Louis,    . 
Carondelet, 
St.  Charles, 
St.  Fernando, 
Marais  des  Liards, 
Maramec, 
St.  Andrew, 
St.  Genevieve, 
New  Bourbon, 
Cape  Girardeau, 
New  Madrid, 
Little  Meadows, 


875 
276 
376 
115 
393 
949 
560 
521 
782 
k     49 

6,005 


The  white  population  was  4,948  souls ;   the  free  colored,  197 ;    that  of 
slaves,  883. 
During  this  year  there  were  34  marriages,  191  births,  and  52  deaths. 
There  were  in  the  different  settlements,  7,980  head  of  horned  cattle,  and 
1,763  horses. 

The  crops  amounted  to  88,349  minots  of  wheat,  84,534  of  Indian  corn, 
and  28,627  pounds  of  tobacco. 
The  exports  to  New  Orleans,  consisted  of: 
1754  bundles  of  deerskins,  at  40,      .  .  .  $70,160 

8  bundles  of  bearskins,  at  32,  .  .  .  256 

18  bundles  of  buffalo  robes,  at  30,  .  .  540 

360  quintals  of  lead,  at  6,  ...  2,160 

*    20  quintals  of  flour,  at  3,  ...  60 

$73,176 

1340  quintals  of  lead  were  exported  to  the  United  States,  by  the  Ohio, 
Cumberland  and  Tennessee  rivers. 

One  thousand  bushels  of  salt  were  made  yearly. 

The  United  States  had  been  induced,  by  the  conduct  of  France  and 
Spain,  to  make  warlike  preparations ;  both  of  those  powers  having 
committed  spoliations  on  their  trade,  and  the  latter  (in  violation  of  her 
treaty,  as  the  United  States  considered  it)  having  ceased  to  allow  their 
citizens  a  place  of  deposit  in  New  Orleans.  General  Washington  had 
accepted  the  chief  command  of  the  armies  of  his  country,  but  had 
stipulated  that  he  should  not  be  called  on  to  take  the  field  until  his 
presence  became  absolutely  necessary ;  and  in  the  meanwhile,  the  superin- 
I  tendance  of  the  forces  had  been  committed  to  generals  Hamilton  and 

Pinkney.  The  agency  of  the  former  had  been  extended  to  all  the  western 

army,  except  that  part  which  might  be  within  the  states  of  Kentucky  and 


■¥*% 


"■        M, 


h'M 


li  s^. 


'  lb  I 


m 


286 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


,ui 


hm 


5^ 


m 


Tennessee ;  and  it  was  deemed  that  Wilkinson's  presence  at  h\n 
headquarters  was  indispensable  to  a  full  and  satisfactory  discussion  df 
matters  relating  to  a  section  of  country,  with  many  of  the  most  inipoitiiiit 
transactions  of  which  he  had  been,  in  someway  or  other,  concerned.  He 
accordingly  descended  the  Mississipi)i,  and  took  shinping  for  New  York. 

Government  had  determined  on  a  mode  of  redress,  of  which  the 
conception  was  as  bold  as  its  execution  was  diflicult.  This  was  nothiufj 
less  than  the  acquisition  of  New  Orleans,  Avhich  appeared  cahulatt'd  to 
indemnify  the  United  States  for  their  losses,  and  appease  the  fciirs  of  the 
western  people.  The  success  of  the  enterprise  depended  almost  entirdv 
on  its  bemg  conducted  in  such  a  way  as  not  to  awake  the  suspicions  of 
Spain.  The  diflferences  with  France  offered  a  cover  for  the  real  dcsiirii. 
Twelve  regiments  were  this  year  added  to  the  army,  to  serve  durinfj;  the 
continuance  of  the  diflerences.  Three  of  these  regiments  wen?  ordered 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio,  and  to  keep  their  boats  in  constant  readiness. 
The  assent  of  congress  was  to  be  asked  at  their  next  meeting. 

General  Washington  died  on  the  fourteenth  of  December. 

The  ordinary  alcades  for  the  year  1800,  were  Perez  and  Poyfarre. 

Application  having  been  made  to  Don  Henry  Peyroux,  the  commandant 
at  New  Madrid,  for  the  purchase  of  several  very  large  tracts  of  land. 
particularly  one  of  one  hundred  thousand  acres,  he  consulted  Lopez,  the 
new  intendant,  who  refused  his  assent,  being  of  o])inion  that  it  never  was 
the  intention  of  the  king  to  dispose  of  the  vacant  lands  in  quantities  so 
large.  He  admitted  the  new  regulations  were  made  with  a  view  to  the 
sale  of  lands ;  but  they  were  to  be  disposed  of  in  compliance  with  the 
previous  formalities,  and  a  reference  to  the  abilities  and  forces  of  the  parties 
desirous  of  purchasing ;  because  it  would  not  be  just  that  for  a  small 
consideratic^n,  one  or  more  speculators  should  engross  a  vast  extent  (if 
land,  to  the  prejudice  of  others  who  came  to  settle,  who  would  conse- 
quently find  themselves  driven  to  purchase  those  lands  which  they  mifiht 
have  gratuitously,  or  at  any  rate  at  a  low  price. 

The  culture  of  the  cane  requiring  an  additional  number  of  hands,  the 
colonial  government,  in  the  beginning  of  November,  at  the  solicitation  of 
the  cabildo,  issued  a  i)roclamation,  suspending,  until  the  pleasure  of  the 
king  should  be  known,  the  existing  prohibition  of  the  introduction"  of 
African  negroes. 

On  the  seventh  of  May,  the  northwestern  territory  of  the  United  States 
was  divided :  the  western  part  of  it  was  erected  into  a  distinct  govern- 
ment, under  a  form  similar  to  that  established  by  the  ordinance  of  178". 
It  was  called  the  Indian  territory. 

The  marked  determination  of  the  peojde  of  the  United  States  not  to 
re-elect  the  president,  induced  him  to  abandon  the  plan  he  had  formed 
for  the  seizure  of  New  Orleans. 

By  the  third  article  of  a  treaty  concluded  at  St.  Ildcfonso  on  the 
first  of  October  of  this  year,  between  the  Catholic  king  and  the  first  consul 
of  the  French  republic,  the  former  promised  and  engaged  on  his  part,  to 
cede  to  the  French  republic,  six  months  after  the  full  and  entire  execution 
of  the  conditions  therein  stii)ulated,  in  relation  to  the  duke  of  Parma,  the 
colony  and  province  of  Louisiana,  with  the  same  extent  that  it  then 
had  in  the  hands  of  Spain,  and  that  it  had  when  France  possessed  it,  and 
such  as  it  should  be  after  the  treaties  subseciuently  entered  into  between 
Spain  and  other  powers. 


1,S( 
I 

re-ri 

T 

in  > 

Tl 

Jiiet 

jravo 

On 

effect 

.•iHjlli 

form  ( 

captni 

Ky  I 

the  pn 

tile  coi 

then  .^i 

half  of 

one  liui 

inhaldt; 

the  nior 

course  (I 

the  Jove, 

trenelies 

occasiojii 

"leoausd 

Thoni; 

f'nited  S 

The  ,Ji 

'French 


r;itifje(l 


01 


iimved  tf)\ 
jiroviiiccs 
■mailed  for  ] 

O.'iniel  C 

«'isaj)j,oin 

,    ^Jez,sa 
'I'ffform..,! 

imh  helonl 
I'lfeniedv  \v\ 
On  the 
."icka.s;nv 
("'Indians. 


,,i^;:--ini,ue  Boun.n,  ...  H.  .at  ].  ^l^T  '"'''  ''''  ^^ 

record  t.,  then       •"''^'  *"  ^'^^'^^'"'^  of  tJ.iV    t  "fSL    .'  "^'^1*."^  '^'l''^'^^ 

The  HU.pe„,sion  of  the  nrohih.V        .  '     ^''*  '""^   »«^v 

>"f't  witli  tl.o  kinjr'H  aSu/     *'''"  '/  *'^^^  introduction  nf  r'    • 

jravo  order  to  the  (.,Z  'r       ""'  ""^'  ^'«  ^lecreed    t  t'    "    J'""'"' ""^''^^^ 

On  the  twentv-fii'nt  of  Vnv  i    ..  *'""'^  ""^il  he 

:';u!:;l^>.^"T;;'-^f  VT^^^^^  ^r  ^-»-  was 

'■-■■H  J'f  ^-vornn"e    "^sadon^,'^/'''^^^      w"se  t  STo?/'""'^^^^  '^^  his 
captfiin-ireneral,  Lauss?,'f  ^' ,  ^^^'^  ^^r  tlio  province      V    J   ^^'^  «®^^''ce.     A 

flic  i»r()i)()sition  of  fl    n   ^"^  ^^'it'i  of  Mav   fjj     •  *^"^et  justice. 

^^^^' ^onL^^^^^  i^,"//"^  \ave  his  assent  to 

J5,l!';:2;-:,hoSSl,^ 


l^^i 


,.-fc^- 


".-"U..C  uiimivn  mortality  ^'""^^ 

Jnonijis  Jefferson   mi         i 

CHAPTER    XXIV 

I    ^f"'^J".''^n  Manuel  d«  c!„i    j 
"'•rniHJ  towards  the  m  drlln  '5  t  '  "^  ^"^•'idier-geneMl  nf  *i 

^"*''>'out,  open,  and 


V  .(Jj  ^iU 


11 " 


t 

i 

i 


.H 


4i 


288 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


make  ii  convenient  wngon  road  through  the  Indian  hind,  between  the 
settlements  of  the  Miro  district,  in  the  state  of  Tennessee,  and  tlutsi-  of 
Natchez  in  the  Mississippi  territory ;  and  it  was  provided  that  the  ucctH- 
sary  ferries  over  the  water  courses  crossed  by  the  road,  slioultl  l»e  (letiiicd 
the  property  of  the  Indians. 

On  the  seventeenth  dav  of  December,  another  treaty  was  (!on(  ludcil  at 
Fort  Adams,  on  the  Mississippi,  between  the  United  States  an<l  the 
Choctaw  nation  of  Indians,  by  wnich  the  latter  gave  their  (ron.scnt  that  a 
convenient  and  durable  wagon  road  might  be  explored,  marked,  t>|H'n((l, 
and  made  through  their  land,  to  commence  at  the  northwestern  extrcmitv 
of  the  Mississippi  territory,  and  extend  to  the  land  of  the  Chickasaws. 
The  Choctaws  agreed  that  the  old  boundary  line,  heretofore  establiHhcd  hy 
the  officers  of  the  king  of  Great  Britain  and  the  Choctaw  nation,  which 
runs  in  a  parallel  direction  with  the  Mississippi  river  eastward,  should  he 
retraced  and  plainly  marked,  and  be  held  ever  after  as  the  boumhirv 
between  the  settlements  of  the  Mississippi  territory  and  the  Clioctaw 
nation.  The  Choctaws  relinquished  to  the  United  States  all  their  ri;:hts 
to  the  land  between  this  line  and  the  Mississippi,  bounded  on  the  south 
by  the  thirty-first  degree  of  north  latitude,  and  on  the  north  by  tiio  livir 
Yazoo,  where  the  line  shall  strike  the  stream.  The  United  States  eiijiaged 
that  all  persons  who  might  settle  beyond  this  line,  should  be  reiuoviil 
within  it,  on  the  side  towards  the  Mississippi,  together  with  their  slaves. 
household  furniture,  tools,  stock,  and  materials,  and  their  cabins  or  houses 
demolished. 

On  the  twenty-fifth  of  March,  1802,  a  definite  treaty  of  peace,  between 
Spain,  France  and  Great  Britain  was  signed  at  Amiens. 

Don  Carlos  de  Jaen  came  over  with  and  executed  a  commission  of  judge 
of  residence  of  Miro. 

By  a  royal  schedule  of  the  eleventh  of  June,  the  contribution  to  be  paid 
on  legacies,  devises,  and  successions  ah  intestato,  in  favor  of  relatives  and 
relations  of  deceased  persons  or  strangers,  was  reduced  to  and  fixed  at  four 
per  cent.  That  on  legacies  or  devises  to  a  husband  or  wife,  at  one-hjilf of  * 
one  per  cent.  This  charge,  however,  was  not  to  extend  to  estates  of  less 
than  two  thousand  dollars,  nor  to  bequests  for  the  benefit  of  the  soul  of 
the  deceased. 

The  Baron  de  Bastrop  having  ceded  to  Moorhouse,  a  citizen  of  the 
United  States,  a  part  of  the  grant  he  had  obtained  from  the  Baron  de 
Carondelet,  in  1769,  on  the  Washita,  the  king  disapproved  of  this  arrange- 
ment, and  by  a  royal  schedule  of  the  eighteenth  of  July,  forbade  the  grant 
of  any  land  in  Louisiana  to  a  citizen  of  the  United  States. 

Serano,  the  assessor  of  the  intendancy,  died  on  the  first  of  December. 
Morales,  in  consequence  of  this  event,  and  of  the  absence  of  a  legal 
character  to  supply  his  place,  closed  the  tribunal  of  affairs  and  causes 
relating  to  grants  and  compositions  of  royal  land^,  the  ordinance  for  the 
intendants  of  New  Spain,  providing  that  for  conducting  tiie  affairs  of 
that  tribunal  and  sustaining  its  acts,  there  should  be  the  concurrence  of 
such  a  character. 

During  the  last  quarter  of  this  year,  citizens  of  the  United  States  were 
not  allowed  the  right  of  a  deposit,  in  or  near  New  Orleans,  and  the  impor- 
tation of  goods  in  American  oottoms  was  not  permitted. 

Lopez  having  lost  the  office  of  intendant  by  the  cession  of  Louisiana  I 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


289 


wcon  the 
tViosc  ut' 

)t'  lllH'UUid 

icludt'il  ill 
>>»  lUitl  the 
sent  that  a 
j(l,  o\>i'nf(l, 
\  oxtiviuity 
U\icki\s!i\vs. 

itiou,  which 
A,  shouMlx' 
,0  bouivhiry 
\ic  Choctiiw 

their  ri'^hts 
on  the  south 

bv  the  riwr 
bates  eiviiigcd 
[  be  reianvi'd 
1  their  slaves, 
)itts  or  houst'i* 

►cace,  between 


ission 


of  jui^Kt' 


tiontohepau 
f  rehitives  awl 
tdfixetlatfour    J 
I  at  one-half  of 
eHtates  of  lei's 
of  the  soul  of 

citizen  of  the 
tlie  Baron  de 
lof  this  arrange- 
rbatle  the  jirant 

k  of  December. 
[nee  of  a  legal 
[urs  and  causes 
liinanoe  for  tk 
[gtbe  affairs  ot 
concurrence 


)f 


ted  States  were 
andtheimp<"- 

ni  of  Louisiana  j 


to  France,  was  appointed  consul-general  of  Spain  at  New  Orleans,  and 
e!ni)arked  onboanfof  a  vchhcI  for  that  city,  but  died  on  the  passage. 

On  the  twenty-ninth  of  Noveinher,  the  people  of  the  E.  division  of  the 
X.  W.  territory  of  the  United  States,  became  a  state  under  the  name  of 
the  state  of  Ohio,  being  the  seventeenth. 
Forstall  and  Lanusse  were  the  ordinary  alcades  during  the  year  18i)3. 
Towards  the  latter  part  of  January,  Morales  issued  a  proclamation, 
allowing  the  importation  of  flour  and  provisions  from  the  United  States 
on  payment  of  a  duty  of  six  per  cent,  subject  to  exportation  in  Spanish 
bottoms  only. 

On  the  first  of  March,  the  king  disapproved  of  the  order  of  Morales, 
prohihiting  the  introduction  and  cleposit  of  goods,  wares  and  merchandise 
from  the  United  States,  in  the  port  of  New  Orleans :  and  ordered  that  the 
United  States  should  continue  to  enjoy  their  right  of  deposit  in  New 
Orleans,  without  prejudice  of  his  to  substitute  some  other  si)ot  on  the 
banks  of  the  Mississippi. 

By  an  act  of  congress  of  the  ninth  of  February,  provision  was  made 
for  granting  licenses  at  the  customhouse  at  Fort  Adams,  to  vessels  owned 
by  citizens  of  the  United  States,  lying  on  the  Mississippi,  beloAV  the 
thirty-first  degree  of  northern  latitude. 

General  Victor  had  been  appointed,  by  the  first  consul,  commissioner 
for  receiving  possession  of  the  province  of  Louisiana,  and  his  arrival  being 
daily  expected,  the  cabildo,  on  the  twenty-third  of  March,  1803,  caused 
the  supply  of  meat  for  the  French  troops  accompanying  him,  to  be  put 
at  auction  to  the  lowest  bidder,  with  the  exclusive  right  of  supplying  the 
inhabitants  of  the  city.  The  contractor  was  required  to  keep  constantly 
a  stock  of  at  least  one  thousand  head  of  cattle  in  or  near  the  city  of  New 
Orleans. 

A  vessel  arriving  from  Havre-de-Grace,  on  the  following  day,  brought 
the  baggage  of  Laussat,  the  colonial  prefect,  who  was  preceding  the 
captain-general,  with  a  special  mission,  for  the  purpose  of  providing 
whatever  might  be  necessary  on  the  arrival  of  the  troops,  and  making 
arrangements  for  the  establishment  of  the  government  of  the  republic. 

By  this  vessel  the  peoj)le  of  Louisiana  were  informed  of  the  form  of 
government  provided  for  the  province  by  its  new  master. 

Its  principal  officers  were  a  captain-general,  a  colonial  prefect,  and  a 
commissary  of  justice. 

The  captain-general  was  commander-in-chief  of  the  land  and  naval 
foreeB,  Jind  had  the  care  of  the  exterior  and  the  interior  defense  of  the 
colony.  He  provisorily  filled  the  vacancies  in  military  offices,  according 
to  the  order  of  advancement,  as  far  as  the  grade  of  chief  of  division  or 
squadron,  and  proposed  to  the  minister  proper  persons  to  fill  higher  grades. 
He  delivered  passports,  regulated  the  bearing  of  arms,  and  corresponded 
with  the  governors  of  other  colonies,  whether  belonging  to  allies,  neutrals, 
or  enemies.  With  the  colonial  prefect,  he  regulated  the  works  to  be  done 
on  the  fortifications,  and  the  new  roads  to  be  opened ;  and  finally 
exercised  all  powers  formally  granted  to  governors-general.  He  was 
forbidden  to  interfere  with  the  attributions  of  the  colonial  prefect  or 
commissary  of  justice ;  but  was  authorized  to  require  from  either  of  them 
information  on  any  matter  relative  to  the  service.  Power  was  given  him 
to  suspend  provisorily  the  execution  of  laws,  in  whole  or  in  part,  on  his 
as 


I?' 


.4 


I  HI 


",■« 


I    1 


i'v. 


iff 

1  '.ii.i 


IK' a 


2(K> 


HISTOIIY  OF   LOl'ISIANA. 


r('S)i(»nsil»ility,  after  hiivinf:;  coiiHulted  the  colonial  prefect,  or  thoconunis- 
narv  of  justice,  according  to  the  nature  of  the  caHc. 

CopicH  of  every  deliberation  were  to  he  Hent  yearly  to  the  niiniHter. 

N'acant  landw  were  to  he  granted  hy  the  captain-generid  and  colonial 
prefect;  hut  in  case  of  disagreement  the  opinion  of  the  fornier  was  to 
|)r«'vail. 

Vacancies  in  the  departments  of  the  colnnial  prefect  and  cf)nuiiiHHarv 
of  justice,  were  to  he  tilled  hy  the  captain-general  on  their  nonnnation- 
hut  no  aj>pointment  was  final  until  (lonllrmed  hy  the  first  consul. 

In  case  of  the  ahsence  of  the  captain-g(;neral,  he  was  to  be  reprcs<'iitc(I 
by  the  colonial  prefect,  or  by  the  liighcst  military  ollicer. 

The  colonial  prefect's  powers  extended  to  the  administration  of  the 
finance's,  the  general  accountability  and  destination  of  all  oHicerH  of 
administration.  He  was  exclusively  charged  with  the  police  of  \\w 
colony,  including  all  that  related  to  taxes,  n^ceipts  an<l  expenditures,  the 
custondiouse,  the  pay  of  the  troops,  the  puldic  stores,  agriculture,  navi- 
gation, commerce,  the  census,  the  supnrcssion  of  contraband  trade,  the 
police  of  slaves,  highways,  levees,  i)ublic  instruction  and  worship,  the 
l)rcss,  and  generally  all  the  ])ower8  formerly  exercised  by  intendants, 
connnissaries-gencral,  and  ordonnateurs.  In  the  assessment  of  taxes  he 
was  to  consult  three  merchants  and  three  planters.  In  case  of  absenee. 
he  was  to  be  represented  by  the  otlicer  of  administration  next  in  rank. 

The  commissary  of  justice  had  the  superintendence  of  all  courts  of 
justice  and  their  ministerial  olHcers;  he  was  to  have  an  eve  to  the 
regular  administration  of  justice,  the  safety  and  salubritv  of  gaols,  aH 
well  as  the  conduct  of  officers  and  clerks.  He  ndght  preside  and  vote  in 
any  court  of  justice.  He  was  to  recpiire  monthly  statemcnits  from  the 
})re8ident  and  clerk  of  each  court,  of  every  case  tried,  and  comnnmicnte  it 
to  the  captain-general.  He  was  authorized  to  make  rules  for  the  adminis- 
tration of  justice,  and,  with  the  consent  of  the  captain-general,  order  them 
to  be  observed.  Agents  of  government  were  not  suable  for  any  matter 
relating  to  their  officers,  nor  any  citizen  in  the  public  service  arrested 
without  his  fiat,  and  he  was  to  give  an  account  of  nis  proceedings  in  this 
respect  to  the  minister.  He  was  to  prepare  a  civil  and  criminal  code, 
and  submit  it  to  the  captain-general  and  colonial  prefect  for  their  exami- 
nation, and  transmit  it,  with  the  proces  verbal  of  their  delibcrutionsi 
thereon,  to  the  minister.     He  had  the  police  of  vagrants. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  month,  noticie  reached  New  Orleans,  of  the 
arrival,  at  the  Balize,  of  a  French  national  brig,  having  on  board  Laussat, 
the  colonial  prefect.  Salcedo  immediately  dispatclied  a  captain  and  a 
lieutenant  oi  infantry  in  the  government  barge,  and  Morales,  an  ofR(!er  of 
administration,  in  that  of  the  customhouse,  to  meet  and  congratulate  the 
representative  of  the  French  republic.  Laussat  came  up  in  the  government 
barge,  landed  at  the  levee  on  the  twenty-sixth,  and  was  immediately 
conducted  to  the  government  house,  where  Salcedo  and  Morales, 
surrounded  by  the  stalF  of  the  garrison  and  army,  the  officers  of  the 
militia,  and  tfie  head  of  the  clergy,  were  assembled  for  his  rece])tion. 

In  this  interview  Laussat  announced  the  fixed  determination  of  the 
French  government  to  promote  the  prosperity  of  the  colony,  to  cause  order 
to  prevail  in  it,  to  maintain  its  laws,  to  respect  the  treaties  with  Indian 
nations,  and  protect  the  exercise  of  public  worship  without  any  change 
therein.    He  added  that  the  captain-general  and  troops,  who  had  left 


IIISTOKY  OF   I-OIIIHIANA. 


2\n 


'.■.•*,. 


conunis- 

HttT. 

\  (•(•loniiil 
i»r  wiirt  to 

iininution ; 

ul. 
ei»rcH('ntc(\ 

Lion  of  the 
t)tVicerH  of 
)Uoo  of  the 
iditures,  the 
LiUurc,  navi- 
(l  trmU',  the 
worship,  tlie 
inteutlants, 
t  of  taxort  he 
!  of  absence, 
^t  in  rank, 
all  courts  of 
II  eve  to  the 
y  o\  Raol!»,  as 
\c  and  vote  in 
\onts  from  the 
kmnumioate  it 

Ir  the  adiinm«- 
111,  order  them 
,r  any  matter 
Tvice  arrested 
icdinss  i"  ^hw 
^rinunal  cod»N 
,r  their  exami- 
deliberations 


HdUand,  an  l»u  lu'liovtMl,  In  tl>o  hittor  end  of  January,  wouM  probably 
arrive  lua'o  towurdw  thr  niiddlu  of  Anril. 

A  few  duyw  aftcrwartU,  ho  iMHUed  a  proclamation  in  the  name  of  tho 
French  republic. 

Thin  document  bcj^iuH  by  Htiitinn  that  tho  separation  of  LouLsiana  from 
Kranee  marktul  in  the  annals  of  the  latter  oiw  of  the  most  Hhameful  eras 
un<ler  a  weak  and  corrunt  f^overnment,  after  an  ij^noininiouH  war  and 
(linhonorablu  peace.  Witn  tluH  unnatural  abandonment  by  the  mother 
country,  tho  love,  loyalty  and  heroic  <'oura^?e  of  the  people  of  LouiHianii 
forineii  a  noble  contrast,  with  which  every  heart  in  France  wan  now 
moved,  and  would  lonj?  ^)rcHerve  the  rememlWanct'  of.  The  French  still 
remembered  that  a  portion  of  the  inhabitants  of  Louisiana  were  their 
(it'scendants,  with  the  same  blood  runninj?  in  their  veins.  As  soon  as 
France,  by  a  prodij^ious  succession  of  triumphs,  in  the  late  revolution, 
had  recovered  her  own  freedom  and  glory,  she  turned  her  eyes  towards 
Louisiana,  the  retrocession  of  whicth  signalized  her  Hrst  peace.  Hut  tho 
period  was  not  yet  arrived — it  was  necessary  that  a  num,  who  is  a  stranger 
to  nothing  that  is  national,  great,  magminimous  or  just;  who,  to  thu 
most  distinguished  talent  for  concpiering,  adds  the  rare  one  of  obtaining 
for  ins  conquests  the  happiest  results,  and  l)y  the  ascendancy  of  hiH 
character,  at  once  strikes  terror  to  his  enemies,  and  inspires  his  allies 
with  confidence — whoso  expansive  mind  discovered  at  once  the  true 
interests  of  his  country,  and  was  bent  on  restoring  to  France  her  jjristino 
grandeur  and  her  lost  possessions — should  accomidish  this  important 
work. 

This  man,  said  the  prefect,  presides  over  the  destinies  of  France  and 
Louisiana,  to  insure  their  felicity.  In  the  latter  nothing  more  was  neces- 
sary than  to  improve  the  bounties  of  which  nature  had  been  so  prodigal 
towards  her. 

He  observed  it  was  the  intention  of  government  to  do  this — to  live  in 
peace  and  amity  with  the  neighboring  Indians,  and  protect  the  commerce 
of  the  colony  ;  encourage  its  agriculture,  people  its  deserts,  promote  labor 
and  industry,  re8i)ect  propertv,  opinions,  and  habits,  protect  public 
worship,  preserve  the  empire  of  the  laws,  amend  them  slowly  and  with 
the  lignt  of  exnerience  only,  maintain  a  regular  police,  introduce  perma- 
nent order  and  economy  in  every  branch  of  administration,  tighten  the 
bonds  which  a  common  origin  and  a  similarity  of  manners  had  already 
estahlished  between  the  colony  and  the  mother  country,  was  the  honorable 
object  of  the  mission  of  the  captain-general,  colonial  prefect,  and  commis- 
sary of  justice,  sent  by  the  first  consul. 

After  a  short  eulogy  of  the  two  high  magistrates  with  whom  he  was 
associated,  and  of  the  officers  who  had  hitherto  ^>verned  the  colony  under 
the  authority  of  Spain,  whom  he  said  the  forhier  would  endeavor  to 
imitate,  he  concluded  with  an  assurance  that  the  devotion  of  the  people 
of  Louisiana  to  the  French  republic,  their  gratitude  to  those  by  whom 
they  were  reunited  to  it,  and  the  spectacle  of  their  prosperity,  were  the 
rewards  which  he  aspired  to  and  should  endeavor  to  deserve  by  a  zeal 
which  would  know  no  limits  but  the  fulfilment  of  its  duties. 

In  an  address,  which  was  presented  to  him  a  few  days  afterwax'ds, 
subscribed  by  a  considerable  number  of  the  most  respectable  planters  and 
merchants,  assurance  was  given  him  that  France  had  done  justice  to  the 
sentiments  of  the  people  of  Louisiana,  in  giving  them  credit  for  the 


5-M 


m-d 


p,-':* 


I*.,.  "^^I! 


Hi 


■M    ■''^^y'" 


><il 


h   i'". 


VM 


292 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


attachment  they  had  preserved  for  her.  Thirty-four  years  of  foreign 
domination  had  not  extinguished  or  even  diminished  in  their  hearts  the 
sacred  love  of  their  country ;  and  their  joy  on  returning  under  her  banner, 
could  only  be  equalled  by  the  grief  which  they  had  felt  on  seeing  it 
lowered  in  the  midst  of  them.  They  were  happy  in  having  lived  lonw 
enough  to  witness  the  reunion  of  the  colony  to  France — an  event  which 
they  had  never  ceased  to  desire,  and  which  now  gratified  their  utmost 
wishes. 

They  added  that  in  an  age  so  fruitful  in  astonishing  events,  greater, 
more  important  and  memorable  had  occurred,  but  none  in  its  history 
could  present  a  more  affecting  and  interesting  spectacle  than  that  of 
victorious  and  triumphant  France  holding  out  a  protecting  hand  n. 
children  heretofore  cast  out  from  her  bosom,  by  a  weak  and  vacil]au„g 
government,  and  calling  them  to  a  share  in  the  fruits  of  a  glorious  peace 
terminating  in  the  most  brilliant  manner  a  bloody  and  terrible  revolution! 

They  observed  that  the  prefect  had  signalized  the  return  of  the  French 
government,  by  bearing  an  authentic  testimony  of  its  beneficent  views. 
His  proclamation  had  filled  the  people  with  gratitude  for  its  parental 
care,  and  they  had  already  felt  tne  happiness  of  their  union  with  the 
French  Republic.  The  happy  selection  of  some  of  her  most  virtuous 
citizens  to  govern  them,  and  her  choicest  troops  to  protect  them,  were  sure 
pledges  of  their  future  happiness  and  prosperity.  They  offered  in  return 
their  love  and  obedience,  and  swore  to  endeavor  to  prove  themselves 
worthy  of  the  title  of  French  citizens. 

The  answer  concludes  by  expressing  the  belief  that  France  would  attach 
less  value  to  the  assurance  the  people  of  Louisiana  gave  of  their  loyalty 
and  fidelity,  if  they  did  not,  at  the  same  time,  manifest  some  regret  at 
the  dissolution  of  their  allegiance  to  a  sovereign  who  had  heaped  on  them 
his  choicest  favors,  during  the  time  they  had  lived  under  him.  They 
protested  that  their  hearts  entertained  no  such  guilty  indifference;  their 
grief,  on  separating  from  him,  was  mingled  with  joy  on  recovering  their 
country  ;  and  they  would  prove  themselves  worthy  members  of  the  French 
republic,  in  preserving  during  their  lives  the  remembrance  of  his  paternal 
care. 

The  Marquis  de  Casa-Calvo,  who  had  acted  as  military  governor  afler 
the  death  of  Gayoso,  arrived  from  the  Havana  on  the  tenth  of  April, 
having  been  joined  to  Salcedo  in  a  commission  for  the  delivery  of 
possession  oi  the  province  to  the  commissioners  of  France.  On  the 
eighteenth  of  May,  Salcedo  and  he  issued  a  proclamation,  announcing  the 
intention  of  their  sovereign  to  surrender  the  province  to  the  French 
republic,  and  that  his  majesty,  retaining  the  same  affection  as  ever  for  the 
inhabitants  of  the  province,  and  desiring  to  continue  to  them  the  same 
protection  which  he  had  hitherto  extended  to  them,  had  determined : 

1.  That  the  cession  of  the  colon v  and  island  of  New  Orleans  should  be 
on  the  same  terms  as  that  of  his  Most  Christian  to  his  Catholic  majesty; 
and  consequently,  the  limits  on  both  sides  of  the  river  St.  Louis,  or 
Mississippi,  should  continue  as  they  remained  by  the  fifth  article  of  the 
definitive  treaty  of  peace  concluded  at  Paris  on  the  tenth  of  December,  1763; 
and  accordingly,  the  settlements  from  the  bayou  Manshac,  as  far  as  the 
line  which  separated  the  dominions  of  Spain  and  those  of  the  United 
States,  should  remain  a  part  of  the  monarchy  of  Spain  and  be  anne.xe(l 
to  the  province  of  West  Florida. 


f  foreign 
earta  the 
!r  banner, 
seeing  it 
ived  long 
ent  which 
ir  utmost 

ts,  greater, 
its  history 
xn  that  of 
y   hand  V- 
vacillau..g 
rious  peace, 
3  revolution, 
the  French 
acent  views, 
its  parental 
on  "w-ith  the 
^ost  virtuous 
em,  were  sure 
red  in  return 
'e  themselves 

3  would  attach 
'  their  loyalty 
ome  regret  at 
eaped  on  them 
.r  him.    They 
pference;  their 
■covering  their 
i  of  the  French 
of  his  paternal 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


293 


2.  Every  individual,  employed  in  any  branch  of  the  king's  service, 
and  wishing  to  remain  under  his  government,  might  proceed  to  Havana 
or  any  other  })art  of  his  dominions,  unless  he  preferred  entering  into  the 
service  of  the  French  republic,  which  he  might  do :  but  if  any  just  reason 
prevented  his  immediate  departure,  he  might  urge  it  in  jjroper  time. 

3.  The  king's  generosity  induced  him  to  continue  to  widows  and  others 
their  respective  provisions,  and  he  would  make  known,  in  due  time,  in 
what  manner  he  wished  they  should  avail  themselves  of  this  favor. 

4.  He  declared  his  expectation,  from  the  sincere  friendship  and 
alliance  which  existed  between  him  and  the  French  republic,  that  orders 
would  be  given  to  the  governors  and  other  officers  employed  by  France 
in  Louisiana,  that  the  clergy  and  religious  institutions  should  be 
permitted  to  remain  in  the  discharge  of  their  offices,  within  their  respective 
curacies  and  missions,  and  enjoy  their  former  emoluments,  privileges  and 
exemptions;  that  the  tribunals  established  for  the  administration  of 
justice,  and  ordinary  judges,  should  be  allowed  to  continue  to  administer 
it  according  to  the  former  laws  and  usages  of  the  province ;  the  inhab- 
itants maintained  in  the  peaceable  possession  of  their  property,  and  all 
grants  made  to  them  by  the  former  governors  confirmed,  even  when  not 
finally  ratified  by  the  king;  and  finally,  that  the  French  government 
should  ctmtinue  to  the  people  of  Louisiana  the  favor  and  protection  they 
had  enjoyed  under  Spain. 

Everything  seemed  now  ready,  and  the  arrival  of  Victor,  the  commis- 
sioner of  France  for  receiving  possession,  was  hourly  expected ;  every  one 
had  his  tri-colored  cockade  ready  to  be  stuck  in  his  hat  as  soon  as  the 
Spanish  flag  was  lowered  and  the  French  hoisted,  when  a  vessel  from 
Bordeaux  brought  accounts  of  the  sale  of  the  province  by  Bonaparte  to 
the  United  States. 

By  a  treaty  concluded  at  Paris  on  the  thirtieth  of  April,  the  first  consul 
had  ceded,  in  the  name  of  the  republic,  to  the  United  States,  forever  and 
in  full  sovereignty,  the  province  of  Louisiana,  with  all  its  rights  and 
appurtenances  in  full,  and  in  the  same  manner  as  they  had  been  acquired 
))y  the  republic  from  the  Catholic  king. 

2.  In  the  cession  are  included  the  islands  adjacent  to  Louisiana,  all 
public  lots  and  squares,  vacant  lands,  and  all  public  buildings,  fortifi- 
cations, barracks,  and  other  edifices,  which  are  not  private  property.  The 
archives,  papers  and  documents,  relative  to  the  domains  and  sovereignty 
of  the  province,  are  to  be  left  in  the  possession  of  the  commissioners  of 
the  United  States,  and  copies  given  afterwards  in  due  form  to  magistrates 
and  principal  officers,  of  such  papers,  and  documents  as  may  be  necessary 
to  them. 

3.  It  is  provided  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  ceded  territory  shall  be 
mcorporatcd  into  the  union  of  the  United  States,  and  admitted  as  soon 
as  possible,  according  to  the  principles  of  the  federal  constitution,  to  the 
enjoyment  of  all  the  advantages  and  immunities  of  citizens  of  the  United 
States;  and  in  the  meantime  be  unrestrained  and  protected  in  the  free 
enjoyment  of  their  liberty,  property  and  the  religion  which  they  possess. 

4.  The  government  of  France  is  to  send  a  commissioner  to  Louisiana, 
to  the  end  that  he  may  do  all  acts  necessary  to  receive  possession  of  the 
country  and  its  dependencies,  from  the  officers  of  Spain,  in  the  name  of 
the  French  republic,  and  deliver  it  over  to  the  commissioners  or  agents 
of  the  United  States. 


--m 


*i^'' 


1 


^''l5f 


i^Xii::M 


-^^a-' 


'..:kiJ1 


V-;.  II 


jr"a 


294 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


li 


I  >.i 


:\ui 


Kl^l 


5.  Immediately  atter  the  ratification  of  the  treaty,  by  the  president  of 
the  United  States,  in  case  that  of  the  first  consul  shall  have  been  obtained 
the  comndssioner  of  the  French  republic  shall  surrender  all  military 
posts  in  New  Orleans,  and  in  the  rest  of  the  ceded  territory,  to  tlio 
commissioners  of  the  United  States,  and  the  troops  of  France  are  to  bo 
withdrawn. 

6.  The  United  States  promise  to  execute  all  treaties  entered  into  I)y 
Spain  with  the  Indians. 

7.  French  vessels  coming  directly  from  France  or  her  colonies,  louiUd 
only  with  the  produce  or  manufactures  of  France  or  her  colonies;  and 
those  of  Spain,  coming  directly  from  the  peninsula  or  her  colonics 
loaded  only  with  the  produce  or  manufactures  of  Spain  or  her  colonies' 
are  to  be  admitted,  during  twelve  years,  into  the  ports  of  the  ceded  terri- 
tory, in  the  same  manner  as  vessels  of  the  United  States  coming  directly 
from  France,  Spain,  or  any  of  their  colonies,  without  paying  any  hijihcr 
duty  on  tonnage  or  merchandise  than  citizens  of  the  United  States. 
During  these  twelve  years  no  other  nation  shall  enjoy  the  same  advantages. 

8.  Afterwards  and  forever,  French  vessels  are  to  be  treated  upon  the 
footing  of  the  most  favored  nations  in  these  ports. 

By  two  separate  conventions  of  the  same  date,  the  United  States 
engaged  to  pay  sixty  millions  of  francs  to  France,  and  discharge  certain 
claims  of  their  citizens  on  that  power.  A  stock  of  eleven  millions,  two 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars,  was  created,  bearing  interest  at  six 
per  cent,  payable  in  London,  Amsterdam,  or  Paris ;  the  principal  to  be 
reimbursed  at  their  treasury  in  annual  instalments  of  not  less  than  three 
millions,  the  first  of  which  was  to  be  paid  fifteen  years  after  the  exchange 
of  the  ratifications.  The  French  government  promised,  if  dis[)osed  to 
sell  the  stock  to  do  so  to  the  United  States,  on  the  best  terms.  The  vahie 
of  the  dollar  of  the  United  States  was  fixed  at  five  livres  eight  sous. 

The  Catholic  king  made  a  solemn  protest,  on  being  informed  of  the 
sale  of  Louisiana  by  the  first  consul ;  and  his  minister  at  Washington 
city  sent  to  the  department  of  state  a  representation  on  the  defects  which 
in  the  opinion  of  the  cabinet  of  Madrid,  impaired  the  alienation ;  detailing 
the  motives  which  had  induced  his  sovereign  to  protest  against  it— the 
principal  of  which  was,  that  France  had  promised  never  to  alienate  the 
ceded  territory.  After  this  representation,  an  opinion  prevailed,  both  in 
Europe  and  America,  that  the  king  had  given  or  would  give,  orders  to 
prevent  the  delivery  of  the  province  to  the  French.  The  minister  of  the 
United  States  at  Madrid,  was  therefore,  instructed  to  ascertain  whether 
there  was  any  ground  for  the  rumor. 

In  the  month  of  June,  the  Spanish  nuns  in  the  convent  of  the 
Ursulines,  unwilling  to  live  under  the  government  of  the  French  republic, 
sailed  for  Havana,  where  the  government  gave  them  a  house,  and  they 
established  a  convent  of  their  order. 

Congress,  on  the  last  day  of  October,  authorized  the  President  of  the 
Unitetl  States  to  take  possession  of  the  ceded  territory;  and  in  order  to 
maintain  therein  the  authority  of  the  United  States,  to  employ  such  a 
part  of  the  navy  and  army  of  the  union,  and  of  the  militia  of  the 
neighboring  states  and  territory,  as  he  might  deem  necessary.  In  the 
meanwhile,  all  the  military,  civil  and  judicial  powers  exercised  by  the 
existing  government,  were  to  be  vested  in  such  person  or  persons,  and  to 
be  exercised  in  such  a  manner,  as  the  President  of  the  United  States 


^■^^ 


HISTORY  OF  l6uISIANA. 


295 


sideiit  of 
,  obtained 
I  military 
ry,  to  the 

13  are  to  bo 

id  into  by 

lies,  loatU'il 
oiiies;  and 
jv  cob)nies, 
cr  ccAonios, 
ceded  terri- 
ing  diveetly 
any  bi<^her 
litcd  States. 
■  advautaiies. 
od  upon  the 

nited  States 

large  certain 

millions,  two 

nterost  at  ?ix 

rincipal  to  be 

BS8  tluvn  three 

the  exchange 

if  disposed  to 

,s.    Tlie  value 

^ghtsous. 

formed  of  the 

it  Washington 

defects  which 

;ion;  detailins; 

.gainst  it-the 

[to  alienate  the 

availed,  both  in 

jrivo,  orders  to 

binister  of  the 

;ertain  whether 

anvcnt  of  the 
rench  renuhhc, 
touse,  and  they 

.•cHident  of  the 
[and  in  order  to 
employ  such  :i 
militia  of  the 
(sBary.     In  the 
Wised  by  the 
(i)ersons,amlto 
'^United  States 


gliould  direct,  for  the  maintenance  and  protection  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Louisiana,  in  their  liberty,  property,  and  the  religion  which  they 
lirofessed. 

The  President  of  the  United  States  appointed,  accordingly,  governor 
Claiborne,  of  the  Mississii)pi  territory,  and  general  Wilkinson,  commis- 
sioners for  receiving  possession  of  the  ceded  territory  from  the  commis- 
i^ioner  of  France ;  and  he  gave  to  the  former  a  commission,  authorizing 
liini  provisorily  to  exercise,  within  the  ceded  territory,  all  the  powers  with 
whicn  the  Sjianish  governor-general  and  intondant  were  clothed,  except 
that  of  granting  lands. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  first  consul  had,  on  the  sixth  of  June,  appointed 

liiUissat  commissioner  on  the  part  of  France,  to  receive  possession  of  the 

jirovince  fron";  those  of  tSoain,  and  deliver  it  to  those  of  the  United  States. 

On  Wednesday,  the  thirtieth  of  November,  the  Spariish  colors  were 

displayed  from  a  lofty  flag  staff,  in  the  centre  of  the  public  square.      At 

noon,  the  Spanish  regiment  of  Louisiana  was  drawn  out,  with  a  company 

(if  Mexican  dragoons  on  the  right,  and  the  militia  of  the  city  on  the  left. 

The  conmiissioners    of    Si)ain   jiroceeded   to  the  city  hall,   where   the 

(ounnissioner  of  France  came  soon  after.     He  produced  to  them  an  order 

from  the  king  of  Spain  for  the  delivery  of  the  province,  and  the  ])owers 

(if  the  first  consul  to  receive  it ;  whereupon  Salcedo  immediately  handed 

him  the  keys  of  New  Orleans,  and  the  Manjuis  do  Casa-Calvo  declared 

that  such  of  his  majesty's  subjects  in  Louisiana  as  made  it  their  election 

to  live  under  the  authority  of  the  French  republic,  were  absolved  from 

their  oath  of  fidelity  and  allegiance  to  the  crown  of  Spain.    A  record  was 

made  of  these  proceedings,  and  the  three  commissioners  walked  to  the 

main  balcony,  when  the  Spanish  flag  was  saluted   by  a  discharge  of 

artillery  on  its  descent,  and  that  of  the  French  republic  greeted  in  the 

s;ame  manner,  on  its  ascent. 

Thus  ended  the  government  of  Spain  in  Louisiana,  after  the  lapse  of 
thirty-four  years  and  a  few  months. 

In  a  proclamation  which  Laussat  issued  immediately  afterwards,  he 
uiformed  the  inhabitants  that  the  mission  which  brought  him  among 
them,  and  on  which  he  had  built  many  fond  hopes,  and  entertained  many 
honorable  expectations  for  their  welfare  and  hapi)iness,  was  changed  ;  and 
that  of  which  he  was  now  charged,  though  less  gratifying  to  him,  was 
eiiually  flattering,  as  it  afforded  him  the  consolation  that  it  was  more 
advantageous  to  them.  The  flag  of  the  republic  no:v  displayed,  and  the 
wmnd  of  her  cannon,  announced  the  return  of  French  domination  ;  but 
h  was  fur  an  instant  only,  as  he  was  on  the  eve  of  delivering  possession 
oftiieoohmy  to  the  commissioners  of  the  United  States. 

Heobservcd  that  the  commencement  of  a  war  under  the  most  sanguinary 

auspiciis,  carrying  terror  into  all  i)arts  of  the  world,  had  induced  the 

French  government  to  turn  its  views  towards  liouisiana ;  considerations 

of  prudence  and  humanity,  connected  with  vast  and  permanent  ol)jects, 

worthy  of  the  genius  wiio  balanced  the  grand  destinies  of  nations,  having 

pven  a  new  direction  to  the  benevolent  intentions  of  France  towards  the 

1  (olony,  it  was  ceded  to  the  United  States,  and  its  inhabitants  became  the 

I  Hirest  pledge  of  the  inci-easing  friendship  between  the  two  republics. 

I   He  drew  tiieir  attention  to  that  part  of  the  treaty  of  cession,  by  which 

their  incorporation  into  the  union  was  secured  ;  and  congratulated  them 


lir 


'       "J| 


m-^^^ 


\  ■.  •*-  ii 


I  t? 

lip- 

■Si, 


296 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


on  becoming  part  of  a  nation  already  numerous  and  powerful — a  people 
renowned  for  their  industry,  patriotism  and  enlightened  understanding. 

He  remarked  that,  however  pure  and  benevolent  the  intentions  of  the 
mother  country  might  be,  the  people  of  a  distant  colony  were  ever  exposed 
to  the  cupidity  and  malversations  of  those  who  were  sent  to  govern  them. 
Distance  affording  the  means  of  concealment,  operated  as  a  temptation 
and  often  corrupted  the  most  virtuous — while  the  nature  of  the  govern- 
ment under  which  they  were  about  to  pass,  rendered  rulers  dependent  on 
the  will  of  the  people,  and  connected  their  political  existence  with  pubh(! 
suffrage. 

He  reminded  them  that  the  period  was  not  distant  when  they  would 
adopt  a  form  of  government  for  themselves,  adapted  to  the  maxinls  of  the 
federal  constitution,  and  suited  to  their  manners,  usages  and  localities. 
They  would  feel  and  appreciate  as  a  singular  attribute  of  a  free  consti- 
tution, the  invaluable  advantage  of  an  upright,  impartial  and  incorruptible 
administration  of  justice,  in  which  the  public  and  invariable  forms  of 
proceeding  would  combine  with  the  moral  and  national  character  of 
judges  and  jurors,  to  ensure  to  the  citizens  security  for  person  and 
property. 

Monopoly,  he  added,  more  or  less  exclusive,  is  peculiar  to,  and  invariably 
attendant  on,  colonial  government ;  but  from  the  United  States  the  people 
of  Louisiana  ought  to  expect,  at  the  same  time,  protection  from  such 
abuses,  by  the  faculty  of  exporting,  free  from  duty,  every  article  of  their 
produce.  The  ports  of  the  Mississippi  ought  to  be  expected  to  become 
vast  places  of  deposit,  as  this  Nile  of  America,  flowing  not  through  parched 
deserts,  but  across  fertile  plains,  would  be  navigated  by  vessels  of  all 
nations. 

He  expressed  a  hope  that,  among  different  flags,  the  people  of  Louisiana, 
would  ever  view  that  of  France  with  complacency ;  as,  in  securing  to  his 
countrymen  certain  advantages  during  a  limited  time,  in  their  intercourse 
with  the  ceded  country,  the  first  consul  had  a  view  to  the  renewal, 
strengthening,  and  perpetuating  the  ancient  bonds  between  the  Frenchof 
Europe  and  those  of  Louisiana — so  that  Louisianians  and  Frenchmen 
would  never  hereafter  meet  in  any  part  of  the  world,  without  mutually 
feeling  a  tender  emotion,  and  exchanging  the  affectionate  appellation  (.' 
brothers — alike  expressive  of  their  lasting  friendship  and  dependence  on 
reciprocal  kind  offices. 

On  the  same  day,  the  colonial  prefect  issued  a  number  of  other  procla- 
mations in  regard  to  the  government  of  the  province ;  the  principal  of 
which  was  for  the  substitution  of  a  municipality  to  the  cabildo.  A  mayor, 
two  adjoints,  and  ten  members,  constituting  the  new  body.  The  mayor- 
alty was  given  to  Bore :  Destrehan  and  Sauve  were  associated  with  liim. 
The  members  were  Livaudais,  Petit  Cavelier,  Villere,  Jones,  Fortier, 
Donaldson,  Faurie,  Allard,  Tureaud,  and  Watkins.  Derbigny  was  secretary. 
and  Labatut  treasurer. 

By  a  special  proclamation,  the  black  code,  given  by  Louis  the  fifteenth 
to  the  province,  excepting  such  parts  of  it  as  were  inconsistent  with  the  | 
constitution  and  laws  of  the  United  States,  was  declared  to  be  in  force. 

The  citizens  of  the  United  States  in  New  Orleans,  about  one  hundred 
and  twenty  in  number,  formed  themselves  into  a  company  of  infantry, 
under  Daniel  Clark,  the  consul,  and  offered  their  services  to  the  colonial  j 
prefect  for  the  preservation  of  order  and  tranquillity ;  and,  at  his  request, 


-a  people 
•standing, 
ons  of  the 
)r  exposed 
/em  them. 
?nA\)tation, 
he  govern- 
pendent  on 
tvith  pubUc 

they  would 
,xin\»  of  the 
d  localities, 
free  consti- 
ncovruptible 
o\e  forms  of 
character  of 
■  person  and 

nd  invariably 
tes  the  people 
)n  from  such 
rticle  of  their 
;ed  to  become 
rough  parched 
vessels  of  all 

le  of  Louisiana, 
securing  to  hii* 
leir  intercouri5e 
o  the  renewal, 
n  the  French  ot 
hd  Frenchmen 
[hout  mutually 
appellation  ( / 
dependence  on 

^f  other  proda- 
he  principal  ot 
tildo.  A  mayor, 
L  Tiie  mayor- 
tated  with  him. 
Jones,  Fortier, 
liv  was  secretary. 

nis  the  fifteenth ! 
Lstentwithtkl 
lo  be  in  force.  I 
Vt  one  humlred 
Inv  of  infantry, 
to  the  coloniaM 
]  at  his  request, 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


297 


performed  regular  duty  until  the  commissioners  of  the  United  States 
received  possession  of  the  province. 

From  tne  disi)osition  manifested  a  few  years  before,  by  the  colonial 
government,  to  retain  possession  of  the  posts  above  the  thirty-first  degree, 
and  the  protest  of  the  Catholic  king,  apprehensions  were  entertained  by 
the  government  of  the  United  States  tnat  difficulties  might  arise.  The 
president  ordered  a  part  of  the  militia  of  the  states  of  Ohio,  Kentucky, 
and  Tennessee,  to  be  held  in  readiness  to  march  at  a  moment's  warning. 
The  military  force  in  the  west  had  been  assembled  at  Fort  Adams,  and 
five  hundred  men  of  the  militia  of  Tennessee  came  us  far  as  Natchez, 
under  the  orders  of  colonel  Dogherty. 

Claiborne  had  given  orders  to  the  volunteer  company  of  horse  of  the 
Mississippi  territory,  to  prepare  to  accompany  him,  on  the  tenth  of 
December. 

Wilkinson  who,  since  his  return  from  the  Atlantic  states,  had  been 
employed  as  a  commissioner  in  the  treaties,  lately  entered  into  Avith  the 
Choctaws,  Chickasaws,  and  Creeks,  was,  at  the  time  of  his  appointment  as 
joint  commissioner  with  Claiborne,  engaged  in  running  the  line  between 
the  lands  of  the  western  states  and  those  of  the  latter  Indians.  He 
reached  New  Orleans  on  the  day  after  Laussat  had  received  possession, 
and  did  not  hear  of  his  appointment  till  then.  Crossing  the  lake,  he  met 
his  colleague  at  Fort  Adams.  On  the  seventeenth  of  December,  the  two 
commissioners,  the  troops  of  the  United  States,  and  the  Mississippi 
volunteers  camped  within  two  miles  of  New  Orleans.  On  the  following 
day  Claiborne  and  Wilkinson  paid  a  visit  to  Laussat,  who  came  to  their 
camp  on  the  next,  accompanied  by  the  municipality,  and  a  number  of 
militia  officers. 

On  Monday,  the  twentieth,  the  tri-colored  flag  was  displayed  at  the  top 
of  the  staff  in  the  middle  of  the  public  square,  at  sunrise.  At  eleven, 
the  militia  paraded  near  it,  and  precisel,y  at  noon,  the  commissioners  of 
the  United  States,  at  the  head  of  their  forces,  entered  the  city.  The 
American  troops  occupied  the  side  of  the  square  opposed  to  that  on  which 
the  militia  stood.  The  colonial  prefect,  attended  by  his  secretary  and  a 
number  of  his  countrymen,  left  his  house  under  a  discharge  of  cannon, 
and  proceeded  to  the  city  hall,  where  the  municipality  and  a  large 
concourse  of  the  most  respectable  inhabitants  attended. 

The  commissioners  of  the  United  States  now  came,  and  the  prefect  gave 
them  formal  possession  of  the  province  by  the  delivery  of  the  keys  of  the 
city.  He  then  declared  such  of  the  inhabitants  as  chose  to  pass  under 
the  government  of  the  United  States,  absolved  and  released  from  their 
allegiance  to  the  French  republic. 

Claiborne  now  rose,  and  offered  to  the  people  of  Louisiana  his  congratu- 
lations on  the  event  which  placed  them  beyond  the  reach  of  chance. 
He  assured  them  the  United  States  received  them  as  brothers,  and  would 
hasten  to  extend  to  them  a  participation  in  the  invaluable  rights  forming 
the  basis  of  their  unexampled  prosperity,  and  in  the  meanwhile,  the 
people  would  be  protected  in  the  enjoyment  of  their  liberty,  property,  and 
religion— their  commerce  favored,  and  their  agriculture  encouraged.  He 
recommended  to  them  to  promote  political  information  in  the  province, 
and  guide  the  rising  generation  in  the  paths  of  republican  economy  and 
virtue. 

40 


•'ill 


...f, 


298 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


The  tri-oolored  made  room  for  the  striped  banner,  under  repeated  peals 
of  artillery  and  musketry. 

A  group  of  citizens  of  the  United  States,  who  stood  on  a  corner  of  the 
pqnare,  waved  their  hats,  in  token  of  respect  for  their  country's  flag,  and 
u  few  of  them  greeted  it  with  their  voices.  No  emotion  was  manifested 
by  any  other  part  of  the  crowd.  The  colonists  did  not  appear  conscious 
that  they  were  reaching  the  Latium  seden  ubifuta  quietas  OHtendimt. 


-'■mi' 


m^ 


I 
A 


;i 


CHAPTER    XXV. 

When  the  French  enjoyed  the  undisturbed  possession  of  Louisiaixa,  its 
extent  in  their  opinion,  had  scarcely  any  bounds  to  the  northwest;  and 
its  limits  were  ill  detined  anvwhere,  excei)t  on  the  sea  coast.  As  its 
sovereign  claimed  all  the  neighboring  country  which  was  totally  without 
inhabitants,  or  occupied  by  savage  enemies,  a  demarcation  of  its  limits 
was  impossible,  even  if  it  had  been  desirable.  During  the  Spanish 
government,  a  dispute  with  Great  Britain,  respecting  Nootka  Sound  and 
her  discoveries  in  that  quarter,  was  terminated  by  a  recognition  of  her 
right  to  New  Albion,  the  boundary  of  which  to  the  south  being  agreed  on 
became  the  northern  one  of  California,  which,  prolonged  eastwardly  to  a 
certain  point,  was  to  mark  the  extent  of  New  Albion  in  that  direction. 
Where  New  Albion  ended,  Louisiana  was  said  to  begin. 

On  the  bayou  des  Lauriers  (Laurel  creek)  six  miles  S.  W.  by  S.  from  the 
town  of  Natchitoches,  on  Red  river,  and  fifteen  miles  from  the  Adayes, 
where  the  road  to  Nacogdoches  crosses  the  bavou,  the  French  had  placed 
leaden  plates  on  a  tree  on  each  side  of  the  road,  with  an  inscription  expressing 
that  the  spot  was  the  boundary  between  the  French  and  Spanish 
dominions,  without  indicating  the  continuation  of  the  line  on  either  side. 
Similar  plates  were  also  fixed  at  Yatassees,  a  village  of  the  Nadoca  Indians, 
fifty  leagues  N.  W.  of  Natchitoches. 

The  boundary  line,  from  bayou  des  Lauricrs  to  the  sea,  was  never  run, 
and  each  party  claimed  much  more  than  the  other  was  willing  to  allow. 
The  Spaniards  contended  that  the  line  was  to  be  run  due  south,  in  which 
case  it  would  strike  the  sea  near  the  river  Carcassou. 

The  eastern  boundary  of  Louisiana,  as  far  as  the  thirty-first  degree,  and 
the  northern  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Mississippi,  which  separated  the 
territories  of  Spain  and  the  United  States,  were  fixed  by  a  treaty— the 
first  in  the  middle  of  the  stream,  and  the  latter  at  the  thirty-first  degree  of 
northern  latitude.  But  the  province  of  Louisiana  did  not  extend  far 
beyond  the  Mississippi  below  Iberville,  and  was  separated  from  West 
Florida  by  a  line  drawn  through  the  middle  of  that  stream,  and  lakes 
Maurepas  and  Pontchartrain,  to  the  sea. 

Before  the  peace  of  1763,  the  French  recognized  no  other  boundary  of 
Louisiana,  to  the  north,  than  the  southern  line  of  Canada. 

To  the  east,  the  rio  Perdido  was  recognized  as  affording  the  beginning 
of  the  boundary  line,  but  the  direction  in  which  it  ran,  from  the  mouth 
or  source  of  the  stream,  never  engaged  the  attention  of  France  or  Spain. 

The  province  of  Louisiana  and  that  of  West  Florida,  were  laid  off  into 
the  following  divisions  :  Pensacola,  Mol>ile,  the  land  between  the  Balize 
and  New  Orleans,  the  city,  and  the  land  on  both  sides  of  lake  Pontehar- 


3r  boundary  of 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 

tram,  the  first  and  sevnnn  /-  299 

ivere  subordinate  tliDsp  nfiJ ''"'J",'"?"''"'i'-Kenoriil  nt  «t  t      • 
Clmrlesanrt  St.  And  fw  '  '*'"  ""''"'■•  St.  Gon"  .'4  No^'y,'"'  '?  "horn 
Baton  Rouge  Lad  been  made  ,  „  B"u.-bo„,  St. 

Chapjtoula  and  TeUtS  SS^'';!-^™*^^^^^^ 
of  late,  they  made  xmrt  of  ti     \\^^^.  "ad  once  sen;ir<if»  «  ^t' 

All  the  land«,  on^'Sh  s  |1'''?1^'*  ^^^^^  ^^ty  ^""^"^^"^dunts,  but 

the  city  to  Baton  Romfe  had  7^  *^'  Mississippi,  from  fift.      -,      , 
or  one  mile  and  a  bnlf  «rK  •  u  •  ^^"  granted,  to  th,   J    lu^^^-^  '"^^^s  below 

Imd  double,  and  o?h1rsttblV'  ''^r  ^^h  ^ 

one  hundred  and  twcnt^  n       ^/''"*«'  ^hat  is  to  sav?]    If '"'*«•     «»"it3 

fea,  or  lake  behindTheif  ''?■ '^^  \^^'^  l^ra^lktendff  ^^^^^^*>^  "^ 
being  generally  settled  n„  7  H'""  ?*^«''  Pa^ts  of  the  ,^..  ''"  ^'"'  ^«  the 
from  six  to  forty  a^^ents  and'  n""^'  «^  ^^  ^iver  or  creek  h'^>  ^H  i^««P^« 
fortv  arpents.  ^  ^'"^'^'  '^"^  ^^^^  grant  generally  exme.t'!  ''  >"*  ^^ 
Ti,e  ungranted  lands  on  the  island    r  r.  .  '  ^'^*^^  "^ 

Jo^SoJ^hn^dK^^i;^^^^^ 

cifress  swamps  beEl ,    ,f  "■"  "'•<=.  >»  this  part  of  th„    '  "  «"i»"lcrable 

ft  was  supAedlhafS:  l^Jt"?'       .  "''"'^■''  ™'"""" 

Manshac,  as  far  back  -i^  thT        "  ^^^^  ^roni  inundntinn  i- 

Above  Man.hac,  Kas  sunnnl^Tff ' '''''  ^^  ^r  hteulL^r  *^?  ^u^^^^^^  ^o 
and  its  produce  uncTrtl^^P^TK  "^'  ^^"^^*  >vould  be  iffw  ^".'^^^^^^an^- 
to  elsewhere.         ""^^^tain.    The  culture   of  the  P.ni     ^'^  ^J  the  cold, 

The  buildings,  fortifio.,f;.  ,  '"'"'  "^*  attended 

ebiefly  in  New  Orieans     fh  "'  ""^.  ^^^d  propertv  of  .>,         , , 
Two  verv  extensile  brick  J  '^"'^'*^^^  «f^  '  P""^^^^'   ^^'^re 

SKi?;i^rVlr?ST£^  and  sixty,  the 

,.  t^^entyfeet  xn  front,  with  aTprorthr  ^S"^ '\»>«^t  ^^^o 

A  military  hospital.  ^^  hundred  and 

A  powder  ma£ra7in#^»  r^«  *i, 

five  ill-eonstrueted  redoubts  with  ''    "*'"  '''"'*««' 

A  town  house  mirlr«i  i,  '^        °^  artillery,  in 

,.-sa'  »«teo-x^asXe^^r-.- 

Acharit/,i„«pito,,  with  .  fe.  ,  *'''"""'' ''»"  >"•"'  on, 

<««  hundred  L]ars"fye''a;r"  '"""'''  ^-"-g  to  it  a  revenue  of  about 


,wK,|ij  f^ 


,.> 


300 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


No  authentic  census  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  province,  since  that  of 
1788,  is  extant ;  but  one  made  for  the  department  of  state,  by  the  consul 
of  the  United  States  at  New  Orleans,  from  the  best  documents  he  could 
procure,  in  1803,  presents  the  following  result : 


In  the  city  of  New  Orleans, 

From  the  Balize  to  the  city, 

At  Terre-aux-BoHifs, 

Bayou  St.  John  and  Gentilly, 

Barataria, 

Tchoiipitoulas, 

Parish  of  St.  Charles,    . 

Parish  of  St.  John  the  Baptist, 

Parish  of  St.  James, 

Lafourche,     . 

Lafourche,  Interior, 

Valenzuela,  . 

Iberville, 

Galveztown, 

Baton  Rouge, 

Pointe  Coupee, 

Attakapas, 

Opelousas,     . 

\\  ashita, 

Avoyelles, 

Rapides, 

Natchitoches, 

Arkansas, 

Illinois,  St.  Louis,  etc., 

Mobile,    .  .  .  . 

Pcnsacola,     . 

Total, 


8,056 

2,388 

661 

489 

101 

7,444 

2,421 

1,9.50 

2,200 

1,094 

2,064 

1,057 

1,300 

247 

1,513 

2,150 

1,447 

2,454 

361 

432 

753 

1,631 

368 

6,028 

810 

404 

49,473 


On  the  left  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  about  seventy-five  miles  above  New 
Orleans,  were  the  remains  of  the  Oumas,  (Red  men)  not  exceeding  si.\ty 

i)ersons.    There  were  no  other  Indians  settled  on  this  side  of  the  river,  in 
^iouisiana  or  West  Florida ;  although  wandering  parties  of  the  Choctaws 
and  Creeks  were  often  rambling  over  the  country. 

On  the  right  side  of  the  Mississippi,  above  the  settlement  of  Pointe 
Coupee,  were  the  remains  of  the  Tunica  nation,  not  exceeding  fifty  or 
sixty  persons. 

On  the  left  side  of  bayou  Plaquemine,  about  twelve  miles  from  the 
Mississippi,  were  two  villages  of  the  Chilimackas,  consisting  of  about 
twenty  caoins ;  each  village  had  about  sixty  persons. 

In  the  lower  part  of  bavou  Teche,  at  the  distance  of  thirty-six  miles 
from  the  sea,  was  another  village  of  the  Chetimachas,  in  which  were  about 
one  hundred  persons. 

The  nation  of  the  Attakapas  (Man-eaters)  was  nearly  extinct.  They 
had  a  village  on  bayou  Vermillion,  in  which  were  about  one  hundred  and 
twenty  persons.  AVandering  families  were  scattered  through  the  district. 
and  a  number  of  females  were  domiciliated  among  the  planters. 


HISTORY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


301 


ce  that  of 
the  consul 
»  he  couUl 

8,056 

661 
489 

101 
7,444 
2,421 
1,950 
2,200 
1,094 
2,064 
1,057 
1,300 
247 
1,513 
.       2,150 
1,447 
2,454 
361 
432 
753 
.       1,631 
368 
6,028 
810 
404 


liles  ahove  New 

jxceeding  sixty 

of  the  river,  m 

ff  the  Choctaws 

Iment  of  Pointe 
^ceeding  fifty  or 

,  miles  from  the 
^istiiig  of  about 

thirty-six  mile; 
yhich  were  about 

^  extinct.  They 
ine  hundred  and 
[ugh  the  district. 
lauters. 


The  Choctaws,  Biloxia,  and  Pascagoulas,  had  villages  on  bayou 
Crocodile  and  bayou  Bceuf,  in  the  parish  of  Rapides. 

The  Alibamons  had  a  village  of  about  one  hundred  persons,  on  the 
bavou  Courtableau  in  the  district  of  Opelousas. 

f^everal  small  villages  of  the  Cunhates  were  dispersed  on  the  banks  of 
tlie  Meritao  and  Carcasu  rivers.  There  wore  in  them  about  three  hundred 
and  fifty  of  these  Indians. 

At  the  Avoyelles,  there  was  a  village  of  the  Choctaws,  or  red  men,  at  the 
distance  of  about  sixty  miles  from  the  Mississippi,  and  another  on  tiie 
hike  of  the  Avoyelles.  These  two  villages  had  not  more  than  one  hundred 
jiorsons. 

At  the  Rapides,  twenty  miles  higher  up,  was  a  village  of  the  Chactas, 
which  had  about  one  hundred  persons ;  and  six  miles  farther,  was  a 
village  of  the  Biloxis  of  the  same  size. 

At  the  river  aux  Cannes  was  another  village  of  the  same  nation,  of  about 
fifty  persons, 
the  males  of  all  these  villages  were  frequently  employed  as  boatmen. 
About  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles  from  the  town  of  NatchitocheSj  on 
Red  river,  was  the  nation  of  the  Cadodaquious,  called,  by  abbreviation, 
Cados.    They  could  raise  five  hundred  warriors. 

Four  or  five  hundred  families  of  the  Choctaws  were  dispersed  in  the 
district  of  Washita,  and  the  whole  nation  would  have  moved  to  the  west 
side  of  the  Mississippi,  had  they  not  been  prevented  by  the  Spaniards,  and 
the  Indians  in  their  alliance  there,  who  had  suffered  much  from  the 
aggressions  of  the  Choctaws. 

Between  Red  river  and  that  of  the  Arkansas,  were  a  few  Indian  families, 
the  remains  of  tribes  almost  extinct.  The  nation  that  gave  its  name  to 
the  last  river,  was  reduced  to  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  warriors.  They 
had  three  large  villages  on  the  river ;  the  first  was  at  the  distance  of  forty 
miles  from  the  Mississippi ;  the  others  at  the  distance  of  nine  and 
eigliteen  miles  from  the  stream. 

On  the  river  St.  Francis,  and  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  near 
New  Madrid  and  Cape  Girardeau,  were  wandering  families,  wno  had 
emigrated  from  the  Delaware,  Shawanees,  Miamis,  Cherokees,  and  Chick- 
asaws— in  all  about  five  hundred  families.  They  were  at  times  troublesome 
to  the  boats  descending  the  Mississippi,  plundering  them,  and  even 
committing  murders.  They  had  been  attracted  to  this  part  of  the  country 
several  years  before  the  cession,  when  the  views  of  tne  government  of 
Louisiana  were  hostile  to  the  United  States. 

The  scarcity  of  game  to  the  east  of  the  Mississippi,  had  lately  induced 
a  number  of  Cherokees,  Chickasaws,  and  Choctaws,  to  frequent  the  country 
to  the  west,  where  game  was  still  abundant.  Some  of  them  had  contracted 
marriages  with  Arkansas  women,  and  many  others  were  inclined  to  incor- 
porate themselves  in  that  nation.  Their  number  was  unknown,  but 
supposed  to  be  considerable. 

On  the  river  dcs  Moines,  which  falls  into  the  Mississippi  from  the  west, 
were  the  Ayoas,  a  nation  that  formerly  dwelt  on  the  Missouri.  They  had 
two  hundred  warriors.  Its  number  had  lately  been  much  reduced  by  the 
small-pox. 

Higher  up,  and  about  nine  hundred  miles  above  St.  Louis,  on  the  banks 
of  the  Mississippi,  were  the  Sacs  and  Renards,  who  together  had  about 


I,;'' 


/^a 


i!' 


11  ( ^ 


SI'- 


302 


IIISTOKY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


five  huiulred  warriors.    They  traded  with  St.  Louis  and  Michilimnckinac 
who  had  always  been  peaceable  and  friendly. 

The  nations  on  the  Missouri  were  cruel,  treacherous  and  insolent. 

The  officers  of  the  province  were : 

A  governor,  invested  with  ci\jil  and  military  authority. 

An  intendant,  charged  withtherevenue,  granting  of  land,  and  admiralty 
matters. 

An  auditor  of  war. 

An  assessor  of  the  intendancy. 

(The  sanje  individual  often  acted  in  both  these  capacities.) 

A  secretary  of  the  government,  and  one  of  the  intendant. 

A  treasurer  and  a  comptroller. 

A  surveyor-general. 

A  storekeeper. 

A  purveyor,  who  made  purchases  for  the  king. 

Three  notaries,  who  acted  as  auctioneers,  and  whose  offices  were  the 
repositories  for  law  proceedings  and  deeds. 

An  interpreter  of  the  French  and  English  languages,  and  one  for  the 
Indians. 

A  harbor  master. 

A  marine  officer. 

A  phvsician  to  the  military  hospital — surgeon,  and  apothecary. 

Anotner  to  the  charity  hospital — surgeon  and  apothecary. 

A  collector,  treasurer,  guarda  mayor,  notary,  two  head  clerks,  and 
about  twenty  inferior  officers,  in  the  customhouse. 

Besides  these,  there  was  a  cabildo  in  New  Orleans,  composed  of  two 
ordinary  alcades,  twelve  rcgidors,  an  attornev-general,  syndic  and  clerk; 
four  alcades  <le  barrio,  and  a  number  of  svndics,  or  officers  of  police. 

In  the  country,  there  was  a  commandant  in  each  parish,  who  hud  a 
number  of  syndics  under  him. 

In  a  communication  to  the  department  of  state,  in  1803,  the  consul  of 
the  United  States  at  New  Orleans,  says:  "the  auditors  of  war,  and 
assessors  of  government  and  intendancy,  have  always  been  corrupt ;  and 
to  them  only  may  be  attributed  the  mal-administration  of  justice,  as  the 
governor  and  other  iudges,  who  are  unacquainted  with  law,  seldom  dare 
to  act  contrary'  to  the  opinions  they  give.  Hence,  when  the  auditor,  or 
assessor  was  bribed,  suitors  had  to  complain  of  delays  and  infamous 
decisions.  All  the  officers  plunder  when  tne  opportunity  offers ;  they  are 
all  venal.  A  bargain  can  be  made  with  the  governor,  intendant,  judge, 
or  collector,  down  to  the  constable ;  and  if  ever  an  officer  be  displeased  at 
an  offer  of  money,  it  is  not  at  the  offer  or  offerer,  but  because  imperious 
circumstances  compel  him  to  refuse ;  and  the  offerer  acquires  a  degree  of 
favor  which  encourages  him  to  make  a  second  offer,  when  a  better 
opportunity  is  presented." 

The  duties  at  the  customhouse,  in  the  year  preceding  the  cession, 
amounted  to  $117,515. 

The  imposts  paid  in  Louisiana,  were : 

1.  A  duty  of^  six  per  cent,  on  the  transfer  of  shipping.  It  was  exacted 
on  the  sum  the  parties  declared,  which  seldom  exceeaed  one-half  the  real, 
as  no  oath  was  required. 

2.  A  duty  on  legacies  or  inheritances  of  collateral  relatives,  when 


H18TOUY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


303 


mckinac, 
jnt. 

admiralty 


es  were  the 
,  one  for  the 

cary. 

clerks,  and 

posed  of  two 
li  and  clerk; 
[  police, 
h,  who  had  a 

the  consul  of 
of  war,  and 
corrupt;  and 
lustice,  as  the 
,  seldom  <lare 
\\e  auditor,  or 
,nd  infamous 
lers ;  they  are 
tndant,  judge, 
displeased  at 
ise  imperiou!« 
,s  a  degree  ot 
hen  a  better 

the   cession, 


It  was  exacted 
-half  the  real, 

latives,  when 


uxceedinR  tlu;  vuluc  of  two  thounand  dollars,  and  of  four  per  cent,  when 
till'  Icji^atc'e  or  lu'ir  wan  not  a  relation  of  the  deceasod. 

;{.  A  tax  on  all  civil  onjploynients,  the  salary  of  which  exceeded  three 
liundrcd  dollars  a  year,  called  lacflia  annoirj,  amounting  to  one-half  of  the 
first  vt  ur's  salary,  pavahlo,  in  some  cases,  in  two  yearly  instalments,  and 
in  otliers  in  four.  'I'he  first  ineumhent  of  a  newly  created  olfice  was 
(xoiiipt  from  this  tax. 

4,  Seven  dollars,  deducted  froni  twenty,  paid  for  pilotage  hy  every 
vessel  entering  or  leaving  the  Mississippi :  hut  the  tnuisury  provided  hoats, 
and  paid  the  wages  of  pilots  and  sadors  employed  at  the  Balize.  The 
remainder  of  the  twenty  dollars  was  distrihuted  as  follows  :  four  dollars 
t(i  the  head  pilot,  four  in  the  pilot  who  hoarded  the  vessel,  and  five  to  the 
crew  of  the  boat  who  brought  him. 

5.  A  tax  of  forty  dollars  on  licenses  to  sell  spirituous  li(iuor8. 

(i.  A  tax  on  saleable  offices,  as  those  of  regidors,  clerk  of  the  cabildo, 
iind  notaries. 

Exclusive  of  paner  money,  enussions  of  which  were  made  in  the  early 
|)art  of  the  S]>anisn  government,  there  existed,  at  all  times,  a  debt  due  by 
the  government,  for  expenses  incurred,  for  supplies  furnished  to  the  troops, 
and  the  king's  stores  and  salaries  of  officers  and  workmen,  for  which 
lihn'dindx,  or  certificates,  were  rejjularly  issued,  of  which  there  was  afloat, 
iit  the  cession,  a  sum  of  fnmi  f^)ur  hundred  and  fifty  to  five  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  They  bore  no  interest,  and  were  commonly  to  be 
Itought  at  a  discount  of  from  25  to  50  per  cent.  At  the  change  or  govern- 
ment, the  discount  was  thirty.  This  depreciation  was  not  the  result  of  a 
want  of  confidence,  or  any  apprehension  that  the  certificates  would  not  be 
liaid,  but  from  the  value  of  money  and  the  scarcity  of  it  in  the  market. 

With  the  view  of  removing  from  circulation  a  part  of  those  llberanzna 
which  inundated  the  market,  the  intendant,  on  the  fifteenth  of  July,  1802, 
announced  that  he  would  furnish  bills,  or  cartas  (Icparja,  on  the  treasury 
(if  the  army,  or  that  of  the  marine,  at  Havana,  and  receive  one-half  of  the 
amount  in  liheranzam  issued  in  New  Orleans,  and  the  other  in  cash  ;  under 
the  condition  that,  in  regard  to  the  cartas  de  paga  on  the  treasurer  of  the 
army,  should  there  not  be,  at  their  presentation,  funds  appropriated  to  the 
province  of  Louisiana,  the  holder  should  wait  until  the  arrival  of  such 
funds.  By  this  measure,  a  considerable  part  of  the  liberanzas  were  with- 
drawn from  circulation. 

The  church  of  Louisiana  was  under  the  direction  of  a  bishop  and  two 
(iinons.  New  Orleans  having  been  erected  into  a  bishopric  in  1792,  the 
first  incumbent  of  which,  Don  Luis  de  Penalvert,  was  promoted  in  1801 
to  the  archbisho])ric  of  Guatimala.  A  successor  had  been  appointed  to 
him,  but  he  never  came  to  the  province.  The  reverend  Thomas  Haslett, 
one  of  the  canons,  died  a  short  time  before  the  cession,  and  had  not  been 
replaced. 

The  province,  for  ecclesiastical  purposes,  was  divided  into  +wenty-one 
parishes ;  four  of  which  were  without  a  church,  and  as  many  more  without 
!i  priest,  so  that  the  whole  clergy  did  not  consist  of  more  than  nineteen 
individuals.  There  was  a  chaplain  to  the  convent,  one  to  the  troops,  and 
one  in  each  of  the  hospitals ;  and  the  curate  of  New  Orleans  had  three 
assistants. 
The  bishop  had  a  salary  of  four  thousand  dollars,  charged  on  some 
bishoprics  in  Mexico  and  Havana.    The  canons  received  a  salary  of  six 


■-■I  •-■J 


S04 


HISTORY  OP   LOUIBIANA. 


hundred  dollarH ;  and  those  of  the  curates  and  clmphiinH  wore  from  three 
hundred  and  Hixty  to  seven  hundred  and  twenty  dolhira,  paid  out  of  the 
trettsurv.    They  besideH  received  fees  for  rnasHeH,  inarriugeH,  and  burials. 

The  tciuK,  besides,  paid  a  sahiry  of  one  hundre<l  and  eighty  doUurH  a 
vcar  to  each  of  the  sacristans  of  most  of  the  parishes,  and  a  sum  of  ()ti(> 
nundred  dollars  a  year  to  the  cathedral,  and  twenty-four  dollars  to  each 
parish,  for  bread,  wine,  and  wax  lights. 

The  cathedral  church  owned  a  square  in  the  city,  the  rent  of  the  housi;-^ 
of  which,  and  the  hire  of  the  pews,  with  the  sum  paid  by  the  king,  coiiHti- 
tuted  its  revenue.     The  other  churches  derived  one  from  the  hire  of  pews. 

Besides  the  cathedral,  there  were  two  chapels  in  New  Orleans,  in  wliich 
divine  service  wes  regularly  performed — that  of  the  convent,  and  that  of 
the  charity  hospital. 

There  were  but  eleven  nuns  in  the  convent.  They  attended  to  the 
education  of  young  persons  of  their  sex ;  receiving  pay  from  the  wealthy, 
and  educating  a  few  poor  girls  gratuitously. 

The  catholic  religion  was  the  only  one  of  which  the  rites  were  allowcil 
to  be  publicly  performed.  None  were  compelled  to  attend  its  sorvioe. 
In  public,  respect  was  expected  for  the  ceremonies  of  that  church ;  Imt 
every  one  was  permitted,  at  homo,  to  worship  his  maker  as  he  det'incHl 
proper. 


RECEIPTS  AND  EXPENDITURES  OF  THE  PROVINCE, 
DURING  THE  YEAR  1802. 


ivs 


*.;■ 


RECEIPTS. 

Common  Branches. 

Balance  of  last  year,    .... 

Invalids,     ..... 

Sale  of  effects  from  the  artillery  store. 

Dues  received  from  ships  entering  the  Balize, 

Payments  to  the  treasury  of  debts  due  it,     . 

Sale  of  effects  from  the  king's  store, 

Sums  received  from  the  customhouse. 

Rent  of  the  tenements  belonging  to  the  king, 

Rations,  deducted  from  the  soldier's  pay,    . 

Hospital  fees,  likewise  deducted, 

Loans  to  the  treasury, 

Sale  of  waste  lands, 

Duty  of  media  annatn  on  said  lands, 

Cash  received  from  Vera  Cruz, 

Returns  for  supplies  to  the  navy, 

Cash  received  for  drafts  on  other  treasuries. 

Returns  of  overcharge  to  the  treasury, 


Private  Fxmds. 


Balance  of  the  year  before, 
Balance  of  accounts,    , 
Media  annata  of  officers. 
Donation, 


$  51,932  27 

5,959  13 

630  38 

3,240  50 

16,024  75 

2,005  62 

130,724  88 

336  00 

31,998  75 

5,177  88 

14,106  00 

188  50 

5  50 

402,258  00 

20,000  00 

49,512  88 

3  75 


30,880  51 

217  63 

1,226  26 

12100 


HISTOnY  OP  LOUIBTANA. 


305 


from  thrt'e 
out  of  the 
lul  burials. 
^'  (lollarrt  IV 
iutn  of  (»no 
ftrH  to  eiu'h 

f  the  houHt!!* 
king,  couHti- 
iiiro  of  l«'w«. 
ns,  in  which 
,  und  thill  of 

•ivUmI  to  tlu! 
the  wealtliy, 

yu'vo  allowid 
(1  Us  sorvicc. 
t,  c\\ureyi ;  hut 
as  he  deemeil 


)VINCE, 


51,932  27 
5,959  Vi 
630  38 
3,240  W 
16,024  75 
2,005  62 
130,724  88 
336  00 
31,998  75 
5,177  88 
14,106  00 
188  50 
550 
402,258  00 
20,000  00 
49,512  88 
3  75 


30,880  51 
217  63 
1,226  26 
12100 


Fundn  not  the  Kiiufn  Property. 

IJalanoo  of  the  your  before, 

j1A»»7t' iVo  of  HurgeonH, 

Monte  Pio  of  military  oUicurH, 

DcponitM,  .  .  . 

Moiite  Pio  of  officers  of  civil  employments, 

Monte  Pio  of  ofHces,      .... 


EXPENmTlTRKH. 

Common  lirnnehcH. 

Kxnonses  of  people  condemned  to  public  works, 

Oruinary  expenses  of  the  city, 

Ex|M'nse8  of  fortifications, 

Returns  of  loans  nuide  to  the  treasury, 

Buildings,        .... 

Extraordinary  exj)en8e8. 

Maintenance  of  prisoners  of  war. 

Maintenance  of  poor,  confined  for  their  rations 

Supi)lies  to  the  navy, 

Supplies  to  other  treasuries, 

Pay  to  the  people  employed  in  the  galleys, 

Exi)cnses  for  trie  chapel  service,  . 

Hospital  expenses, 

Indian  expenses,     . 

Salaries  of  ofHcers  and  people  employed  in  the  different 

offices  of  the  revenue. 
Expenses  of  the  general  store,  etc.,    . 
Expenses  for  the  galleys,  . 
Return  of  duties, 

Allowances  for  table  to  officers,    . 
Rations,  . 

Civil  and  military  salaries, 
General  expenses  of  revenue  department 
Remittances  to  other  treasuries,  . 
Salaries  to  Indians, 
Salaries  to  invalids, 
Pay  of  the  regular  troops. 
Allowances  to  professional  corps. 
Pay  of  the  militia. 
Office  expenses. 

Department  of  artillery  and  workmen, 
Half  pay  to  officers  retired. 
Employed  in  the  customhouse. 
Pensions,    .... 

House  rent,      ...... 

Salaries  of  persons  employed  in  forming  settlements. 
Salaries  of  officers  and  sergeants  in  half  pay, 
Salaries  of  French  emigrant  officers, 
Premiums  to  soldiers  for  services,     . 

41 


%  53,775  m 

167  (K) 

1,619  25 

1«,364  m 

341  13 

1,209  76 

♦843,043  37 

6,971  63 

3,614  TjO 

4,210  25 

42,015  63 

6,152  88 

6,679  .50 

824  37 

519  75 

8,844  88 

10,316  13 

21,922  62 

526  25 

27,716  02 

25,418  26 

46,307  00 

108,620  75 

4,004  38 

1,542  63 

5,367  88 

1,446  63 

9,293  2(> 

19,523  00 

74,000  00 

4,851  00 

540  50 

188,387  14 

158  26 

12,704  13 

1,138  50 

5,241  37 

300  00 

7,386  26 

2,328  00 

1,068  00 

1,320  00 

2,902  00 

744  00 

4,811  26 

*    II 


t\ 


■•n  A 


-vM'-.;l 


i 
\ 
■  t 


306 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


Conveyances  of  dispatches, 

Purchase  of  naval  stores  for  Vera  Cruz, 

Passage  money  of  soldiers  and  criminals, 

Expenses  of  demarcation  of  limits,   . 

Returns  of  sundries  from  the  treasurv,  . 

Secret  expenses,  .... 

Secret  exi)enses,  military. 

Sums  charged  to  the  treasurer,  not  received. 

Private  Funds. 
Balance  of  accounts,  .  .  .  . 

Expenses  of  justice,     .... 

Funih  not  King^i  Property. 
Deposits,     ...... 

3/o«^" /Vo  of  officers,    .... 

Monte  Pro  of  military,         .  .  .  . 

Monte  Pio  of  offices,      .... 

Balance  in  the  treasury,    .  .  .  .. 


230  87 
9,453  63 

166  00 
7,540  00 
2,400  00 
2,000  00 
25  (X) 
4,184  01 

49  75 
10  00 


6,682 
399 

4,553 

957 

136,674 


70 
89 
88 
39 
13 


$843,048  88 


The  foregoing  statement  shows  that  the  expenses  actually  paid  in  cash 
in  all  the  ye.ir  1802,  including  those  of  the  rnmo^  ageno.^,  etc.,  or  funds  not 
royal  property,  amounted  to  seven  hundred  and  six  thousand  threo 
hundred  and  seventj'-four  dollars  and  fourteen  cents,  to  which  if  wc  add 
the  salaries  and  pay  due  to  many  officers  of  the  revenue  department,  and 
crew  of  the  squadron  of  galleys,  the  extraordinary  expenses  caused  by  the 
different  expeditions,  particularly  those  which  are  renewed  to  the  post  of 
Apalaches,  for  its  defense  against  the  attacks  of  the  adventurer,  Bowie?, 
and  his  party  among  the  Creeks;  the  amount  of  bills  drawn  on  the  royal 
chests  by  the  king's  storekeei)er  of  Illinois,  New  Madrid,  Baton  Kouge, 
Plaquemines,  Apalaches,  Mobile,  and  other  posts,  which  not  being  yet 
present  are  unpaid,  it  will  api)ear  that  the  (|Uota  (or  situado)  of  i\m 

f)rovince,  reduced  to  five  hundred  and  thirty-seven  thousand,  eight 
lundred  and  sixty-nine  dollars  and  fifty-six  cents,  is  exceeded,  by  extra- 
ordinary expenses,  upwards  of  three  hundred  thousand  dollars,  notwith- 
standing there  are  820  men  wanting  to  complete  the  regiment  on  the  war 
footing,  and  independent  of  the  sums  received  for  duties  at  the  custom- 
house, and  many  considerable  savings  in  the  establishment,  which  have 
taken  place  since  it  was  formed  in  1785,  and  the  causes  of  said  expense?. 
and  considerable  debt  incurred  by  this  treasury,  are  those  mentioned  in 
the  foregoing  statement. 

It  is  likewise  remarked  that  the  royal  chests  owe  255,518  dollars  to  the 
fund  of  deposits,  48,372  dollars  and  31  cents  to  that  of  tobacco,  60,000 
dollars  to  the  fixed  regiment  and  other  corps,  12,000  dollars  to  the  pubhc 
deposit,  1000  dollars  to  the  pious  fund  of  the  cabins  of  female  orphans, 
and  337,760  dollars  and  37  cents  in  certificates  of  credit,  which,  for  want 
of  cash,  have  been  issued  in  payment  to  the  public,  Avithout  coinpre- 
hcnding  what  may  l)e  owing  in  Pensacola,  as  this  office  has  no  knowledge 
of  its  moans  and  resources. 


Netr  Orlean><,  2^Jd  March,  1S03. 
[Translation.] 


(Signed) 


GiBERTo  Leonard. 
Manuel   Almirez. 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


807 


230  B7 
l453  C>3 
166  00 
r,540  00 
2,400  00 
2,000  00 
25  00 
4,184  01 

49  75 
10  00 

6,682  Tfi 

399  89 

4,553  88 

957  39 

136,674  13 

^843,048  38 

r  paid  in  cash 
or  funds  not 
ousancl  three 
hich  if  wo  atW 
partment,  and 
icaiisedbythe 
to  the  po?t  of 
iturer,  Bowles, 
'11  on  the  royal 
Baton  Kouge, 
not  being  yet 
lituado)  of  tin? 
tiousand,  eight 
teded,  by  oxtra- 
oUars,  notwith- 
lent  on  the  war 
at  the  custom- 
■nt,  which  have 
said  expenses. 
je  mentioned  m 

Is  dollars  to  the 
1  tobacco,  WfM) 
Irs  to  the  pubhc 
Lmale  orphans, 
which,  for  want 

Ivithout  compre- 
las  no  knowledge 


Lrto  Leonard. 
[uEL   Almibez- 


This  fund  of  deposit  is  cash  deposited  for  a  particular  purpose,  such  as 
the  fortifications  of  Pensacola,  etc.,  to  which  it  has  not  been  applied. 

The  ramus  pai'tlculdirn,  or  private  funds  are  those  of  individuals  under  the 
royal  protection,  for  the  payment  of  pensions,  etc.,  to  officers'  widows,  etc. 

The  ramos  agenos  are  funds  which  do  not  belong  to  the  king,  but  are 
destined  for  the  purposes  mentioned,  being  generally  discounts  from 
salaries,  to  pay  invalids,  etc. 

The  deposits  constituting  a  part  of  this  fund,  proceed  from  property  in 
dispute  to  which  the  king  has  a  claim,  and  the  amount  is  deposited  until 
the  claim  is  decided. 

The  sum  due  to  the  fund  of  tobacco,  is  a  balance  which  remained  of 
that  particular  fund,  after  the  purchases  for  the  king's  account  were 
completed. 

That  due  to  the  public  deposit  is  the  amount  of  certain  property  for 
which  suits  are  depending  between  individuals. 

That  the  regiment  of  Louisiana  is  taken  from  the  military  chest  of  that 
regiment,  which  has  considerable  funds  of  its  own  in  cash. 

The  amount  of  certificates  is  the  sum  then  due  to  the  public,  for 
supplies,  salaries,  and  wages,  which  have  not  been  paid  for  want  of  cash. 

SALARIES  AND  EXPENSES, 

Xot  comprehended  in  the  Provincial  Regulation, 

ANNUAL. 


Governor,  late  of  Natchez,  now  Baton  Rouge, 

Secretary  to  governor,  ..... 

A  colonel  of  artillery,  .  . 

Two  captains  of  said  companies,         .... 

One  lieutenant  of  said  companies, 

Two  engineers,  ...... 

Allowances  for  table  expenses  (when  employed,  $25  per 
month,)  cannot  be  s^^ecified,. 

Officers  of  the  army,  additional,  who  have  been  put  on  pay 
viz.,  2  captains,  1  lieutenant,  and  8  sub-lieutenants. 

Officers  added  to  the  etat-major  de  place  :  5  captains,  2  lieu- 
tenants, and  1  on  half  pay,     .... 

Augmentation  of  pay  to  the  public  interpreter. 

An  intorventor  or  comptroller  of  public  stores. 

Two  officers  for  revision  of  accounts. 

One  officer  added  to  the  secretarj^'s  office  of  the  intendancy. 

Auditor  of  war,        ...... 

Storekeeper,  intern  re ter,  and  baker  of  New  Madrid ;  inter- 
preter and  balker  of  Illinois,  .... 

An  additional  clerk  to  the  public  stores, 

Storekeeper  at  Baton  Rouge,  .... 

Storekeeper,  surgeon,  interpreter,  and  baker,  at  Apalaches, 

Commandants  of  the  posts  of  St.  John  the  Baptist,  of  the 
German  parish,  Opelousas,  New  Bourbon,  Cape  Bour- 
bon, Cape  Girardeau,  St.  Andrew,  and  St.  Fernando  of 
Illinois,  ...... 

A  French  engineer,      ...... 


$  2,500 

840 

2,000 

1,680 

528 

2,000 


3,096 

2,476 
264 
800 

1,140 
860 

2,000 

1,200 
360 
360 

1,300 


600 
1,200 


'  *...i 


M 


308 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


( 


i     4 


lii  ,", 


An  emigrant  captain  of  the  same  nation,  .  .  $       744 

Expenses  of  artillery  department,      ....        10,000 

Provincial  hospitals  in  various  places,     .  .  .  5,0(X) 

Indian  presents  and  expenses,  in  addition  to  the  sum  men- 
tioned in  the  provincial  regulation,        .  .  .        30,000 
Allowances  to  couriers  yearly,      ....  1,0(X) 

Supply  of  provisions,  medicines,  etc.,  to  the  garrison   of 

Pensacola,  ......        20,000 

Secret  expenses  of  government — cannot  be  i)recisely  fixed, 
Pay  of  9  dragoons,  at  $25  per  month  and  rations,  on  condi- 
tion of  finding  their  own   horses,  at  Pensacola,  3,500 
Four  corporals  of  militia,  employed  in  various  posts  of  the 
province  under  the  orders  of  the  commandants,  at  $10 
per  month,              ......  480 

Pay  of  the  harbor  master,  .  .  .  .  2,(XK) 

Assistant  to  the  harbor  master,  ....  360 

Salary  of  the  two  canons,  ....  1,200 

An  assistant  to  the  curate,      .....  720 

A  ranger  of  the  forest  at  Concordia,  opposite.  Natchez,  240 

One  ranger  in  Ouachita,  .....  240 

Fifteen  sergeants  on  half  pay,       ....  2,025 

Pensions  to  four  officers  of  the  royal  hacienda,  who  have 

retired,        .......         1,550 

Seven  sacristans   appointed  since  the  establishment  of  the 
regulation  for  St.  Bernard,  Baton  Rouge,  New  Feliciana, 
or  Thompson's  creek,  Rapides,  Natchitoches,  Arkansas, 
and  New  Madrid,  at  $15  per  month  each,      .  .  1,260 

House  rent  in  various  places,  viz  : 
Commandant  at  Baton  Rouge,  ....  360 

Curate  of  Baton  Rouge,      .....  180 

Curate  of  Feliciana,      ......  180 

Commandant  of  Natchitoches,      ....  300 

(•ommandant  of  Concord,        .....  240 

Commandant  of  New  Madrid,        ....  240 

Six  seamen  at  the  Balize,  at  $6  per  month  and  rations,       .  837 

Four  seamen  for  the  boat  of  the  revenue  offiicer  employed 

there,     .......  480 

Two  seamen  at  Mobile,  to  look  after  the  king's  launch  at  $10 
each,  per  month,  and  rations,       .... 

Allowance  to  the  commandant  of  the  encami)ment  at  Espe- 

ranza,  opposite  the  Chickasaw  Blufls,  .  .  72 

Storekeeper,  surgeon,  apothecary,  and  assistant  to  the  hos- 
pital at  PhKiuemines,        .  .  .  .  .  984 

$109,271 

EXTRAOUDINARY. 

Brigade  of  ;)rcsiV/ar/o.s,   or  people  condemned  to  the  public 

works ;  their  maintenance,  clothing,  etc.,     .  .  25,000 

Pay  of  the  officers  and  people  employed  in  the  galleys  and 

gun-boats,  etc.,       ......       60,(X)0 

Rations  for  officers  and  repairs  of  vessels,  .  .  40,000 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


309 


^      744 

10,000 

5,000 

30,000 
1,000 

20,000 


3,500 


480 
2,(X)0 
360 
1.200 
720 
240 
240 
2,025 


as. 


red 
^0 
^pe- 

lOS- 


Iblic 
land 


1,550 


1,260 

3(50 

180 

180 

300 

240 

240 

837 

480 


72 

984 

$109,271 

25,000 

60,000 
40,000 


Expenses  of  fortifications  and  repairs,  in  the  capital  and 
other  posts,  ...... 

Transportation  of  troops  and  presidarios, 

Maintenance  of  criminals,       ..... 

Expenses  of  running  the  line  of  demarcation  with  the  U.  S. 
from  the  beginning  of  1797,  not  brought  into  account 
until  the  whole  was  completed ;  exceeding, 

I'lcmiums  to  soldiers  of  good  character,  who  have  served 
beyond  a  certain  period,     ..... 


(irand  total,  annual  and  extraordinary  expenses, 

Eqicmes  ivhich,  for  loant  of  cash,  were  paid  in  Certificates,  in 

Salaries  of  the  revenue  department. 
General  expenses  of  revenue  department, 
(loneral  expenses  of  the  king's  store,  for  supplies,    , 
(ioneral  expenses  of  extraordinaries. 
General  expenses  for  chapel  service, 
(ienoral  expenses  of  the  military  hospital, 
(Jenoral  expenses  of  criminals  condemned  to  public 
works,         ...... 

General  expenses  for  the  city  guards, 

Hous3  rent,      ...... 

Maintenance  of  persons  confined, 

Purchase  of  stores  for  Vera  Cruz, 

Passage  of  troops  discharged, 

Pay  of  soldiers,  ..... 

Pay  of  militia,        ..... 

Pay  of  half  pay  officers  and  servants. 

Department  of  artillery  and  workmen,   . 

Pay  of  the  crew  of  the  galleys, 

Repairs  of  the  galleys,      .... 

Repairs  of  fortifications,  etc.,  .  , 

Allowance  for  table  expenses  to  officers  on  service, 
Salaries  to  the  Indian  department, 
(leneral  expenses  of  the  Indian  department, 
Rations  to  officers  on  service, 


Annual  Revenues  of  the  City  of  New  Orleans. 

Hire  of  the  stalls  in  the  beef  market. 

Tax  of  seven-eighths  of  a  dollar  on  every  carcass  of  beef 

ex]i()scd  to  sale,  calculated  at     . 
Hire  of  the  green  and  fish  markets,  etc., 
Tax  of  one  quarter  of  a  dollar  on  every  carcass  of  veal, 

mutton,  or  pork,  exposed  to  sale,  (supposed)     . 


$  20,000 
1,000 
1,500 


150,000 

4,500 

$302,000 

$411,271 


in  the  year  1802 

%    5,735  38 

3,665  37 

28,990  87 

713  50 

197  88 

1,132  37 

42  62 

684  74 

1,365  00 

280  12 

1,194  37 

28  00 

15  00 

3,166  62 

45  00 

1,088  37 

44,444  56 

960  94 

3,319  31 

1,197  00 

2,021  75 

15,983  31 

80  00 

$116,352  37 

2,350 

3,325 
1,383 

1,200 


:U.Vf^;SS 


m 


■  4# 


310 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


Tax  of  half  a  dollar  per  barrel  on  flour,  baked  in  the  city, 
for  which  the  bakers  do  not  render  a  just  account, 

Tax  of  $40  on  taverns,  $20  on  lodging  houses,  and  140  on 
billiard  tables,  estimated  at  ... 

Tax  of  $3  on  all  ships  for  anchorage,  destined  for  the 
repairs  of  the  levee  of  the  city;  this  tax  not  being  paid 
by  the  American  shipping,  .... 

Tax  of  $2  per  pipe  on  tama  imported, 

Ground  rents  on  the  great  square,      .... 

Rent  of  the  old  market  house,  now  turned  into  a  gaming 
house  and  ball-room,  .... 

Ground  rents,  arising  from  the  sale  of  the  square  opposite 
the  hosi)ital,  ...... 

Movable  sh()i)S  and  stalls,  .... 

Tax  of  a  dollar  on  all  vessels  entering  the  bayou  St.  John, 


2,800 

3,r)Oo 


.')00 
800 
182 

1,800 

im 

470 


$19,278 


Mem. — Some  of  the  above  items  are  casual,  and  dei)end  on  the  hiring 
of  stalls,  and  greater  or  less  consumption  of  the  city. 

Expenses  of  the  City. 

A  commission  of  five  per  cent,  to  the  treasurer  for  all  sums 
he  may  receive.     ...... 

To  the  six  regidors  or  members  of  thecabildo  or  town  council 

first  created,  .  .  .  .  .  .    $  850 

The  notary  who  serves  as  clerk  to  the  council,        .  .  200 

To  the  two  porters  of  the  council,  who  are  likewise  employed 
by    the  treasurer  in  collecting  the    hire  of  the    stalls, 
etc.,  at   $35  per  month,       .....       42() 

To  the  sergeant  employed  to  look  after  the  city  carters,  who 
are  obliged    to   bring  weekly   two  loads    of   earth    for 
repairing  the    streets    which  are    unpaid :    at  $12   per 
month,       .  .  .  .  .  ...  144 

To  the  corporal  who  looks  after  the  persons  condemned  to 

the  public  works ;    at  $12  per  month,      .  .  .144 

To  the  city  eryor,  $12  per  month,      ....  144 

To  the  executioner,  $15  per  month,         ....       180 

For  lighting  the  lamps  of  the  city,  about  1800  gallons  of  oil 
annually,  ....... 

Repairing  lamps,  ladders,  candlewick,    ....       4()0 

To  14  watchmen,  who  serve  likewise  as  lamplighters,         ,  2,580 

To  the  guard  appointed  to  attend  at  the  Bayou  bridge,  .        62 

Repairs  of  the  Bayou  bridge,  (casual) 

Repairs  of  the  city  levee,  or  dyke,  now  in  a  dangerous  state, 
being   partly  carried  away  this   spring  by  the  under- 
mining of  the  river,  and  which  will  be  very  expensive 
to  repair,        ....... 

Repairs  of  the  streets,  gutters  and  city  drains,  uncertain,    . 

There  are  besides  the  above,  many  casual  and  extraordinary  expenses,! 
which  cannot  be  particularly  enumerated. 


$  2,80() 
3,500 

800 
132 

1,800 

360 
470 

$19,27H 
ou  the  hiring 


sums 


)uncil 


.    $3 


200 


)loyed 

stalls. 

420 

s,  who 
th    for 

2   per 

144 

Led  to 

144 
144 
180 

1  of  oil 

1 

400 

2,580 

fi2 

L  state, 
BTunder- 

ftensive 

Hdinary  expend 

es 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


Imports  at  New  Orleans,  in  1802, 


311 


Fans  assorted,  dozens. 

468 

Fan  for  cleaning  rice,        .... 

1 

Steel,  lbs.,         ..... 

34,834 

Olive  oil  in  bottles,  doz.,   .... 

1,648 

Olive  oil,  common,  in  flasks,  doz., 

420 

Olive  oil  in  iars,     . 

Oil,  essentials,  phials,  doz.,    . 

50 

6 

Oil,  linseed,  galls.,              .... 

1,132 

Oil,  fish,  galls.,              .... 

3,931 

Oil,  turpentine,  lbs.,           .... 

215 

OUves,  in  flasks,  doz.. 

236 

Brandy  of  Provence,  galls,, 

1,960 

Brandy  of  Bordeaux,  galls.,    . 

5,178 

Brandy,  bottled,  doz.,        .... 

194 

Brandv  of  peaches,  galls.. 

30 

Taffia,"hhds.,          ..... 

67 

Whiskey,  galls.,           .... 

300 

Scented  waters,  bottles,     .... 

485 

Hungary  and  other  waters,  bottles,   . 

103 

Capers,  in  flasks,  doz.,       .... 

264 

Copperas,  lbs.,              .... 

800 

Carpets,  wool,         ..... 

6 

Cotton,  lbs.,      ..... 

39,808 

Red  lead,  lbs.,         ..... 

1,120 

Almonds,  in  shell,  lbs.. 

3,917 

Almonds,  shelled,  lbs.,      .... 

400 

Starch,  lbs.,      _.            .            . 

130 

Tar,  (brought  in  vessels  originally  bound  to  oth 

er  ports) 

bbls.,    ...... 

325 

Bitters,  bottles,             .... 

288 

Broadcloths,  ells,    ..... 

600 

Anchovies,  bottles,       .... 

283 

Eels,  salted,  flasks,            .... 

30 

Annisecd,  in  baskets, 

662 

Telescopes,              .             .             . 

26 

Indigo,  lbs.,      ..... 

1,597 

Plougbs,      ...... 

4 

Herrings  and  Pilchards,  lbs.. 

21,400 

Press  of  mahogany,           .... 

1 

Harness  with  brass  mountings. 

6 

Glass  bottles,  cases,           .            .            .            . 

3 

Filberts,  lbs.,    ..... 

500 

Quicksilver,  lbs.,     .            .            .            .            . 

.       24,210 

Sugar,  white,  lbs.,        .... 

704 

Sugar,  brown,  lbs.,              .             .             .             . 

23,992 

Sul  >hur,  lbs.,    ..... 

4,650 

Codlish,  dried,  quintals,     .            .            .            . 
Raftas,  i)ieces  of  10  ells. 

348 

507 

Scales,  pairs,           .            .            .            .            . 

2 

Balls  for  nmskets,        .... 

300 

nm 


*  cCi 


t  . 


1''  Ui 


312 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA 


U''l't' 


m 


,:.., 


ijl'l.:' 
hi': 


Buckets,  doz., 

Varnish,  common,  galls., 

Varnish,  fine,  bottles, 

Dresses  for  women,  in  pieces  . 

Cambricks,  in  6  ell  pieces, 

Trunks,  empty, 

Baize,  ells, 

Beaufort,  unbleached,  ells,     . 

Calf  skins,  doz., 

Bath  coatings,  ells. 

Book-cases,  mahogany,     . 

Bidets,  .... 

Screens,  (paper)     . 

Biscuit,  quintals. 

Blondes,  silk,  etc.,  ells,.     . 

Purses,  silk,  doz.. 

Fire  engines. 

Puffs,  swansdown,  doz., 

Boots,  pairs. 

Bootlegs,  pairs. 

Half-boots,  pairs,   . 

Half-bootlegs,  pairs,    . 

Empty  bottles, 

Bramantes  or  Flanders,  ells. 

Butter,  bbls., 

Britanias,  pieces, 

Brin  of  all  breadths,  ells, 

Buffets,  mahogany, 

Busts  of  plaster,     . 

Cables,  lbs.. 

Cacao,  lbs., 

Coffee,  lbs.. 

Coffee  pots  of  iron,  tinned, 

Callimancoes,  ells. 

Copper  kettles  for  sugar  boilers, 

Chaises, 

Chairs, 

Breeches  patterns,  cotton  web. 

Breeches  and  pantaloons  made. 

Bedsteads,  manogany. 

Sheets,  linen,  doz., 

Sheets,  check  and  ticking,  doz., 

Canapees  or  sofas. 

Canvass,  ells,    . 

Cinnamon,  lbs., 

Cotton  bagging,  ells,    . 

Hemp,  lbs.. 

Quills  for  writing, 

Carabines, 

Sea  coal,  hhds., 

Cotton  cards,  pairs, 

Verdigris,  lbs., 


159 

5,889 
24 
110 
132 
40 
4,250 
1,488 
123 
4,290 
2 
48 
10 
153 
901 
60 
2 
21 
98 
425 
269 
617 
100,140 
14,451 
38 
15,472 
30,144 
6 
74 
59,487 
1,024 
189,910 
42 
9,049 
4 
2 
15 
110 
1,482 
1 

46 

925 

21 

4,350 

200 

38 

65,822 

57,000 

10 

100 

1,524 

21 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


tiz 


169 

5,889 
24 
110 
132 
40 
4,250 
1,488 
123 
4,290 
2 

48 
10 
153 
901 
50 
2 
21 
98 
425 
269 
617 
100,140 
14,451 
38 
15,472 
30,144 
6 
74 
59,487 
1,024 
189,910 
42 
9,049 
4 
2 

15 
110 
1,482 

46 

925 

21 

4,350 

200 

38 

65,822 

57,000 

10 

100 

1,524 

21 


Pork,  salted,  bbls., 

Beef,  salted,  bbls., 

Bacon,  lbs., 

Venison,  smoked,  lbs.. 

Carts  and  drays,    . 

Carts  with  their  harness, 

Feathers,  cartons. 

Flowers,  artificial,  cartons, 

Check  jackets. 

Caps,  leather,  doz., 

German  rolls,  ells, 

Casimirs,  ells. 

Onions,  q|uintals,    . 

Sieves,  wire,  etc.,  doz.. 

Lace,  ells,    . 

Sashes  for  women, 

Wax,  manufactured,  lbs., 

Beer,  hhds., 

Beer,  bottled,  doz.. 

Shoe  blackfng  balls,  lbs., 

Waiscoats  of  various  materials. 

Jackets  of  various  materials,  doz 

Vermillion,  lbs., 

Girt  webb,  ells, 

Ribbons,  silk,  pieces, 

Ribbons,  velvet,  pieces. 

Ribbons  for  the  hair,  60  ell  pieces, 

Tape,  dozen  pieces. 

Binding,  worsted,  pieces, 

Satin  ribbon,  pieces. 

Cotton  tape,  gross  of  pieces, 

Prunes,  lbs., 

Nails,  assorted,  lbs., 

Cloves,  lbs.. 

Copper,  manufactured,  lbs.. 

Copper  in  sheets,  lbs.. 

Head  dresses  for  women, 

Iron  chests. 

Glue,  lbs.,    .  .  .     . 

Counterpanes,  quilted, 

Oznaburg,  white,  ells, 

Oznaburg,  brown,  ells, 

Sweetmeats,  dried,  lbs.,     . 

Sweetmeats  in  syrup,  lbs., 

Coral,  boxes. 

Neck  handkerchiefs,  boxes,    . 

Fishing  lines. 

Leather  dressed,  dozen  skins, 

Cider,  galls., 

Cider,  bottled,  doz., 

Saddles, 

Windsor  chairs,  doz., 

4S 


2,537 

237 

68,556 

100 

8 

6 

24 

m 

10 
29 

10,125 

919 

127 

887 

4,069 

82 

1550 

92 

807 

200 

875 

191 

530 

485 

9,443 

677 

329 

3,176 

2,430 

204 

3 

6,308 

133,7?8 

280 

400 

180 

58 

3 

205 

330 

6,371 

53,945 

417 

87 

26 

23 

5,444 

17 

1,050 

374 

208 

179 


.'^^'*^ 


■  '  '''     '\   11 

»  '■'  >■'.. 


'tiS 


:""'■!  ffti 


I.,. 


314  HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 

Riding  cliairH, 

Mahogany  arm  chairs, 

Seersuckers,  pieces  of  12  ells, 

Hats,  doz., 

Sole  leather,  lbs.,    . 

Cork  soles,  pieces, 

Suspenders,  elastic,  pairs, 

K^ntuckj'  tobacco,  lbs., 

Kentucky  twist,  lbs., 

Rapee  snuff,  bottles,    . 

Corks, 

Corks  for  demijohns, 

Tea,  lbs.,     .  . 

Ticken,  ells, 

Tiles, 

Whiting,  casks. 

Ink,  bottles, 

Inkstands,  doz.. 

Toilette  glasses*. 

Molasses  casks,  broke  up, 

Turpentine,  ll)s.,    . 

Velvets,  cotton. 

Glass  for  doors  and  windows. 

Watch  glasses. 

White  wine  vinegar,  galls.. 

Red  wine  vinegar,  galls., 

Composition  vinegar,  bottles 

Catalonian  wine,  galls., 

Andahisian  wine,  galls.,    . 

Andalusian  wino,  bottled,  doz 

Corsican  wine,  pipes, 

Claret,  hhds.,    . 

Claret,  bottled,  doz., 

White  wino,  Bordeaux,  casks, 

White  wine,  Bordeaux,  bottled,  doz 

Provence  wine,  hhds., 

Provence  wine,  bottled,  doz., 

Canary  wine,  galls., 

Madeira  wine,  galls., 

Madeira  wine^  bottled,  doz., 

Frontignac,  galls.. 

Champagne,  galls., 

Alicant,  galls., 

Violins, 

Soap,  lbs.,   . 

Soap  balls,  lbs., 

Cordage,  lbs., 

Cages,    .  .  .         , 

Syringes,    .  ... 

Syringes,  small. 

Shoes,  men's  and  women's,  of  every  description,  pairs 


1 

8 

24 

1,357 

i300 

50 

1G2 

241, 84() 

948 

363 

778,000 

8,000 

5,567 

14,241 

27,000 

67 

349 

50 

12 

130 

1,786 

1,182 

2,980 

504 

5,145 

105 

76 

6,972 

3,171 

40 

J) 

3,575 

4,062 

144 

1,371 

234 

334 

1,620 

150 

20 

271 

35 

16 

36 

156,752 

146 

323,645 

40 

1,119 

97 

9,758 


1 

H 

24 
1,357 
500 
50 
1G2 
I41,84(i 
948 


778,000 
8,000 
5,567 
14,241 
27,000 
67 
349 
50 
12 
130 
1,786 
1,182 
2,*.)80 
504 
5,145 
105 
75 
6,972 
.    3,171 
40 


Irs, 


5 
3,575 
4,062 
144 
1,371 
234 
334 
1,620 
150 
20 
271 
35 
16 
36 
156,752 
146 
323,645 
40 
1,119 
97 
9,758 


long  in  store) 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 
Exi»ORT8  FOR  1802. 

Garlic,  ropes, 

Cotton,  clean,  lbs., 

Tar,  barrels,      . 

Anchors.    . 

Indigo,  (produce  of  former  years, 

Rice,  quintals, 

Masts,   . 

White  sugar,  lbs., 

Brown  sugar,  lbs.. 

Pitch,  bbls., 

Cables,  . 

Cane,  reed,     .        . 

Beef,  bbls.,       . 

Pork,  bbls., 

Tables  of  common  wood, 

Black  lead,  lbs.,     . 

Corn  mills,       . 

Fire  dogs  gilt,  pairs. 

Mustard,  doz.  bottles. 

Muslins,  different  kinds,  ells, 

Muslinets,  different  kinds,  ells, 

Petticoats  matle, 

Nanquinets,  ells. 

Cards,  grosses  of  packs,    . 

Walnut  plank,  feet. 

Nutmegs,  lbs., 

Hand  organs, 

Guavac  wood,  quintals,     . 

Clotlis,  ells, 

Strouds,  16  ell  pieces. 

Handkerchiefs,  all  descriptions,  doz., 

Potatoes,  quintals, 

Letter  paper,  reams,    . 

Common  writing  paper,  reams, 

Paper  hangings,  pieces, 

Wrajiping  paper,  reams. 

Writing  desks,  mahogany, 

Parasols,     . 

Raisins,  lbs.,     . 

Chocolate,  lbs., 

Pickled  turkeys  and  geese,  bbls., 

Satin  cloaks, 

Pewter,  quintals. 

Wigs  for  men  and  women, 

Pears,  bbls., 

Shot,  lbs.,  . 

Flints,  .... 

Grindstones, 

Mill  stones,  pr. 

Whetstones,  doz.,  . 

Dripstones, 


315 


500 

2,161,498 

1,846 

1 

336,199 

46 

127 

100 

2,493,274 

258 

1 

9,000 

217 

636 

18 

118 

122 

40 

132 

15,793 

3,236 

12 

3,158 

375 

1,000 

71 

4 

280 

14,950 

673 

9,583 

410 

516 

6,144 

6,342 

1,360 

2 

3,462 

34,617 

1,880 

3 

12 

20 

111 

86 

10,059 

349,000 

1,116 

140 

8 

88 


rX;. 


■  U 


\. '■■•■■■    'ifl 


31 G 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA 


^i 


Beaver,  lbs., 

Fox  and  raccoon, 

Otter,  lbs., 

BcarskinH, 

DeorHkiiiH  in  hair,  lbs., 

Deerskins  shaved,  Ibn., 

Pepper,  lbs., 

Paints,  common,  lbs.. 

Paints,  fine,  lbs.,    . 

Pipes,  clay,  ^ross. 

Pistols,  pairs, 

Hlates,  . 

Slates  for  schools,  doz., 

Cf»ined  money,  marks, 

Platillas,  white,  jneces, 

Platillas,  brown,  pieces, 

Lead  in  sheets,  11)8., 

Powder,  lbs.,     . 

Hair  powder,  lbs.. 

Pomatum,  pots  and  sticks,  doz 

Cheese,  lbs., 

Hardware,  packages. 

Gold  watches. 

Clocks  for  staircases,  . 

Clocks  for  chimney  pieces. 

Rosin,  quintals. 

Ploughshares, 

Rum,  gallons, 

Russia  sheetings,  pieces, 

Sheets  ready  made,  pairs, 

Salt,  bbls.,  . 

Bologna  sausages,  lbs., 

Salmon,  lbs.. 

Sardines,  lbs.. 

Serges,  woolen,  ells, 

Frying  pans,     . 

Tallow,  lb.s.. 

Tallow,  manufactured,  lbs., 

Secretaries,  mahogany, 

Sewing  silk,  lbs. 

Silk  of  other  descriptions,  lbs 

Garden  seeds,  lbs.. 

Boot  stockings,  doz.. 

Bacon,  lbs.. 

Wax,  lbs.,  . 

Peas  and  beans,  bbls., 

Nails,  lbs.,  . 

Sugar,  boxes,   . 

Beef,  hides. 

Calf  skins. 

Staves,         .  . 

Flour,  bbls.,^    .       ^    . 


86 
22 

272 
2U 
98 

1,000 
2,070 

lo,r)«};^, 

230 

677 

31 

ia5,ooo 
« 

184 

2.670 

244 

3,800 

6,420 

10,090 

262 

38,579 

416 

10 

1 

12 

40 

30 

13,798 

1,970 

3 

4,727 

100 

2,880 

3,180 

736 

2,985 

610 

26,065 

2 

278 

1,000 

100 

18 

8,068 

120 

123 

200 

2,050 

2,409 

144 

24,000 

5,575 


HISTORY   OK   LOUISIANA. 


317 


Hams,  lbs.,             .           .           .            .           . 

2,998 

Wool,  11)8., 

402 

Earthenware,  craten,          .            ,            .            . 

2 

Hogs'  lard,       ..... 
Molasses,  casks,      .            .            .            .            . 

11,889 

812 

Logwood,  tons,             .... 

483 

Beaver  skins,  lbs.,             ,            .            .            . 

179 

Otter  skins,      ..... 

« 

Raeeoon  and  fox  skins,  lbs., 

138 

Deer,  in  hair,  lbs.,        .... 

108,897 

Deer,  shaved,  lbs.,              .            .            .            . 

.      121,(K)8 

Bearskins,        ..... 

982 

Buffalo  robes,         .            .            .            .           . 

32 

Pimento,  lbs.,  ..... 

7,281 

Lead,  in  pigs,  lbs., 

.      167,192 

Ash  oars,           ..... 

200 

Snuff,  bottles,         .... 

54 

Tobacco,  Kentucky,  lbs.. 

87,622 

Tobacco,  in  carrots,  lbs., 

7,768 

Boards,  of  10  to  12  feet, 

690 

Shingles,     ..... 

30,000 

Vanilla,  per  M.  pods. 

92 

'rm 


it .;; 


k  V 


f^. 


The  annual  produce  of  the  province  was  supposed  to  consist  of: 
3,000  lbs.  of  indigo,  rapidly  declining. 
20,0(X)  bales  of  cotton  of  3()0  lbs.  each. 
5,CX)0  hhds.  of  sugar  of  1000  lbs.  each. 
5,000  casks  of  molasses,  of  50  gallons  each. 
There  were  but  few  domestic  manufactures.      The  Acadians  wrought 
mm  cotton  into  quilts  and  homespun,  and  in  the  more  remote  parts  of 
the  province,  the  poorer  kind  of  people  spun  and  wove  wool  mixed  with 
(otton,  into  coarse  cloth.      There   was   a  machine  for  spinning  cotton 
in  the  {)arish  of  Iberville,  and  another  in  Opelousas ;  but  neither  was 
much  employed.    In  New  Orleans,  there  was  a  considerable  manufacture 
of  cordage,  and  a  few  small  ones  of  hair  powder,  vermicelli  and  shot. 
There  were  near  the  city,  about  a  dozen  of  distilleries,  in  which  about 
four  thousand  casks  of  taffia,  of  fifty  gallons  each,  were  made,  and  a 
sugar  refinery  which  produced  about  200,000  lbs.  of  loaf  sugar. 

In  the  year  1802,  two  hundred  and  fifty-six  vessels  of  all  kinds  entered 
the  Mississippi :  eighteen  of  which  were  public  armed  vessels :  the  others, 
merchantmen,  as  folloAvs :  ,  . 


Anierican. 

Spanish. 

French 

Ships, 

48 

14 

0 

Brigs, 

68 

17 

1 

Polacres, 

0 

4 

0 

Schooners, 

60 

61 

0 

Sloops, 

9 

1 

0 

170 


97 


1 


Of  the  American  vessels,  twenty-three  ships,  twenty-five  brigs,  nineteen 
schooners  and  five  sloops  came  in  ballast 


■1^  j, 


M- 


.1 


318 


1II8T01{Y  OF  LOUISIANA. 


Five  SpiiiuHli  nliipH  and  Hevon  schooncrH  canir  alnf)  in  ballant. 
Tlu)  t()imiij,'('  of  tlu'  lucrcliimtincn.  that  entiTod   tho  MinHisHippi,  wau 
tw«'nty-tl»roL'  tlKtusaud  hv\\>\\  hundred  and  twenty-tive  registered  tons. 
In  the  name  year,  there  nailed  from  the  MiBsiHHippi : 

15H  Ameriean  veHHels,        .  .  ,  21,88.'i  Tonn. 

lot  H|)anish  veHselH,     ....        GJ.W  Tohh. 

3  French  veHselH,  .  .  .  10.')  Tonn. 

Total,     205  ■  31,241 

Tho  tonnage  of  tho  vcsnels  that  went  in  ballast,  not  that  of  public 
armed  ones,  is  not  included.  The  latter  took  off'  masts,  yards,  spars  and 
naval  stores. 

There  was  a  considerable  coasting  trade  from  Pensacola,  Mobile  and 
the  rivers  and  creeks  falling  into  lakes  Pontchartrain  and  MaurepaH  and 
the  neighboring  coast.  From  it,  principally,  New  Orleans  was  supplied 
with  ship  timl)er,  lime,  charcoal  and  naval  stores  ;  cattle  was  alsobroiijjJit 
from  these  phuu's.  Scliooncrs  and  sloons  of  from  eight  to  fifty  tons,  sonic 
of  them  but  half  decked,  were  employed  in  that  trade.  Ueclconing  their 
repeati'd  trips,  live  hundred  of  them  entered  the  bayou  St.  John  in  ISdj, 
with  thirteen  galleys  and  four  boats. 

There  was  also  some  coasting  trade  between  New  Orleans  and  tho 
districts  of  Attakapas  and  Oi)elousas  by  the  Balize. 

Estimate  of  the  produce  shipped  from  New  Orleans,  in  the  year  1802, 
including  that  of  tno  settlements  on  the  Mississippi,  Ohio,  etc. : 


Flour,  .50,000  barrels,      . 

Salt  beef  and  pork,  3,fK)0  barrels, 

Tobacco,  2,0(K)  hogsheads, 

Cotton,  34,000  bales. 

Sugar,  4,000  hogsheads. 

Molasses,  800  hogsheads,     . 

Peltries, 

Naval  stores, 

Lumber,  chiefly  sugar  boxes,    . 


Potash,  Indian  corn,  meal,  lead,  cherry  and  walnut  planks, 
hemp,  masts,  spars,  hams,  butter,  lard,  peas,  beans, 
biscuit,  ginseng,  garlic,  cordage,  hides,  staves,  tobacco, 
in  carrots.  ...... 


TONS. 

5,000 
500 

1,400 
17,000 

3,000 
500 
450 

m 

5,000 
33,3.50 


6,650 


40,000 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 


The  first  act  of  Claiborne,  on  his  entering  on  the  functions  of  governor] 
general  and  intendant  of  the  province  of  Louisiana,  was  a  proclamatioiil 
of  the  twentieth  December,  1803,  by  which  he  declared  that  the  govern-j 
ment  heretofore  exercised  over  the  province,  as  well  under  the  authorityj 


A. 

n«(\  tout*. 

>;i  TonH. 
)5  TouH. 

41 

rtlrt,  npur**  and 

ft,  Mol)Ue  luid 

Sliiurc\»us  and 

WUH  HU\)\)lit'd 

iftv  tons,  son\»' 
eckoninn  tluir 
t.  John  in  \Wl 

)rleanR  ami  the 

1  the  year  ISO'2, 


),  etc. 


TONS. 

5,000 
500 
1,400 
17,000 
3,000 
500 
450 
500 
5,000 


33,3.50 


lanks, 

beans, 

)acco, 


IIIHTOIlY  OP  LOt'IRIANA. 


310 


ktions  of  governor- 
IS  a  proclamation 
i  that  the  gojtj- 
Uer  the  authority 


of  Spain  uh  under  that  of  the  FnMJoh  rcpuMic,  had  ('(mihimI,  nnd  tliat  of  the 

I'liiti'd  Statt'H  WMH  cstuhliHhcd  (iv(>r  it;  that  tht;   inhaltituntH  would   ho 

incorporated  in  the  Tiiion,  and  adiu'ttiMl,  as  soon  an  possihh',  acconling 

to  the  principles  of  the  federal  coiiHtitution,  to  the  enjoyment  of  idl  the 

riglitK,  advantagcH  and  iiuinunitieH  of  (;itizenH  of  the;  United  States,  and 

in  the  ineantiiiie  maintained  and  protected  in  the?  free  enjoyment  of  their 

liberty,  pntperty  and  ndigioii,  that  the  laws  and  munieipaf  re^ulatioiiH  in 

force,  at  the  eesHutioii  of  the  lute  govonum'nt,  still   remained   in  vigor. 

He  Miad(!  known  the  pow(!rs,  with  wliich  he  was  invested,  that  the  otru!er8 

clmrged  with  tiu;  execution  of  the  laws  (exeeot  those  whose;  powers  wore 

vosted  in  himself,  or  in  the  i)erson  charged  with  the;  collection  of  the 

revenue)  were  eontinujid  in  the  exercise  of  their  respective;  functioua.    Ho 

exhorted   tlie   pcsople  to  ho  faithful  and  true  in  ttieir  allegiance  to  the 

I'nited  States,  and  olxidiont  to  the  laws,  under  the  assurance,  that  their 

rights  would  he  under  the  guardianship  of  the  IJnitcfl  States,  and  their 

))er«ons  and  property  protected  against  force  or  violence,  from  without 

uml  within. 

Trist,   the  collecitor  of  the  United  States,  at  Fort  Adams,  had  heen 
upjKiinted  superinten<lent  of  the  revenue  in  the  province. 

Hv  the  suhstitution  of  a  municii)al  hody  to  the  cahildo,  Laussat  had 
iiltolisheel  the  olVices  of  ])rincipal,  provisional  and  ordinary  alcadi'S ;  so 
that  there  remained  in  N(!W  Orleans,  no  tribunal  or  (tlficer,  vesttsd  with 
judicial  powers,  hut  ('laihorno  and  the  aleades  dc  hurrio:  to  remetly  this 
evil,  lie  established,  on  the  thirtieth  of  DectMolxT,  a  court  of  pleas, 
roinposed  of  seven  ju.stico8.  Its  civil  jurisdiction  was  limited  to  cases, 
which  (lid  not  exceed  in  value  three  thousand  dollars,  with  an  appeal  to 
the  governor,  in  cases  where  it  exceedc'd  five  hundred.  Its  criminal 
jurisdiction  extended  to  all  cases,  in  which  the  punishment  did  not 
exceed  a  tine  of  two  hundred  dollars  and  imprisonment  during  sixty  days. 
The  justices  had  individually  summary  jurisdiction  of  debts,  under 
the  sum  of  one  hundred  dollars  ;  but  from  all  their  judgments  an  appeal 
liiy  to  the  court  of  pleas. 

Early  in  the  new  year,  the  Manjuis  de  Casa  Irujo,  Spanish  minister  at 

Washington  City,  gave  assurance  to  the  department  of  state  that  his 

sovereign   had    given  no   order  whatever  for  opjxjsing  the  delivery  of 

Louisiana  to  the  French,  and  that  the  report  current  in  the  United  States, 

and  elsewhere,  of  the  existence  of  such  an  order,  was  wholly  without 

f(mndation  ;  since  there  was  no  connection  whatever  between  the  pretended 

opposition  and  the  representation  made  last  year,  by  the  Spanish  minister 

to  the  government  of  the  United  States,  on  the  defects  which  impaired 

the  siilc   of    Louisiana,   by  France,  to  these  states,  in  Avhich  he   had 

manifested  the  just  motives  of  the  Spanish  government,  in  protesting 

against  that  alienation.     The  Marquis  added,  that  he  was  commanded  to 

make  it  known,  that  his  majesty  had  since  thought  it  ])roper  to  renounce 

his  protest,  notwithstanding  the  solid  grounds  on  which  it  was  founded ; 

atfording,  in  this  way,  a  new  proof  of  his  benevolence  and  friendship  for 

the  United  States. 

The  President  ratified  a  convention  between  the  United  States  and 

Spain  on  the  11th  of  August,  1802,  which  he  had  laid  before  the  Senate, 

I  during;  the  last  session,  and  which  had  not  been  definitively  acted  on, 

I  when  that  body  adjourned. 

By  an  act  o^  congress,  of  the  twenty-sixth  of  March,  the  province  of 


^"^ 


m 


\p'' 


*188 


tm 


V,  ■■  •. 


lf '.111 


320 


HISTORY   OP  LOUISIANA. 


HiillJ^wr 


i  v^'i 


1^    «M« 


!fl'u:'?%^, 


Louisiana  was  divided.  That  part  of  it,  south  of  the  Mississippi  territory, 
and  an  east  and  west  line,  beginning  on  the  river  Mississippi,  on  tfie 
thirty-third  degree  of  northern  latitude,  was  erected  into  a  distinct 
government,  denominated  the  territorjr  of  Orleans  :  and  the  other  v, 
annexed,  under  the  name  of  the  district  of  Louisiana,  to  the  Indiana 
territory. 

The  executive  powers  of  government,  in  the  territory,  were  vested  in  a 
governor,  appointed  for  three  years,  unless  sooner  removed,  by  the 
president  of  the  United  States.  He  was  commander-in-chief  of  the 
militia,  and  had  power  to  grant  pardon  for  offenses  against  the  territory, 
and  reprieve,  as  to  those  against  the  United  States,  till  the  pleasure  of 
the  president  was  known  ;  he  had  the  appointment  of  all  civil  and  military 
officers,  except  those  for  whom  other  provisions  were  made  by  the  act. 

A  secretary  of  the  territory  was  to  be  appointed,  for  four  years,  unless 
sooner  removed,  by  the  president.  His  duty  was,  under  the  direction  of 
the  governor,  to  record  and  preserve  all  the  pai)crs  and  proceedings  of 
the  executive,  and  the  acts  of  the  legislature,  and  transmit  authuntio 
copies  of  the  whole,  every  six  months,  to  the  president.  In  case  of  the 
vacancy  of  the  ofHce  of  governor,  his  duties  devolved  on  the  secretary. 

The  "legislative  power  v/as  vested  in  the  governor,  and  a  legislative 
council,  composed  of  thirteen  freeholders  of  the  territory,  having  resided 
one  year  therein,  and  holding  no  otlier  appointment  under  the  territory 
or  the  United  States.  The  territorial  legislature  was  restricted  from 
passing  laws,  repugnant  to  the  constitution  of  the  United  States,  laying 
any  restraint,  Inirden  or  disability,  on  account  of  religious  opinion, 
profession  or  worship,  preventing  any  one  from  maintaining  his  own,  or 
burdening  him  with  that  (»f  others  :  for  the  primary  disposal  of  the  soil, 
or  taxing  the  lands  of  the  United  States.  The  governor  was  charged 
with  the  publication  of  the  laws  and  the  transmission  of  copies  of  them 
to  the  president,  for  the  information  of  congress ;  on  whose  disappro- 
bation they  were  to  be  void.  The  governor  had  power  to  convene  and 
prorogue  the  council. 

He  was  to  procure  and  transmit  to  the  president,  information  of  the 
customs,  habits  and  dispositions  of  the  people. 

The  judicial  powers  were  vested  in  a  superior  court,  and  such  inferior 
court  and  justices  of  the  peace,  as  the  legislature  might  establish;  the 
judges  and  justices  of  the  peace  holding  their  offices  during  four  years, 
The  superior  court  consisted  of  three  judges,  one  of  whom  constituted  a 
court.  It  had  iurisdictit)n  of  all  criminal  cases,  and  exclusively  of 
capital  ones,  and  original  and  appellate  jurisdiction  of  all  civil  cases  of 
the  value  (»f  one  hundred  dollars  and  upwards :  its  sessions  were 
monthly.  In  capital  cases,  the  trial  was  to  be  by  jury :  in  all  otheri', 
civil  or  criminal,  cither  party  might  require  it  to  be  so. 

Provision  was  made  for  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus,  admission  to  bail  in 
cases  not  capital  and  against  cruel  or  unusual  punishments. 

The  judges,  district  attorney,  marshal,  and  general  officers  of  th(!  militia, 
were  to  Ije  appointed  by  the  president,  with  the  advice  and  consent  of 
the  senate. 

The  compensution  of  the  governor  was  fixed  at  five  thousand  dollar?, 
that  of  the  secretary  and  judges,  at  two  thousand  eacdi,  and  thatof  tkj 
members  of  the  legislative  council  at  four  dollars  a  day. 

The  importation  of  slaves  from  foreign  countries  was  forbidden,  c 


It 

miivcJ'iir: 


>*■  ■ 


»i  territory, 
ipi,  on  t\ie 
a  distinct 
!  other  N\ 
the  Indiana 

vested  in  a 
ved,  by  the 
;hief  of   the 
he  territory, 
pleasure  of 
and  military 
)y  the  act. 
years,  unless 
,  direction  of 
roceedings  of 
init  authentic 
:n  case  of  the 
3  secretary, 
d  a  legislative 
having  resided 
,r  the  territory 
restricted  from 
L  States,  laying 
igious  opinion 
ing  his  own, 
osal  of  the  sod 
or  was  charged 
of  them 


or 


w 


copies 

hose  disappro- 
to  convene  and 

formation  of  the 


md  such  inferior 
^t  establish;  the 
iring  four  yews. 
)ui  constituted  a 
,  exclusively  of 
all  civil  cases  ot 
s  sessions  were! 
ry:  in  all  other?, 

iiission  to  bail  in 

^Si!fofth6  militia, 
and 


consent  ot 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


321 


'M 


I  thousand  *;■ 
[h,  and  that  of  the 

,as  forbidden,  amU 


that  of  those  brought  from  the  United  States  was  allowed  only  to  citizens, 
bona  fide  owners,  removing  to  the  territory. 

All  grants  for  land  within  the  ceded  territories,  the  title  whereof  was  at 
the  date  of  the  treaty  of  San  Ildefonso,  in  the  crown,  government  or 
nation  of  Spain,  and  every  act  and  proceeding  subsequent  thereto, 
towards  the  obtaining  any  grant,  title  or  claim  to  such  lands,  were 
declared  to  be  null  and  void.  There  was  a  proviso,  excepting  the  titles  of 
actual  settlers,  aecpiired  before  the  twentieth  of  December,  1803.  The 
obvious  intention  of  this  clause  was  to  act  on  all  grants  made  by  Spain, 
after  her  retrocession  to  France,  and  without  deciding  on  the  extent  of 
that  retrocession,  to  put  the  titles  thus  acquired  under  the  control  of  the 
American  government. 

The  President  of  the  United  States  was  authorized  to  appoint  registers 
and  recorders  of  land  titles,  who  were  to  receive  and  record  titles  acquired 
under  the  Spanish  and  French  governments,  and  commissioners  who 
should  receive  all-claims  to  lands,  and  hear  and  determine,  in  a  summary 
wav,  all  matters  respecting  such  claims.  Their  proceedings  were  to  be 
reported  to  the  secretary  of  the  treasury,  and  laid  before  congress  for  their 
tiiial  decision. 

By  two  subsequent  acts,  congress  made  provision  for  extending  the 
collection  and  navigation  laws  of  the  union  to  the  territory. 

Every  vessel  possessed  of,  or  sailing  under,  a  Spanish  or  French  register 
and  belonging  wholly,  on  the  twentieth  of  December  last,  to  a  citizen  of 
the  United  States,  then  residing  within  the  ceded  territory,  or  to  any 
person  being,  on  the  thirtieth  of  April  preceding,  a  resident  thereof,  .'ud 
continuing  to  reside  therein,  and  of  which  the  master  was  such  a  citizen 
or  resident,  was  declared  capable  of  being  enrolled,  registered  or  licensed, 
according  to  law,  and  afterwards  to  be  denominated  and  deemed  a  vessel 
of  the  United  States,  Such  inhabitants  were,  however,  required  before 
they  availed  themselves  of  these  provisions,  to  take  an  oath  of  allegiance 
to  the  United  States,  and  to  abjure  their  former  one  to  the  king  of  Spain 
or  the  French  republic. 

The  inhabitants,  thus  taking  the  oath,  were  entitled  to  all  the  benefits 
and  advantages  of  holding  vessel  of  the  United  States,  as  resident 
citizens. 

The  ceded  territory  and  all  the  navigable  waters,  rivers,  creeks,  bays, 
and  inlets,  within  the  United  States,  emptying  themselves  into  the  gulf 
of  Mexico,  east  of  the  river  Mississippi,  were  annexed  to  the  former 
Mississippi  district. 

The  city  of  New  Orleans  was  made  a  port  of  entry  and  delivery,  and  the 
town  of  Bayou  St.  John  a  port  of  delivery. 

The  district  of  Natchez  was  established,  of  which  the  city  of  that  name 
was  the  sole  port  of  entry  and  delivery. 

Foreign  vessels  were  permitted  to  unload  in  the  port  of  New  Orleans 
only,  and  the  same  restraint  was  imposed  on  vessels  of  the  United  States 
coming  from  France  or  any  of  her  colonies. 

Vessels  from  the  cape  of  Good  Hope,  or  any  place  beyond  it.  were 
admitted  to  an  entry,  in  the  port  of  New  Orleans,  only. 
The  President  of  the  United  States  was  authorized,  whenever  he  should 
deem  it  exnedient,  to  erect  the  shores,  waters  and  inlets,  of  the  bay  of 
Mohile,  and  the  other  rivers,  bays  and  creeks  emptying  themselves  into 
the  gulf  of  Mexico,  east  of  the  river  Mobile  and  west  of  the  river  Pasca- 

43 


m 


pi 

m 

p 

'M 

1* 

|m| 

sill* 


I*- 


■"  -^^MW 


822 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


goula,  into  a  separate  district,  and  designate  within  it  a  port  of  entry  and 
delivery.  The  territory  was  erected  into  a  judicial  district  of  the 
United  States,  and  a  district  court,  with  circuit  court  powers,  was  estab- 
lished therein. 

It  having  been  represented  to  the  President  of  the  United  States,  that 
many  persons,  formerly  engaged  in  the  military^  service  of  the  United 
States,  and  having  deserted  from  it,  had  become  mhabitants  of  the  ceded 
territory,  chieHy  in  that  part  of  it  immediately  below  the  line  of  demar- 
cation, on  the  left  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  where  they  had  establishments 
of  property  and  families,  and  were  in  such  habits  of  industry  and  good 
conduct  as  gave  reasons  to  believe  they  had  become  orderly  and  useful 
members  of  society,  he  granted  to  every  such  deserter,  as  an  inhabitant  of 
the  ceded  territory,  on  the  twentieth  of  December,  1803,  a  free  and  full 

})ardon  for  his  desertion,  and  a  relinquishment  of  the  term  during  which 
le  was  bound  to  serve. 

In  the  latter  part  of  that  month,  Laussat  sailed  to  the  island  of  Marti- 
nico.     He  concluded  his  last  communication  to  the  minister  from  New 
Orleans,  with  the  following  observations  :     "  The  Americans  have  given 
fifteen  millions  of  dollars   for  Louisiana ;  they  would  have  given  sixtv 
rather  than  not  possess  it.     They  will  receive  one  million  of  dollars  for 
duties,  at  the  customhouse  in   New  Orleans,  during  the  present  year,  a 
sum  exceeding  the  interest  of  their  money,  without  taking  into  consid 
eration  the  value  of  the  very  great  quantity  of  vacant  lands.     As  to  the 
twelve  years,  during  which  our  vessels  are  to  be  received  on  the  footing 
of  national  ones,  they  present  but  an  illusive  prospect,  considering  the  war 
and  the  impossibility  of  our  being  able  to  enter  into  competition  with 
their  merchantmen.     Besides,  all  will  in  a  short  time  turn  to  the  advantage 
of  English  manufactures,  by  the  great  means,  this  place  will  exclusively 
enjoy,  from  its  situation,  to  supply  the  Spanish  colonies,  as  far  as  the 
equator.     In  a  few  years,  the  country,  as  far  as  the  Rio  Bravo,  will  be  in  a 
state  of  cultivation.     New  Orleans  will  then  have  a  population  of  from 
thirty  to  fifty  thousand  souls ;  and  the  new  territory  Avill  produce  sugar 
enough  for  the  supply  of  North  America  and  a  part  of  Europe ;  let  us  not 
dissimulate ;  in  a  few  years  the  existing  prejudices  will  be  worn  off,  the 
inhabitants  will   gradually   become   Americans,  by  the  introduction  of 
native  Americans  and  Englishmen;  a  system  already  begun.    Many  of 
the  present  inhabitants  will  leave  the  country  in  disgust;  those  who  have 
large  fortunes  will  retire  to  the  mother  country  ;  a  great  proportion  will 
remove  into  the  Spanish  settlements  ;  and  the  remaining  few  will  be  lost 
amidst  the  new  comers.     Should  no  fortunate  amelioration  of  poHtical 
events  intervene,  what  a  magnificent  Nouvelle  Fravro  have  we  lost.    The  j 
Creoles  and  French  established  here  unite  in  favor  of  France,  and  cannot 
be  persuaded  that  the  convention  for  the  cession  of  Louisiana  is  anythini; 
but  a  political  trick  :  they  think  that  it  will  return  under  the  dominion  | 
of  France. " 

Wilkinson   sailed   to   New  York,   about  the  same  time,  leaving  the! 
command  of  the  few  companies  of  the  regular  troops  in  the  district  tol 
Major  Porter ;   a  company  had   been  detached   to   ^fatchitoches.  under] 
Captain  Turner ;  there  was  a  smnller  command  at  Pointe  Coupee ;  the  rest 
were  at  New  Orleans  and  Fort  Adams. 

The  people  of  Louisiana,  especially  in  New  Orleans,  were  greatly  dissat-j 
isfied  at  the  new  order  of,  things.     They  complained  that  the  personj 


,i«,«.«»*»-i*i»»S*"'-*-*  ■• 


f  entry  and 
riot  of  the 
J  was  estab- 

Statoa,  that 

the  United 
of  the  ceded 
ne  of  demar- 
taljhshmcnts 
ry  and  good 
/•  and  useful 
inhabitant  of 
free  and  full 
during  which 

and  of  Marti- 
^ter  from  New 
lis  have  given 
ve  given  sixty 
I  of  dollars  for 
present  year,  a 
ng  into  consid 
nds.     As  to  the 
,  on  the  footing 
sideringthcwar 
>mpetition  \vith 
to  the  advantage 
will  exclusively 
es  as  far  as  the 
.^ro,  will  he  in  a 
(ulation  of  from 
I  produce  sugar 
irope;  letusiwt 
be  worn  off,  the 
introduction  of 
)epun.    Many  of 
•  those  who  have 
•'  proportion  will 
,  UMvillbelost! 
:tion  of  pohtK'al  ^ 
ivewelost-    W 
lance,  and  cannot 

sianaisanythms 
er  thedonnnion 

lime,  Icfi^^t 
In  the  district  to 

[ehitochos.  under 
:  Coupee;  the rest| 

lore  greatly  dissat-. 
"'  that  the  person 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


323 


whom  Congress  had  sent  to  preside  over  them,  was  an  utter  stranger  to 
their  laws,  manners  and  hinguage,  and  had  no  personal  interest  in  the 
prosperity  of  the  country — that  he  was  incessantly  surrounded  by  new 
comers  from  the  United  States,  to  whom  he  gave  a  decided  preference 
over  the  Creoles  and  Europejin  French,  in  the  distribution  of  offices — that 
in  the  new  court  of  pleas,  most  of  the  judges  of  which  were  ignorant  of 
the  laws  and  language  of  the  country,  proceedings  were  carried  on  in  the 
English  language,  which  Claiborne  had  lately  attempted  to  introduce  in 
the  proceedings  of  the  municipal  body,  and  the  suitors  were  in  an  equally 
disadvantageous  situsition,  in  the  court  of  the  last  resort,  in  which  he  sat, 
as  sole  judge,  not  attended,  as  the  Spanish  governors  were,  by  a  legal 
adviser ;  that  the  errors  into  which  he  could  not  help  falling,  were  without 
redress.  They  urged  that,  under  the  former  government,  an  appeal  lay 
from  the  governor's  decision  to  the  c}ii)tain-general  of  the  island  of  Cuba, 
from  thence  to  the  Royal  Audience  in  that  island,  and  in  many  cases  from 
them  to  the  council  of  the  Indies  at  Madrid. 

To  these,  a  new  cause  of  complaint  was  superadded  by  the  late  act  of 
Congress,  establishing  the  new  form  of  government.  The  people  murmured 
at  the  division  of  the  province,  which  put  off',  to  an  almost  indefinite 
period,  their  admif>sion  into  the  Union,  as  an  independent  state.  They 
saw  with  displeasure  that  their  rights  continued,  in  the  new  supreme  court, 
at  the  discretion  of  one  individual,  and  that  the  introduction  of  slaves, 
from  foreign  countries,  was  absolutely  prohibited,  and  that  from  the 
United  States  allowed  only  to  new  comers. 

Considerable  distress  was  felt  from  the  great  scarcity  of  a  circulating 
medium.  Silver  was  no  longer  brought  from  Vera  Cruz  by  government, 
and  the  Spaniards  were  not  very  anxious  to  redeem  a  large  quantity  of 
liheranzuK.  or  certificates,  which  thev  had  left  afloat  in  the  province,  and 
which  were  greatly  depreciated.  Claiborne  sought  a  remedy  for  this  evil 
mthe  establishment  of  the  Louisiana  Bank,  the  extension  of  the  capital 
of  which,  was  allowed  to  two  millions  of  dollars ;  but  the  people  being 
absolutely  unacquainted  with  institutions  of  this  kind,  and  having 
sulFerod  a  great  deal  by  the  depreciation  of  paper  securities,  heretofore 
emitted  in  the  province,  were  tardy  in  according  their  confidence  to  the 
bank. 

The  former  militia  was  completely  disorganized.  Most  of  the  indi- 
viduals, Avho  had  latelv  arrived  from  the  United  States,  had  enrolled 
themselves  in  independent  companies  of  volunteers,  rangers,  riflemen, 
artillery  and  cavalry,  which  Claiborne  had  formed  and  patronized.  These 
military  associations,  in  which  very  few  of  the  natives  entered,  gave  a 
more  marked  character  to  the  new  government,  and  more  distinctly  drew 
the  line  between  the  two  populations. 

The  exploring  of  the  region  between  the  Pacific  Ocean  and  the 
Mississippi  was  an  object,  in  which  the  then  President  of  the  United 
States,  had  felt  an  early  and  lively  interest.  While  he  was  at  the  court 
of  France,  about  twenty  years  before,  he  had  employed  a  countryman  of 
his,  Lodyard,  the  famous  traveller,  to  proceed  to  Kamschatka,  take 
passage  in  nomc  of  the  Russian  ships,  bound  to  Nootka  Sound,  and, 
landing  in  the  middle  states  of  the  Union,  to  seek  his  way  to  them  by 
laud.  Passports  hr.d  been  obtained  from  the  Empress  of  Russia,  and 
Ledyard  took  his  winter  (juarters,  within  twenty  miles  from  Kamschatka. 
In  tile  spring,  he  was  about  to  proceed,  when  he  was  arrested  by  an  officer, 


m 


>* 


1 '  I  r-'»  > 


324 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


sent  after  him  by  the  Empress,  whose  disposition  had  changed.  Ho  was 
shut  up  in  a  close  carriage,  and  driven  with  gi'oat  rapidity  and  without 
interruption,  till  he  was  left  on  the  frontiers  of  Poland  to  follow  the  routo 
his  inclination  pointed  out.  He  t<iok  that  of  Egypt,  with  the  view  of 
reaching  the  sources  of  the  Nile,  and  died  at  Cairo,  on  the  loth  of 
November,  1788. 

In  the  year  1792,  Jeflerson  proposed  to  the  American  Philosoplijcal 
Society,  a  subscription  for  attaining  the  same  object,  in  the  opposite 
direction;  funds  were  raised  and  the  services  of  Michaux,  a  botanist,  sent 
by  the  French  government  to  the  United  States,  were  engaged.  This 
man  left  Philadelphia,  with  a  single  companion,  to  avoid  existing  suspicion 
among  the  Indians  ;  but  he  had  scarcely  reached  Kentucky,  wlien  he  was 
overtaken  by  an  order  of  the  French  Minister  at  Philadelphia,  to  desist 
from  his  undertaking  and  pursue  his  botanical  inquiries  in  the 
western  states. 

In  1803,  the  act  of  congress  for  establishing  trading  houses  with  the 
Indians,  being  al)out  to  exj)ire,  some  modifications  of  it  were  recom- 
mended by  a  confidential  message  of  the  President,  on  the  8th  of  January, 
with  an  extension  of  its  views  to  the  tribes  on  the  Missouri.  In  order  id 
pave  the  way  for  that  purpose,  the  message  proposed  to  send  an  exploriiif; 
party  to  trace  that  stream  to  its  source  across  the  highlands,  and  seek  ;i 
water  communication  to  the  Pacific  Ocean.  Congress  entered  into  the 
views  of  the  President,  and  an  appropriation  was  accordingly  made. 

The  command  of  the  expedition  was  given  to  Merriwether  Lewis,  a 
captain  of  the  army  of  the  United  States,  who  had  for  some  time  acted 
as  private  secretary  to  the  President  and,  who  being  desired  to  select  the 
officer  next  in  conmiand,  made  choice  of  William  Clark,  a  brother  of 
colonel  Clark,  who,  we  have  seen,  distinguished  himself  as  a  partisan 
officer,  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi  and  the  Wabash,  during  the 
revolutionary  war.  Fourteen  soldiers,  some  young  men  from  Kentucky, 
two  French  boatmen,  a  hunter,  and  a  negro  man  belonging  to  captain 
Lewis,  with  the  two  commanders,  composed  the  party. 

Passports  were  obtained  from  the  Spanish,  French  and  British 
ministers  at  Washington  City. 

The  expedition  did  not  reach  St.  Louis  until  December ;  and  Dclassus, 
the  commandant-general  there,  having  no  official  direction,  refused, 
notwithstanding  the  passport  of  the  minister  of  the  Catholic  king,  to 
permit  an  armed  force  to  cross  his  dominions,  in  that  part  of  America. 
The  party,  therefore,  wintered  on  the  left  side  of  the  Mississippi,  and  did 
not  set  off"  till  the  fourteenth  of  May,  possession  of  upper  Louisiana  having  j 
then  been  taken  by  the  United  States. 

In  the  meantime,  the  dissatisfaction  of  the  inhabitants  of  New  Orleans,] 
rose  to  such  a  degree,  that  a  determination  was  taken,  by  a  few  individ- 
uals, to  induce  their  countrymen  to  solicit  relief  from  congress  at  its  next! 
session.     For  this  purpose  a  meeting  of  the  most  influential  merchants  in 
the  city,  and  planters  in  the  neighborhood  was  called  for  the  first  of  June, 
when   it  was   almost  unanimously   determined  to  make  application  toj 
congress  for  the  repeal  of  so  much  of  their  late  act,  as  related  to  the! 
division  of  the  ceded  territory  and  the  restrictions  on  the  importation  off 
slaves,  and  to  require  the  immediate  admission  of  Louisiana  into  tliej 
Union.     Jones,  Livingston,  Pitot  and  Petit  were  appointed  a  comniitteoJ 


iiiiHiii "-  "■ 


in  ts 
i  i,  •!* 


I.  Ho  was 
md  without 
»\v  the  vouto 
the  view  of 
the  15th  of 

'hih^s()\)hiciil 
the  ()p\)<>site 
)otanist,  sent 
raged.  This 
mg  sus\)ioion 
when  iu;  whs 
^)hia,  to  ( 
liries    in 


the 


luses  with  the 
t   were  Tocom- 
,th  of  January. 
In  order  to 
'd  an  exploring 
ids,  and  seek  a 
ntered  into  the 
gly  made, 
vether  Lewis,  a 
ome  time  acted 
•ed  to  select  the 
k,  a  brother  of 
f  as  a  partisan 
ash,  during  the 
from  Kentuckv. 
ging  to  captaui 


ch    and 


and  Delassus, 
erection,  refused, 
atholic  king,  to 
part  of  Amenea. 
fsissippi,  and  dul 
ILouisiana  having 

of  New  Orleans, 
IV  a  few  indivul- 
tngressatitsnext 
Itial  merchants  in 
the  first  of  June, 
^e  application  0 
as  related  to  the 
le  importation  of! 

Lisiana  into 
Ited  a  committee, 


III9TOUY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


325 


charged  with  preparing  and  siihmltting  to  the  next  meeting  the  draft  of 
a  memorial  to  congress. 

They  made  their  report  to  a  much  more  numerous  meeting  towards  the 
beginning  of  July,  by  wht>m  it  was  approved,  and  who  made  choice,  from 
among  themselves,  of  a  committee  of  twelve,  who  were  charged  with 
circulating  copies  of  the  memorial  in  the  parishes,  and  procuring  the 
signatures  of  the  most  notable  inhabitants,  and  to  collect  voluntary 
contributions  for  defraying  the  expenses  of  a  deputation  to  be  sent  to 
Washington  City  with  the  memorial.  They  were  further  instructed  to  lay 
before  a  future  meeting  the  names  of  six  individuals,  out  of  whom  there 
were  to  l)e  chosen  the  deputation. 

At  this  hist  meeting,  on  the  eighteenth,  Derbigny,  Destrehan  and  Sauve 
were  chosen,  and  they  set  out  in  the  fall. 

We  have  seen,  in  a  preceding  chapter  of  this  work,  that  on   (xreat 

Britain  having  obtained  possession  of  the  left  bank  of  the  Mississip])i,  in 

the  former  century,  there  had  been  a  great  migration  thither,  from  her 

colonies.    It  had  since  increased  at  various  periods,  and  the  Spanish 

government,  in  Louisiana,  had   favored   it.     Few   French   and  Spanish 

families  had  come  to  settle  in  a  neighborhood   in  which   the   English 

language  alone  was  spoken.     An  annexation  to  the  United  States  was  as 

much  defjred  by  the  inhabitants  of  Thompson's  Creek,  Bayou  Sara  and 

Baton  Rouge,  as  a  continuation  of  the  government  of  the  French  republic, 

below  >Lanshac,  or  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Mississippi.     The  people, 

immediately  below  the  line  of  demarcation,  were  disappointed   at   the 

omission  of  the  commissioners  of  the  United  States  to  insist  on  receiving 

possession  of  the  country,  as  far  as  Rio  Perdido.     The  late  acts  of  congress, 

for  extending  the  collection  and  navigation  laws  of  the  United  States, 

having  made   provision   for  the  establishment  of  a  port  of  entry  ancl 

delivery  at  Mobile,  and  ports  of  delivery  in  its  vicinity,  had  satisfied 

them  that  the  federal  government  considered  the  country  they  inhabited, 

as  part  of  the  territory  it  had  lately  acquired.     A  considerable  number  of 

them  assembled  and  determined  on  an  attempt  to    drive  the  Spanish 

garrison  from  the  fort  at  Baton  Rouge.     The  standard  of  revolt  was  raised, 

and  a  number  of  men  armed  themselves  and  rode  through  the  country, 

in  various  directions,  to  induce  others  to  join  them.     Their  eflforts  were 

not  at  first  absolutely  unsuccessful,  and  about  two  hundred  men  were 

eolleoted ;    but  some  misunderstanding  having  taken  place  among  the 

principal  leaders,  the  project  miscarried,  and  the  latter  crossed  the  line,  to 

seek  a  refuge  in  the  Mississippi  territory. 

The  government  lately  provided  for  the  territory  of  Orleans,  went  into 
operation  on  the  first  of  October. 
Clailtorne  had  V>een  ui>pointcd  governor,  and  Brown,  secretary. 
Bellcchasse,     Bore,    Cantrelle,   Clark,    Dobuys,    Dow,   Jones,  Kenner, 
Monfian,  I'oydras,  Roman,  Watkins,  and  Wikoff,  had  been  selected  as 
members  of  the  legislative  council. 

Dunonceau,  Kirby  and  Prevost,  were  appointed  judges  of  the  superior 
court. 

Hiill  was  the  district  judge  of  the  United  States;  Mahlon  Dickenson, 
district  attorney,  and   Le  Breton  d'Orgeney,  marshal. 

Prevost  opened  the  first  territorial  court,  alone,  on  the  ninth  of 
November,  Duponceau  having  declined  his  appointment,  Kirby  having 
died. 


'■M^ 

n 

'   f' 

1 

' 

If 

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t 


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i\f 


II 


m 


i 


1  !  .       I- 


m 


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i  mrmmui^mW 


'*}: 


C"\>iVl.r's! 


'I  ■ 


326 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


h 


Bore,  Belleohasse,  Jones  and  Clark,  having  taken  an  active  j)art  in  the 
meetings  of  the  inhabitants,  deemed  it  inconsistent  to  give  their  aid  to  a 
form  of  government,  against  which  they  had  remonstrated,  and  declined 
accepting  their  seats.  An  ineffectual  attempt  to  procure  a  nuorum  was 
made  in  the  latter  part  of  November ;  many  of  the  other  members  refusing 
or  being  tardy  in  giving,  their  attendance ;  so  that  the  formation  of  the 
legislative  council  must  have  been  protracted  to  a  very  distant  period 
had  not  Claiborne  availed  himself  of  an  accidental  circumstance.  Tho 
christian  names  of  the  persons  selected  by  the  president  not  being  known 
at  the  department  of  state,  blank  commissions  had  been  transmitted  to 
Claiborne.  He  filled  those  for  the  four  gentlemen  who  had  declined,  with 
the  names  of  Dorciere,  Flood,  Mather  and  Pollock,  and  a  mere  quorum 
was  obtained  on  the  fourth  of  December. 

The  territory  was  divided  into  twelve  counties,  in  each  of  wliioh  an 
inferior  court  was  established,  composed  of  one  judge.     Acts  were  passed 
to  regulate  the  |)ractice  of  the  superior  and  inferior  or  county   courts! 
Suits  were  to  be  instituted  by  a  petition,  in  the  form  of  a  bill  in  cbanoery. 
The  definition  of  crimes  and   mode  of  prosecution  in   criminal  cases 
according  to  the  common  law  of  England,  were  adopted.     Provision  was 
made  for  the  inspection  of  Hour,  pork  and  beef.    Charters  of  incorporation 
were  given  to  the  city  of  New  Orleans,  and  to  librarv,  navigation  and 
insurance  companies.    An  university  was  established,  which  was  charged 
with  locating  schools  in  each  county ;  but  as  no  aj)propriation  was  niado 
nor  funds  provided  for  these  seminaries,  the  views  of  the  legislature  wore 
not  successfully  carried  into  execution,  and   the  plan,  in  a  few  years 
absolutely  failed. 

The  council  adjourned  in  February,  after  having  appointed  a  committee 
to  prepare  a  civil  and  a  criminal  code,  with  the  assistance  of  two 
professional  men,  for  whose  remuneration  five  thousand  dollars  were 
appropriated. 

The  bank  of  the  United  States,  having  procured  an  amendment  to  their 
charter,  to  authorize  them  to  establish  offices  of  discount  and  deposit  in 
the  territories,  established  one  in  New  Orleans. 

This  winter,  William  Dunbar  and  Doctor  Hunter,  with  a  party,  employed 
by  the  United  States,  explored  the  country,  traversed  by  the  river  Washita, 
as  liigh  up  as  the  hot  S])rings,  in  the  vicinity  of  that  stream. 

Another  party,  by  a  Mr.  Freeman,  ascended  Red  river,  to  a  considerable 
distance  above  Natchitoches  ;  but,  being  met  by  a  detachment  of  Spanish 
troo{»s,  were  compelled  to  retrograde. 

Previt>us  to  the  accjuisition  of  Louisiana,  the  ministers  of  the  United 
States  had  been  instructed  to  endeavor  to  obtain  the  Floridas  from  Spain. 
After  that  ac(iuisition,  this  objec*  was  still  pursued,  and  the  friendly  aid 
of  the  French  government  towaris  this  attainment  Avas  requested.'  On 
the  suggestion  of  Talleyrand,  th'.t  the  time  was  unfavorable,  the  design 
was  suspended.  The  governm*  nt  of  the  United  States,  however,  soon 
resumed  its  purpose;  the  settlement  of  the  boundaries  of  Louisiana  was 
blended  with  the  purchase  of  Fb^i-'dajand  the  adjustment  of  heavy  claims 
made  by  the  United  States,  for  American  })roperty,  condemned  in  the 
ports  of  Spain,  during  the  war  wliich  terminated  by'tlie  treaty  of  Amiens. 
On  his  way  to  Madrid,  Monroe,  who  was  empowered  in  conjunction 
with  I^nckney,  the  American  minister  at  the  court  of  his  Catholic  nifijesty, 
to  conduct  the  negotiation,  passed  through  Paris,  and  addressed  a  letter 


HISTORY  OP   LOriSIANA. 


32"; 


)art  in  the 
ir  aid  to  a 
\  declined 
Kontiii  was 
rs  refusing, 
tiou  of  the 
ant  period, 
ance.    The 
ein^  known 
isnntted  to 
(•lined,  with 
ere  (luormn 

if  whieh  an 
were  \)at»scil, 
anty   courts*, 
in  chancery, 
luinal  cases*, 
rovis'ion  was 
,nc()r\>oration 
vigution  and 
I  was  charged 
on  was  made, 
^islature  were 
a  few  years, 

-d  a  conunittee 

stance  of  two 

dollars  were 

dment  to  their 
,nd  deposit  in 

irty,  employed 
river  NVashita, 

jv  considerable 
ent  of  Spanish 

of  the  United 
as  from  Spain. 
he  friendly  aid 
L(iuested.    On 
I'ule,  the  design 
lh«)wever,  soon 
1  Louisiana  was 
If  heavy  claims 
[lenincd  in  the 
latv  of  Amiens. 
In  conjunction 
Itholic  uiiijesty, 
Ircssed  a  letter 


to  the  minister  of  external  rclationa,  in  which  he  declared  the  olyeot  of 
his  mission,  and  his  views  respecting  the  houndariesof  Louisiana.  In  his 
answer  to  this  letter,  dated  the  twenty-first  of  Doceniher,  1804, Talleyrand 
declared  in  distinct  terms,  that  the  treaty  of  San  Ildefonso,  Spain  retro- 
coded  to  France  no  part  of  the  territory  east  of  Iberville,  which  had  been 
licld  and  known  as  West  Florida,  and  that,  in  all  the  negotiations  between 
the  two  powers.  Spain  had  constantly  refused  to  cede  any  part  of  the  two 
Floridas,  even  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  Mobile.  He  added,  that  he 
was  authoriz(!d  by  his  imperial  majesty  to  say,  that  in  the  beginning  of 
the  year  1802,  Bournonville  had  been  chargect  to  open  a  negotiation,  for 
tlie  acquisition  of  the  Floridas ;  but  this  project  had  not  been  followed 
i)V  a  treaty.  Soon  after  Monroe's  arrival  at  his  place  of  destination,  the 
negotiation  commenced  at  Aranjuez.  Every  word  in  thjvt  article  of  the 
treaty  of  San  Ildefonso,  which  retroceded  I^ouisiana  to  France,  was  scanned 
i)V  the  ministers  on  both  sides,  with  all  the  critical  acumen  which  talents 
and  zeal  could  bring  into  their  service.  Every  argument  drawn  from 
collateral  circumstances,  connected  with  the  subject,  which  could  be 
supposed  to  elucidate  it,  was  exhausted.  No  advance  towards  an  arrange- 
ment was  made,  and  the  negotiation  was  terminated,  leaving  each  party 
firm  in  its  original  opinion  and  purpose  ;  each  persevered  in  raaintaming 
the  construction  with  which  he  had  commencea. 

Don  Dio  Premiro,  Bishon  of  Montelrey,  in  the  province  of  New  Leon, 
whose  diocese  included,  besides  that  province,  those  of  San  Andero, 
Coaguilla,  and  Texas,  being  on  a  pastoral  visit  to  Nacogdoches,  came  to  the 
town  of  Natchitoches,  where  he  spent  a  week.  He  was  treated  with  great 
resM)ect  by  the  inhabitants. 

The  deputation  from  the  territory  of  Orleans  was  not  successful  in  their 
application  to  congress ;  that  body  passed  a  law,  on  the  second  of  March, 
authorizing  the  President  of  the  United  States  to  establish  within  that 
territory  a  government  similar  to  that  of  the  Mississippi  territory,  in 
conformity  with  the  ordinance  of  the  old  congress,  in  1787,  except  so  far 
as  relates  to  the  descent  and  distribution  of  the  estates  of  persons  dying 
intestate  and  the  prohibition  of  slavery.  Provision  was  made  for  the 
admission  of  the  inhabitants  into  the  Union,  on  the  same  footing  as  other 
states,  as  soon  as  the  population  of  the  territory  amounted  to  sixty 
thousand  souls. 

The  hill  became  an  act,  in  the  shape  in  which  it  was  introduced, 
notwithstanding  the  strenuous  eflTorts  of  the  deputation  for  the  intro- 
duction of  three  amendments,  to  which  they  attached  great  importance. 
The  iirst  was,  that  the  governor  should  be  chosen  by  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  out  of  two  individuals,  selected  by  the  people ;  the 
second,  that  an  e(|uity  jurisdiction  should  be  given  to  the  superior  court : 
the  last,  a  clause  allowing  the  inhabitants  permission  to  purchase  slaves 
in  the  Tnited  States, 

Ail  act  was  also  passed  for  the  confirmation  of  inchoate  titles  to  land, 
and  for  grants  to  occupants  of  tracts,  cultivated  before  the  20th  of 
December,  ISO.S,  with  the  permission  of  the  local  authorities. 

The  li'irishitive  council  held  its  sessions  in  New  Orleans,  on  the  twentieth 
of  .Tunc.  Ar.nual  sessions  of  the  suix^rior  court  were  directed  to  be 
holdcn  in  each  countv,  except  Concordia  and  Washita.  Provision  was 
made  for  the  relief  of  insolvent  debtors,  and  the  improvement  of  the 


'i 


328 


HISTORY   OF  LOUISIANA. 


!i.,  '     '= 


i 


i<-i«E^.*r 


inland  navigation.      A  court  of  probates  was  established.      The  council 
adiourned  early  in  July. 

Towards  the  niiddle   of  the  following  month,  lieutenant  Pike,  set  out 
from  St,  Louis,  on  an  exploring  i)arty  to  the  sources  of  the  Mi.ssihiKJjtpi 
in  a  large  keel  boat.     He  had  with  him  a  sergeant,  two  corporals  and 
seventeen  privates. 

Burr,  the  late  Vice  President  of  the  United  States,  this  year  made  an 
excursion  in  the  western  states. 

The  expedition,  under  the  orders  of  captain  Lewis,  reached  the  extreme 
navigable  point  on  the  Missouri,  on  the  seventeenth  of  August,  in  latitude 
43.  20.  at  the  distance,  according  to  his  computation,  of  two  thousand  live 
hundred  and  seventy-five  miles  from  the  Mississippi.  On  the  twenty-sixth 
they  began  their  march,  and  reached  Hat  river,  a  stream  flowing  into  the 
Columbia  river,  at  the  distance  of  three  hundred  and  forty  miles  from  the 
spot  on  which  they  had  landed  on  the  Missouri.  The  gap  of  tlu'  Rocky 
Mountains,  which  they  crossed,  was  at  the  distance  of  sixty-eight  niikis 
from  the  Missouri.  Their  route  was  for  one  hundred  and  forty  miles, 
over  high  mountains,  nearly  half  of  which  were  covered  with  snow,  eight 
or  ten  feet  deep ;  in  the  latter  part  of  the  way,  the  route  was  very  tine. 

At  the  distance  of  four  hundred  and  sixty-two  miles  from  the  place 
where  they  eml)arkcd,  the  tide  became  sensible,  and  one  hundred  ant} 
seventy-eight  miles  farther,  they  reached  the  ocean,  on  the  seventh  of 
November,  in  latitude  46.  lo.  and  longitude  124.  57.  from  Greenock,  and 
at  the  distance  according  to  their  computation,  of  three  thousand  five 
hundred  and  fifty-four  miles  from  the  Mississippi. 

The  width  of  Ccdumbia  river  was,  at  its  mouth,  one  hundred  and  fifty 
yards  ;  its  utmost  five  hundred,  and  its  least  eighteen. 

The  officers  of  Sjjain  had  protracted  their  stay,  in  New  Orleans,  for 
several  months,  beyond  the  time  limited  by  the  treaty,  until  the  American 
government,  distrustful  of  such  an  unrea^^cnable  delay,  had  actually 
forced  their  departure ;  the  Marquis  ('  Casa-Calvo,  did  not  depart  till 
the  summer,  when  he  made  an  excursion  through  the  provinces  of  Spain, 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  United  States,  as  far  as  Chihuahua.  After 
their  departure,  the  Spanish  troops  which  had  remained  in  New  Orleans, 
left  it  for  Pensactda. 

By  a  pope's  bull  of  the  first  of  September,  the  spiritual  administration 
of  the  diocese  of  Louisiana,  was  committed  to  bisho])  Carrol  of  Baltimore. 

The  few  Spaniards,  that  remained  in  the  territory  and  many  of  the 
Creoles,  were  unwilling  to  believe  the  country  was  really  lost  to  its  former 
master,  and  the  opinion  was  cherished  among  them,  that  the  United 
States  held  Louisiana,  in  trust,  during  the  war.  On  the  east  and  the  west, 
the  Spaniards  were  still  in  great  relative  force.  Many  parties  were  hover- 
ing on  the  frontiers,  provoking  vexatious  contests  about  limits,  occasionally 
violating,  with  armed  force,  and  e.ven  with  outrage,  the  unecjuivocal  and 
undisturbed  territories  of  the  Union. 

In  the  night  of  the  twenty-third  of  September,  a  party  of  armed  men 
from  Baton  Houge  came  to  Pinckneyville,  in  the  Mississippi  territory, 
and  forcibly  seized  three  brothers  of  the  name  of  Kemper,  who,  havini; 
taken  an  active  part  in  the  insurrection  at  Bayou  Sara,  in  the  jjroccdinjj; 
year,  had  sought  refuge  beyond  the  line  of  demarcation.  The  party 
returned  with  their  prisoners,  as  far  as  Bayou  Tunica,  where,  after  much 
ill  treatment,  they  were  put  on  board  of  a  boat  for  Baton  Rouge.    As  they 


IIISTOHY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


820 


'be  coumil 

kc,  sot  out 

r\)oni\H  linn 

ar  luiide  an 

the  extreme 
t,  in  latitude 
h«)usan«l  live 
twenty-sixth 
kving  into  the 
lilt'H  i"rt>ni  the 

y-oi{2;i»t  miles 
(1  forty  miles, 
,h  snow,  eight 
s  very  line, 
roni  the  nlace 
;  hundred  and 
■he  seventh  of 
Greenoek,  and 
..thousand  five 

iiidrcd  and  fifty 

^ew  Orleans,  for 
11  the  American 
had  actually 
not  depart  till 
vinees  of  Spam, 
huahua.     After 
n  New  Orleans, 

administration 
rol  of  Baltimore. 
d  many  of  the 
ost  to  its  fo™« 
,hat  the  United 
aHt  and  the  west, 
rties  were  hover- 
[lits,  occasionally 

.netiuivocal  and 


of 
lissipp^ 


armed  men 
territory, 


er,  who,  ha^nn<^ 


HI   the  pi-ec 
tion.    The  party 
here,  after  much 
iRouge. 


As  they 


came  to  a  part  of  tlie  river  where  it  makes  a  larj^o  hend,  tliey  were 
discovered  l)y  a  negro  man,  who  crossinj;  a  narrow  neck,  reached  I'ointe 
Coupee,  where  he  gave  information  to  lieutenant  Wilson  of  the  artillery, 
who  without  loss  of  time  manned  a  hoat,  and  soon  after  met  the  one.  in 
which  the  Kempers  were  ;  ho  made  himsidf  master  of  and  brought  lier  to 
I'oiute  Coupee,  where  they  were  liberated,  and  their  captors  lodged  in 
prison. 

On  the  Mobile,  the  American  trade  was  incessantly  liarras.'^ed  with 
sciU'ches  and  olistruetions,  and  at  times,  subjected  to  heavy  exacitions. 

From  Xaeogdoidies,  the  American  settlements,  near  the  Sabine  and  on 
HcmI  River,  were  occasionally  mena<!ed  and  disturbed.  From  the  Sal>ino 
t(»  New  Orleans,  tlu!  country  was  absolutely  open  to  an  invad(!r.  There 
was  but  one  place  of  strmigth,  besides  New  Orh^jins :  Baton  Rouge  in  a 
settlement,  still  occnipied  l)y  the  Spanianls,  although  wi+'iin  the  territory 
claimed  l)y  the  United  States. 

\\y  a  treatv  concluded  at  Tellico,  on  the  seventh  of  October,  the 
Cherokee  Indians  agreed  that,  as  the  mail  of  the  United  States  was  ordered 
to  he  carried  from  Knoxville  to  New  Orleans  through  the  ('herokeo, 
Choctaw  and  Creek  countries,  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  shoukl 
have,  as  far  as  it  goes  through  their  country,  the  free  and  unmolested  use 
of  a  road  leading  from  Tellico  to  Tombigbee. 

By  a  convention  between  the  United  States  and  the  Creeks,  at  Wash- 
infrton  City,  on  the  fourteenth  of  November,  these  Indians  agreed  that  the 
United  States  should  forever  thereafter  have  a  right  to  a  horse  path 
through  the  Creek  countrv,  from  the  Ocmulgee  to  the  Mobile  river,  and 
their  citizens  should,  at  all  times,  have  a  right  to  pass  peaceably  on  said 
path.  The  Indians  promised  to  have  boats  kept  at  the  several  creeks  for 
the  transportation  of.  travellers,  their  horses  and  baggage,  and  houses  of 
entertainment,  at  suitable  places  along  said  path,  for  the  entertainment 
of  travellers. 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

The  new  form  of  government,  provided  by  the  late  act  of  congress  for 
the  territory  of  Orleans,  diflered  prinei})ally  from  the  former,  in  the  election 
of  the  house  of  representatives  immediately,  and  a  legislative  council 
mediately,  by  the  people. 

The  governor,  secretary  and  judges  of  the  superior  courts  were  to  be 
appointed  by  the  President  of  the  United  States,  with  the  advice  and 
consent  of  the  simate  ;  the  first  of  these  officers  for  three,  and  the  second 
for  four  years,  unless  sooner  removed  by  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
The  judges  held  their  ofhees  during  good  behavior. 

The  legislative  council  was  composed  of  five,  and  the  house  of  represen- 
tatives of  twenty-five  members. 

The  members  of  the  legislative  council  were  chosen  l)y  the  President, 
with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  senate,  out  of  ten  individuals,  selected 
by  the  house  of  representatives  of  the  territory.  Their  period  of  service 
was  five  years,  unless  sooner  removed  by  the  President  of  the  United 
l^tates.  The  only  ciualification  required  from  them  was  a  freehold  estate, 
in  five  hundred  acres  of  land. 

44 


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IITMTOHY   OF    LOIIflFANA. 


TIic  nicinlu'rH  of  tlu;  h(>u.so  of  rcprcHtMitiitivoH  were  olocted  fortwo  ycarH. 
Ciiizcnsliip  of  oiu'of  tlio  I'lukMl  States  for  tlircr  yciirs,  uii<l  a  ri'sidcnrc  in 
tlif  ti'rritory,  or  tliri'c  vcars  rcrtidcnce  in  tli'  territory,  wtTc  rctiiiircd  fiuni 
tlic  I'lci'tcd.  and,  in  I'ltlu-r  caHe,  a  fci;  HinipU'  rstatc  in  two  hundred  ucrt'Sdf 
land.  The  (inalilifations  of  tlx;  oirctors,  \vi  ■  (.'itizcnsldp  of  the  rnitrd 
States,  and  a  ri'.sident^o  in  tlu;  territory,  or  two  yt  arH  residenee  in  llu; 
territory. 

The  .salaries  of  the  oHieers  above  mentioned  were  Ihe  same  asiindertho 
l»reeedinj^  form  of  jrovernment. 

All  other  ollicers  w«!re  to  he  ai»[)ointt.'d  hy  tlu!  f^overnor. 

The  act  of  (•on^;i'ss  hail  a  liill  of  riyhts. 

The  people  of  l-(tnisiana  complainetl,  that  in  this  form,  as  in  the 
j)ri'et'(linji,  their  lives  and  property  were,  in  somo  <lejirt;e,  at  tin'  disposal 
of  a  sinj.rle  individual,  from  whose  decision  there  was  no  aj)peal;  the 
law  detdarin^  any  one  of  the  judj^es  of  the  suj)erior  court  a  (luonnn. 

(Mailxn-ne  had  heen  appointeil  g(>vi;i  fior,  (iraham,  secretary,  and  I'revost 
Spri^  and  Mathews,  jud};es  of  the  superior  court. 

'ihe  house  cd'  representatives  nu^t  u\\  the  fourth  of  Novend)er,  for  (lie 
j)ur]n)se  of  nonnnatinji;  to  the  President  of  the  United  States  ten 
individuals,  out  of  whom  he  was  to  <dioose  a  legislative  council.  Thuir 
choice  fell  on  Hellechasse,  Houlif^ny,  the  chevalier  d'Enneinours,  Derhiguv, 
Destrehan,  (Jurley,  Jones,  Macarty,  Sauve,  and  Villere. 

The  bishop  of  Baltimore  made  choice  on  tin?  twenty-ninth  of  December, 
of  Olivier,  the  (diaplain  of  tlu;  nunnery  in  New  Orleans,  for  his  vicar- 
general  in  the  territory. 

The  manpiis  de  ('asa-Calvo  reached  Natchitoches,  on  his  return  from 
the  nei<ihborinp  Spanish  provinces,  on  the  first  day  of  the  new  year.  Ho 
was  visited  by  major  Porter,  who  <!ommande(l  the  .small  garrison  at  that 


p(»st,  and  by  his  oilicers  ;  but  he  was  not  permitted  to  enter  the  fort.    He 

tarried 

Ivouge. 


tarried  l)ut  three  days  and  proceeded  to 


perimttetl  t 
Pensaeola, 


hy  the  way  of  Baton 


A  short  time  afterwards,  a  small  deta(diment  from  the  garrison  of 
Naco'.!;do(dies  came  to  estal)lish  a  new  i)ost,  at  the  Adayes,  on  the  road 
from  Nacogdoches  to  Natcdiitoches,  within  fourteen  miles  from  the  latter 
]>lace  ;  and  accounts  were  received,  that  don  Antonio  Cordero,  governor 
of  the  province  of  Texas,  had  marched  from  San  Antonio,  witli  a  body 
of  six  hun<lred  regulars,  some  militia,  a  few  Indians  and  a  consi(leral)ie 
nund)er  of  horses,  nudes  and  ('attle.  He  had  8top])ed  on  the  bunks  of 
the  river  Trinity,  where  he  had  been  joined  by  don  Simon  Herrora,  the 
commandant  of  Montelrey,  in  the  province  of  New  Leon,  who  had  been 
sent  with  a  reinforcement  by  don  Nemesio  Sahu'do,  the  captain-gonoral 
of  the  internal  provinces. 

Portc'r  received  on  the  tw(;nty-fourth  of  January,  orders  from  the 
department  of  war,  to  recjuire  from  the  commanding  officer  at  Naeofj- 
doches,  assurance  that  there  should  be  no  further  inroads,  nor  acts  of 
violen<'e  c<»mnntted  by  the  forces  of  Spain,  on  the  eastern  side  of  the 
river  Sal)ine,  and  in  case  the  assurance  was  refused  or  disregarded,  to  be 
on  the  alert  for  the  protection  of  the  citizens  of  the  United  .States, 
])ursuing  their  lawful  ei)ncerns,  westward  of  tlu'  Mississijtpi.  He  was  j 
instructed  to  send  ]>atrols  through  the  country,  eastward  of  the  Sabine, j 
which  was  considered  as  part  of  the  territory  of  the  United  States, 
especially  when  armed  men,  not  under  the  authority  of  the  United  States, 


^E^f^W- 


two  yt'iirs. 
>Hi<U'i>tn'  ill 
nirod  tVtmi 
•(!<l  ucrt'sol" 
i\w  Tnit^d 
•nco  ill  the 


.\hU»u 


ll!V  till! 


us   ill  tiu' 

tlir  (\is\»osal 

apju'iil ;  tlu' 

,  anil  rr('Vo!*t, 

inbcr,  for  the 
il  Stiiti'S  ton 
uncU.  'Hieiv 
,ur8,  Di'vbi'^iiy, 

I  of  Dt'ccniber, 
,  for  his  viciir- 

is  return  from 


now  yoar. 


Hf 


arrison  at  tliiit 

[v  the  fort.    Hi' 

e  vvay  of  Biitou 

I  the  tiarrison  of 
U.s,  on  tho  voiul 
I  from  the  latter 
[,r(leri>,  (lovernor 
iio,  witti  a  l)o«  y 
[l  a  consiilcrai>le 
Tm  thelianksot 
Ion  Herrera,  tlie 
V  who  had  ht'«" 
captain-goneral 

Inlers  from  tk 

VtUcer  at  NacojS- 

Lds,  nor  acts  Ml 

Etenl  s^idc  of  tk 

|iHrejiar.lec\,tobe 

■    United  States, 

|ssi\>pi-     He^vas 

ll  of  the  Sabne. 

1    United  States 

L  United  State?, 


HIHTOHY   OK    I.OITISIAN'A. 


0'>t 


jittt'inptcfl    to   cross   tliat   stream ;   to    rejH'l   invasion   by   pursuing'  and 

arresting  invaders;  avoiding,  however,  the   spilling  (»f  hlood,  when  this 

I'diild  he  done  without  it.   lie  was  directed  to  (leliver  iniy  Snanish  suhject, 

tlms  arrested,  t(»  tlie  commanding  oflicer,  at  Nacogdoches,  it  he  would  give 

assurances  to  have  them   punished,  hut   otherwise,  to  deal   with  thetu  as 

Cliiihorne  would   advise.       It  was  reconimended  to  him  in  patrolling  th« 

country  around  the  settlement  of  Hayou    I'ierre,  which  was  within  tho 

territory  of  tlie  United   States,  itut  of  which   no  possession  had    yet  Iteen 

tiikcii,  not  to  disturh   the  inhahitants,    unless   an   aggression    made    it 

necessary  to  take  jtossession  of  the  settlement  and  send   the  garrison  to 

Niicogdoches.     In    case   the   commandant    of  tlu^    hitter   ])ost    gave    the 

assurance  rc(|uire«|  from  him,  any  peaceable  intercour.se  Itetween  it  and  tho 

settlement  on  Hayou  I'ierre  was  not  to  he  ohjected  to;  hut  if  tho  assnrfinee 

was  refused,  all  intercourse  li»  iwci n  the  two  places  was  to  l)e  jtrohihited. 

porter,  accordingly,  sent  lieutenant  I'iatt,  with  a  corresponding  message 

to  Nacogdoches,     lion  Sehastian    Rodriguez,  to  whom  it  was  delivered, 

aiisweri'd  that  no  cn'-roachment   had    hecn   intended,  nor  any  violence 

otl'ered,  hy  any  part  of  his  garrison,  e.xccpt  so  far  as  vras   ni  cossary  to 

])revent  a  contrahand  traih;  and  tlie  exportation  of  horses,     lie  added, 

duty  forhado  him  to  give  the  assurance  recpiired,  and  he  had  ordered  his 

jtarties  to  patnd  as  far  as  Arrojn  Jlinidi). 

On  I'iatt's  return,  Porter  sentca])tain  Turner,  with  sixty  men,  to  remove 
the  Spanish  force  from  tlu;  p(tst  they  had  lately  occupied  at  the  Adayes, 
near  Ntitohitochos.  This  was  eflected  without,  difliculty  on  the  fifth  of 
February,  and  Turner  went  to  jiatrol  the  country  as  far  as  the  Sabine. 

Ill  the  meanwhile.  Don  Sebastian  had  sent  an  odicer  of  his  garrison 
to  the  settlemont  of  Hayou  IMerre,  to  remind  tho  inhal)itants  of  tho 
iillegiance  they  owed  to  the  ('atholi(!  king,  and  the  obligation  they  wore 
under  to  join  his  standard,  whenever  called  Ufion  by  any  of  his  oflicers. 
He  gave  them  assurances,  that  Red  river  would  soon  bo  tho  boundary 
between  the  territory  of  Spain  and  that  of  the  United  States. 

Cordero  had  sent  a  large  reinfr)rcement  to  Nacogdoches  ;  Porter  had  not 
two  hundred  men,  under  his  orders,  on  Rod  river.  In  a  letter  to  tho 
secretary  of  war,  of  tho  fifteenth  of  February,  ho  stated  the  great  disaf- 
fection of  tho  people  around  him ;  nineteen  of  whom,  out  of  twenty, 
preferred  tho  government  of  Spain  to  that  of  tho  United  States.  He 
attributed  this  disnositi()n  to  the  intrigues  of  the  marquis  do  C-asa-Calvo, 
who  had  assured  tlio  inhabitants,  on  his  way,  that  the  period  was  not  very 
dintantwhen  his  sovereign  would  resuini!  possession  of  the  country. 

The  first  territorial  legislature,  under  the  now  form  of  government  met 
in  New  Orleans,  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  January  ;  tho  members  of  tho  legis- 
lative council,  appointed  by  tho  President  of  the  United  States,  were 
Bellechasse,  Destrehan,  Macarty,  Sauvo  and  Jones. 

The  session  lasted  for  upwards  of  five  months.  Among  the  most 
important  acts,  is  a  black  code,  or  statute  regulating  the  police  of  slaves. 
Provision  was  made  for  establishing  schools  in  the  several  counties,  for 
regulating  tho  rights  and  duties  of  masters,  apprentices  and  indented 
seryants,  and  for  the  improvement  of  the  navigation  of  the  canal  of 
Lafourche  and  the  Bayou  Plaiiuemines. 

The  attempt  of  the  former  legislative  council  to  pro(!ure  a  civil  and 
criminal  code  for  the  territory,  having  failed,  two  professional  gentlemen 


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23  WIST  MAIN  STMIT 

WitSTIR.N.Y.  145M 

(716)S72-4S03 


.«r<^ 


332 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


were  employed  to  prepare  a  civil  code,  and  directed  to  take  the  former 
laws  of  the  country  as  the  basis  of  their  work. 

The  assemblage  of  several  bodies  of  Spanish  troops,  on  the  eastern 
boundary  of  the  province  of  Texas,  rendering  the  reinforcement  of  the 
military  posts,  in  the  lower  part  of  the  Mississippi  necessary,  orders  had 
been  transmitted  from  the  department  of  war,  as  early  as  the  fourth  of 
March,  to  Wilkinson,  who  was  then  at  St.  Louis,  to  make  the  necessary 
arrangements  for  the  removal  of  all  the  troops  in  his  neighborhood, 
(except  one  company)  to  Fort  Adams;  and  four  days  after  he  was 
directed  to  order  colonel  Gushing,  with  three  companies  and  four  field 
pieces,  to  proceed  to  Natchitoches,  without  stopping  at  Fort  Adams,  and 
to  send  the  rest  of  the  forces  down  the  river,  under  the  orders  of  lieutenant- 
colonel  Kingsbury.  On  the  sixth  of  May,  Wilkinson  received  orders  to 
repair  to  the  territory  of  Orleans,  or  its  vicinity,  take  the  command  of  the 
regular  forces  in  that  quarter,  and  of  such  volunteer  bodies  and  militia  as 
might  turn  out  for  the  defense  of  the  country,  and,  by  all  means  in  his 
power,  to  repel  any  invasion  of  the  territory  of  the  United  States. 

The  secretary  of  war  recommended,  that  the  earliest  opportunities 
should  be  taken  to  give  to  the  governors  of  the  provinces  of  Texas  and 
West  Florida,  a  clear  view  of  the  principles  on  wnich  the  government  of 
the  United  States  was  acting,  viz  :  that,  while  negotiations  were  pending, 
the  military  posts  of  neither  party  should  be  advanced ;  that  whatever 
opinion  might  be  entertained  with  regard  to  the  boundaries  of  Louisiana, 
no  military  measures  should  be  pursued  on  either  side ;  and  it  might  be 
depended  upon,  that  none  would  be  resorted  to,  on  the  part  of  the  United 
States,  unless  the  officers  of  the  Catholic  king  should  attempt  a  change  in 
the  existing  order  of  things :  that  the  actual  quiet  possession  by  the 
United  States  of  the  country,  east  of  the  Sabine,  should  be  insisted  upon, 
(with  the  trifling  exception  of  the  settlement  of  Bayou  Pierre) :  and  any 
attempt  on  the  part  of  Spain  to  occupy  any  new  post  east  of  the  Sabine, 
would  be  viewed  by  the  United  States,  as  an  invasion  of  their  territorial 
rights,  and  resisted  as  such. 

Measures  were,  at  the  same  time,  taken  by  the  department  of  war  for 
erecting  fortifications,  at  New  Orleans  and  near  it.  Nine  gunboats  were 
sent  to  the  Mississippi,  and  a  considerable  number  of  recruits  were  sent 
down  the  Ohio,  and  by  sea,  to  fill  the  companies  in  that  quarter. 

Gushing  reached  Natchitoches  on  the  first  of  June. 

The  attention  of  government  was  not,  however,  engrossed  by  these 
military  preparations.  Lieutenant  Pike  was  sent,  towards  the  middle  of 
July,  up  the  Missouri,  with  lieutenant  Wilkinson,  a  son  of  the  general,  a 
surgeon,  a  sergeant,  two  corporals,  sixteen  privates  and  an  interpreter. 
The  object  of  this  expedition  was  to  escort  several  chiefs  of  the  Osage  and 
Pawnee  nations,  who,  with  a  number  of  women  and  children,  were 
returning  from  a  visit  to  the  President  of  the  United  States,  with  their 
.presents  and  baggage.  These  Indians,  fifty-one  in  number,  had  been 
redeemed  from  captivity  among  the  Potomatomies,  and  were  to  be  restored 
to  their  friends  at  the  Osage  towns. 

Although  the  escorting  of  these  Indians  was  the  first  object  to  which 
Pike's  attention  was  directed,  it  was  not  the  principal  one :  it  was  next  to 
be  turned  to  the  accomplishment  of  a  permanent  peace  between  the 
Osages  and  Kanses :  a  third  object  was  his  effecting  an  interview  with 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


833 


the  former 

the  eastern 
ment  of  the 
,  orders  had 
:ie  fourth  of 
he  necessary 
iighborhoou, 
ifter  he   was 
nd  four  field 
;  Adams,  and 
of  lieutenant- 
ved  orders  to 
mmand  of  the 
and  militia  as 
means  in  his 
States. 

opportunities 
of  Texas  and 
rovernment  of 
'were  pending, 

that  whatever 
s  of  Louisiana, 
nd  it  might  be 
rt  of  the  United 
mpt  a  change  in 
isession  by  the 
e  insisted  upon, 
ierre) :  and  any 
t  of  the  Sabine, 

their  territorial 

nent  of  war  for 
gunboats  were 
ruits  were  sent 
uarter. 

grossed  by  these 
lis  the  middle  ot 
jf  the  general,  a 
Id  an  interpreter, 
[of  the  Osage  and 
h  children,  were 
Itates,  with  their 

Timber,  ha^  }''\ 
Pere  to  be  restored 

object  to  which 
he-  it  was  next  to 
face  between  the 
In  interview  witn 


the   Yanetons,    Tetans    and    Comanches,  in  order  to  establish  a  good 
understanding  among  these  tribes. 

It  being  an  object  of  much  interest  with  the  President  of  the  United 
States  to  ascertain  the  direction,  extension  and  navigation  of  the  Arkansas 
and  Red  rivers,  Pike  was  instructed  to  go  to  the  head  of  these  streams, 
and  to  detach  a  party,  with  a  few  Indians,  to  descend  the  first  stream,  to 
take  the  courses  and  distances,  observe  the  soil,  tribes,  etc.,  and  note  the 
creeks  or  bayous  falling  into  the  river ;  this  party  was,  on  reaching  the 
Mississippi,  to  make  the  best  of  its  way  to  Fort  Adams  and  wait  for 
further  orders. 

Pike  was  next  to  proceed  with  the  rest  of  the  party  to  the  head  of  Red 
river,  making  particular  remarks  on  the  geographical  structure,  natural 
history  and  population  of  the  country :  he  was  furnished  with  instruments 
to  ascertain  the  variation  of  the  magnetic  needle  and  the  latitude  of  every 
remarkable  point ;  to  observe  the  eclipses  of  Jupiter's  satellites,  and  the 
periods  of  immersions  and  emersions,  in  order  that,  afterwards,  by  a  resort 
to  particular  tables,  the  longitude  of  the  places  of  observation  might  be 
ascertained.     He  was  directed  to  descend  Red  river  to  Natchitoches. 

On  the  rise  of  the  legislature,  Claiborne  had  ordered  parts  of  the 
militia  of  the  counties  of  Opelousas  and  Rapides,  to  Natchitoches.  On 
his  arrival  at  the  latter  place,  towards  the  end  of  August,  he  found  that  the 
Spanish  force,  on  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  province  of  Texas,  was 
divided  into  two  main  bodies :  Cordero  was  at  Nacogdoches,  with  the  one ; 
the  other  was  encamped  on  the  western  bank  of  the  Sabine,  under  Herrera. 
He  was  informed  that  an  armed  Spanish  party  had  latelv  gone  to  the 
Caddo  village,  within  the  territory  of  the  United  States,  in  wnich  that  flag 
was  displayed,  and  had  cut  down  its  staff,  menacing  the  peace  and  tran- 
ouillity  of  these  Indians,  in  case  they  persisted  in  acknowledging  any 
aependence  on  the  government  of  the  United  States,  or  in  keeping  up  an 
intercourse  with  their  citizens :  that  three  of  the  latter,  Shaw,  Irwin  and 
Brewster,  had  been  apprehended  bv  a  Spanish  patrol,  within  twelve  miles 
of  Natchitoches,  and  forcibly  carried  to  Nacogdoches ;  and  that  several 
slaves,  the  property  of  citizens  of  the  United  States,  had  escaped  from 
the  service  of  their  masters  to  the  latter  place,  where  they  had  found  an 
asylum. 

On  the  twenty-sixth,  he  dispatched  Hopkins,  the  adjutant-general  of 
the  territory  of  Orleans,  to  Herrera,  to  make  representations  to  that 
otficer,  of  the  insults  offered  to  the  government  of  the  United  States  last 
winter,  by  a  Spanish  patrol,  who  had  compelled  the  exploring  party  under 
Freeman,  who  was  ascending  Red  river,  to  retrograde,  and,  also,  in 
relation  to  the  recent  outrages.  Herrera  informed  Claiborne  that  he  had 
transmitted  his  communication  to  Salcedo,  the  captain-general ;  that  the 
exploring  party  had  ascended  Red  river  far  above  the  limits  of  the  United 
States^  ana  the  officer  who  commanded  the  patrol  that  met  him,  had 
discharged  his  duty  in  insisting  on  the  party's  descending  the  river,  till 
they  reached  the  boundary  line ;  that  the  Caddo  village  was  within  the 
acknowledged  territory  of  Spain,  and  these  Indians  had  been  notified 
that  if  they  chose  to  live  under  the  protection  of  the  United  States,  they 
should  remove  to  some  part  of  the  territory  of  their  new  friends,  and,  if 
they  chose  to  continue  to  dwell  in  their  village,  they  should  take  down 
the  flag  of  the  United  States ;  that  having  chosen  the  last  alternative, 
and  being  more  tardy  in  lowering  the  flag  than  appeared  reasonable,  it 


P.iVi 


m 


884 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


had  been  done  by  the  Spaniards ;  that  Shaw  and  his  companions  were 
found  twice,  on  different  days,  observing  the  position  and  movements  of 
the  troops  under  Herrera,  and  did  not  agree  in  the  motives  assigned  by 
them  for  encroaching  on  the  king's  dominions,  and  finally  avowed  their 
intention  of  settling  in  the  province ;  whereupon  they  had  been  sent  under 
an  escort  to  San  Antonio;  finally,  that  the  detention  of  a  number  of 
slaves  from  Louisiana,  at  Nacogdoches,  was  a  matter  now  under  the 
consideration  of  the  captain-general. 

Wilkinson  reached  Natchez  on  the  sixth  of  September.  At  this  place, 
he  made  arrangements  with  the  executor  of  the  Mississippi  territory,  for 
holding  its  militia  in  readiness.  He  sent  an  order  to  \ew  Orleans  for 
stationmg  four  galleys  on  lake  Pontchartain  and  the  rigolets,  and  for 
reinforcing  the  detachment  at  Pointe  Coupee  to  seventy-five  men;  a 
number  which  he  deemed  sufficient,  with  some  militia,  to  take  Grandpre, 
and  his  garrison,  at  Baton  Rouge,  on  this  first  order ;  and  he  instructed 
the  commanding  officer  on  the  Tombigbee  to  prepare  with  his  garrison, 
and  two  hundred  militia,  to  invest  Mobile,  while  another  body  of  militia 
should  be  sent  to  make  a  feint  on  Pensacola,  in  order  to  prevent  succor 
being  sent  from  thence  to  Mobile. 

Claiborne  had  been  desirous  of  making  an  immediate  attack  on  Herrera's 
camp ;  but  the  force  he  could  command  was  insufficient,  and  the  officer 
who  commanded  the  garrison,  had  orders  to  avoid  a  resort  to  offensive 
measures  till  the  arrival  of  the  general.  The  two  chiefs  met  at  Alex- 
andria ;  Claiborne  returned  to  New  Orleans,  in  order  to  take  measures 
for  holding  the  militia  of  the  territory  in  readiness,  and  Wilkinson 
proceeded  to  Natchitoches. 

On  the  twenty-fourth,  he,  dispatching  Cushing  to  Nacogdoches  with  a 
communication  to  Cordero,  couched  in  the  style  recommended  by  the 
secretary  of  war,  and  demanded  the  immediate  removal  of  the  Spanish 
troops  to  the  west  of  the  Sabine.  Cordero  replied  he  would  transmit  the 
communication  to  the  captain-general,  without  whose  orders  he  could  not 
act.  On  this,  Wilkinson  informed  him  the  troops  of  the  United  States 
would  march  to  the  Sabine — that  the  sole  object  of  this  movement  was  to 
settle  the  boundarj^,  claimed  by  his  government,  and  that  it  was  without 
any  hostile  intention  against  the  troops  of  Spain,  or  her  territory ;  this 
march  being  rendered  essential  by  some  of  Herrera's  late  movements,  and 
the  position  newly  taken  by  some  of  the  troops,  immediately  under 
Cordero's  orders,  close  on  the  western  bank  of  the  Sabine,  within  sixty 
miles  from  Natchitoches. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  President  of  the  United  States  had  received 
information,  that  designs  were  in  agitation  in  the  western  states,  unlawful 
and  unfriendly  to  the  peace  of  the  union ;  and  that  the  prime  mover  of 
them  was  Burr,  the  late  Vice  President  of  the  United  States.  The  grounds 
of  that  information  being  inconclusive,  the  object  uncertain,  and  the 
fidelity  of  the  western  states  known  to  be  firm,  no  immediate  step  was 
taken.  A  rumor  was  gaining  ground,  that  a  numerous  and  powerful 
association,  extending  from  New  York,  through  the  western  states,  to  the 
gulf  of  Mexico  had  been  formed — that  eight  or  ten  thousand  men  were  to 
rendezvous  in  New  Orleans,  at  no  distant  period,  and  from  thence,  with 
the  co-operation  of  a  naval  force,  follow  Burr  to  Vera  Cruz — that  agents 
from  Mexico  had  come  to  Philadelphia,  during  the  summer,  and  had 
given  assurances  that  the  landing  of  the  expedition  would  be  followed  by 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


335 


^anions  were 
ovements  of 
assigned  by 
avowed  their 
en  sent  under 
I  number  of 
w  ui^der  the 

At  this  place, 
i  territory,  for 
,\v  Orleans  for 
olets,  and  for 
,y-five  men;  a 
ake  Grandpre, 
he  instructed 
rt  his  garrison, 
body  of  militia 
prevent  succor 

ick  on  Herrera's 
,  and  the  officer 
iort  to  offensive 
[8  met  at  Alex- 
»  take  measures 
and  Wilkinson 

ogdoches  with  a 
mmended  by  the 
,1  of  the  Spanish 
uld  transmit  the 
lers  he  could  not 
he  United  States 
novement  was  to 
it  it  was  without 
er  territory ;  this 
>  movements,  and 
mediately  under 
line,  within  sixty 


such  an  immediate  and  general  insurrection,  as  would  ensure  the 
subversion  of  the  existing  government,  and  silence  all  opposition  within 
a  very  few  weeks — that  a  part  of  the  association  would  descend  the 
Alleghany  river,  and  the  first  general  rendezvous  would  be  at  the  rapids 
of  the  Ohio  towards  the  twentieth  of  October,  and  from  thence  the  aggre- 
gate force  was  to  proceed,  in  light  boats,  with  the  utmost  velocity,  to  New 
Orleans,  under  an  expectation  of  being  joined  on  the  route  by  men  raised 
in  the  state  of  Tennessee,  and  other  quarters. 

It  was  said  that  the  maritime  co-operation  relied  on,  was  from  a  British 
squadron  in  the  West  Indies ;  that  active  and  influential  characters  had 
been  engaged  in  making  preparations  for  six  or  eight  months  past,  which 
were  in  such  a  state  of^  readiness,  that  it  was  expected  the  van  would 
reach  New  Orleans  in  December,  when  it  was  expected  the  necessary 
organization  and  equipment  would  be  completed  with  such  promptitude, 
that  the  expedition  would  leave  the  Mississippi  towards  the  first  oi 
February ;  it  was  also  added,  that  the  revolt  of  the  slaves,  along  the  river 
was  depended  upon  as  an  auxiliary  measure,  and  that  the  seizure  of  the 
money  in  the  vaults  of  the  banks  in  New  Orleans,  was  relied  on  to  supply 
the  funds  necessary  to  carry  on  the  enterprise. 

Giving  full  credit  to  these  reports,  Wilkinson  determined  on  making 
the  best  arrangement  he  could  with  the  Spaniards,  in  order  that  he  might 
descend  to  New  Orleans,  with  the  greatest  part  of  his  force.  Accordingly, 
on  the  twenty-ninth  of  October,  being  on  his  march  to  the  Sabine,  he  sent 
Burling,  one  of  his  aids-de-camp,  to  Cordero,  with  a  written  message, 
proposing  that,  without  yielding  a  pretension,  ceding  a  right,  or  interfering 
with  discussions  which  belonged  to  their  superiors,  the  state  of  things,  at 
the  delivery  and  possession  of  the  province  to  the  United  States,  should 
be  restored  by  the  withdrawal  of  the  troops  of  both  governments,  from 
the  advanced  posts  they  occupied,  to  those  of  Nacogdoches  and  Natchi- 
toches, respectively.  He  proposed  that  Cordero's  accession  to  this  proposal 
should  be  conclusive,  and  promised  to  begin  his  retrograde  march  on  the 
day  the  Spanish  camp,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Sabine,  should  be  broken 
up,  under  a  stipulation  that  the  troops  of  the  United  States  should  not 
cross  J rro;o  Hondo,  as  long  as  those  of  Spain  should  not  cross  the  Sabine, 
or  until  further  orders  were  given  by  their  respective  governments. 

Cordero  assured  Burling  that  Wilkinson's  proposition  entirely  met  his 
news ;  but  he  added,  his  hands  were  tied  by  the  captain-general's  orders, 
ffhom  he  was  bound  to  consult.  Burling  had  been  furnished  with  a  copy 
of  the  message  to  Cordero,  which  he  had  on  his  way  left  with  Herrera, 
who  on  his  return  informed  him,  that  the  officer  next  in  command  would, 
on  the  next  day,  visit  Wilkinson,  and  everything  should  be  arranged.  It 
appears  that  Herrera  was  less  punctilious  than  Cordero;  for  on  the 
following  day,  the  officer  brought  to  Wilkinson,  Herrera's  assent  to  his 
proposition. 

On  the  fifth  of  November,  Wilkinson,  having  received  information  that 
the  Spanish  camp  on  the  Sabine,  would  be  broken  up  on  that  day,  began 
his  march  towards  Natchitoches.  Immediately  on  his  arrival  there,  he 
directed  Porter  to  proceed  to  New  Orleans,  with  the  utmost  expedition, 
and  to  repair,  mount  and  equip  for  service  every  piece  of  ordnance  in  the 
city,  to  employ  all  hands  in  preparing  shells,  grape,  canister  and  musket 
cartridges  with  buck  shot,  to  nave  every  field  piece  ready,  with  hose, 
harness  and  drag  ropes,  and  to  mount  six  or  eight  battering  cannons  on 


'   A  ^1 


836 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


fort  St.  Charles  and  Fort  St.  Louis,  below  and  above  the  city,  and  along 
its  front,  flanks  and  rear. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  President  of  the  United  States  began  to  perceive 
the  object  of  the  conspiracy ;  but  his  information  was  so  blended  and 
involved  in  mystery,  tnat  nothing  certain  could  be  sought  out  for  pursuit. 
In  this  state  of  uncertainty  he  thought  it  best  to  order  to  the  field  of 
action,  a  person  in  whose  integrity,  reliance  and  confidence  could  be 
placed,  with  instructions  to  investigate  the  plot  going  on,  to  enter  into 
conferences  (for  which  he  was  furnished  witn  sufficient  credentials)  with 
the  civil  and  military  officers  of  the  western  states,  and  with  their  aid  to 
call  on  the  spot,  whatever  should  become  necessary  to  discover  the 
designs  of  the  conspirators,  arrest  their  means,  bring  their  persons  to 
punishment,  and  call  out  the  force  of  the  country  to  suppress  any  enter- 
prise in  which  they  were  found  to  be  engaged.  His  choice  fell  on  Graham, 
the  secretary  of  the  territory  of  Orleans. 

It  being  known,  at  this  time,  that  many  boats  were  in  preparation, 
stores  and  provisions  collected,  and  an  unusual  number  of  suspicious 
characters  in  motion  on  the  Ohio  and  its  tributary  streams,  orders  were 
given  to  the  governors  of  the  Mississippi  and  Orleans  territories,  and  to 
the  commander  of  the  land  and  naval  forces  there,  to  be  on  their  guard 
against  surprise,  and  in  constant  readiness  to  resist  any  enterprise  that 
might  be  attempted :  and  on  the  eighth  of  November,  instructions  jiad 
been  sent  to  Wilkinson  to  hast6n  an  accommodation  with  the  Spanish 
commander  on  the  Sabine,  and  fall  back  with  his  principal  force  on  the 
hither  bank  of  the  Mississippi ;  a  measure,  which  we  have  seen,  he  had 
already  anticipated. 

The  report  was,  that  Burr  had  in  contemplation  three  distinct  objects, 
which  might  be  carried  on  jointly  or  separately,  and  either  first,  as 
circumstances  might  require.  One  of  these  was  the  separation  from  the 
union  of  the  portion  of  country  west  of  the  Alleghany  mountains — another 
an  attack  on  Mexico — the  last  was  provided  as  merely  ostensible :  it  was 
the  settlement  of  a  vast  tract  of  land,  heretofore  granted  to  the  Baron 
de  Bastrop,  on  the  banks  of  the  Washita  river.  This  was  to  serve  as  the 
pretext  of  all  the  preparations  of  Burr,  an  allurement  for  such  as  really 
wished  for  a  settlement  on  that  stream,  and  a  cover  under  which  to 
retreat  on  the  event  of  a  final  discomfiture. 

Such  was  the  state  of  information  at  Washington  City,  in  the  latter 
part  of  November,  when  specific  measures  were  openly  adopted  by 
government.  On  the  twenty-seventh,  the  President  of  the' United  States 
issued  a  proclamation,  announcing  the  existence  of  a  conspiracy,  and 
warning  such  citizens  as  might  have  been  led,  without  due  knowledge  or 
consideration,  to  participate  therein,  to  withdraw  and  desist  therefrom. 
and  calling  on  all  officers,  civil  and  military,  to  be  vigilant  and  active  in 
suppressing  it. 

Orders  were  sent  to  every  important  point  on  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi, 
from  Pittsburg  to  the  Balize,  for  the  employment  of  such  part  of  the  civil 
authority,  as  might  enable  them  to  seize  all  boats  and  stores,  provided  for  j 
the.  enterprise  and  arrest  all  persons  concerned.  A  short  time  before 
these  orders  were  received  in  the  state  of  Ohio,  Graham,  the  President's 
confidential  agent,  had  been  diligently  employed  in  tracing  the  conspiracy 
and  had  acquired  sufficient  information  to  apply  for  the  immediate  exer- 
tion of  the  authority  of  that  state  to  crush  the  combination.    Governor  J 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


887 


iT,  and  aloniJ 

\  to  perceive 
blended  and 
,t  for  pursuit. 

the  field  of 
nee  could  be 
to  enter  into 
lentials)  with 
h  their  aid  to 

discover  the 
jir  persons  to 
ess  any  enter- 
ell  on  Graham, 

In  preparation, 
r  of  suspicious 
IS,  orders  were 
ritories,  and  to 
on  their  guard 
enter][)rise  that 
nstructions  had 
ith  the  Spanish 
pal  force  on  the 
ive  seen,  he  had 

distinct  objects, 
J  either  first,  as 
firation  from  the 
iintains— another 

istensible :  it  was 

ted  to  the  Baron 

s  to  serve  as  the 

,r  such  as  really 

under  which  w 

ttv  in  the  latter 
bnl'v  adopted  by 
the  United  States 
t  conspiracy,  and 
lue  knowledge  or 
[desist  therefrom. 
mt  and  active  in 

lo  and  Mississim 
Ih  part  of  the  civil 
Vores,  provided  fo 
[short  time  befo^ 
L    the  Presidents 
fiAff  the  conspiracy 
le  immediate  exer- 
fnation.    Governor 


Tiffin  and  the  legislature,  with  zeal  and  energy,  effected  the  seizure  of  all 
the  boats,  provisions  and  other  things  provided,  within  their  reach. 

Thus,  was  the  first  blow  given,  materially  disabling  the  enterprise  in 
the  onset.  • 

In  Kentucky,  a  premature  attempt  to  bring  Burr  to  justice,  without 
sufficient  evidence  to  convict  him,  had  procured  a  momentary  impression 
in  his  favor ;  which  gave  him  the  opportunity  of  hastening  his  equij)- 
ments.  The  arrival  of  the  President  s  proclamation  and  orders  and  the 
application  of  Graham,  at  last  awakened  the  authorities  of  the  state  to 
the  truth,  and  produced  the  energy  and  promptitude  of  which  the 
neighboring  state  had  given  the  example.  Under  an  order  of  the 
legislature,  the  militia  was  instantly  ordered  to  different  important  points, 
and  measures  were  taken  for  effecting  whatever  could  be  done ;  but  a 
small  number  of  men,  in  a  few  boats,  had,  in  the  meanwhile,  passed  the 
falls  of  the  Ohio,  to  rendezvous  at  the  mouth  of  Cumberland  river,  with 
others  coming  down  that  stream. 

Porter  had  left  Natchitoches  for  New  Orleans,  with  all  the  artificers  and 
a  company  of  one  hundred  men,  and  had  been  followed  by  Gushing  with 
the  rest  of  the  forces,  leaving  only  one  company  behind.    Wilkinson,  on 
his  way  to  New  Orleans,  stopped  at  Natchez,  and  made  application  to  the 
executive  of  the  Mississippi  territory,  for  a  detachment  of  five  hundred 
men  of  its  militia,  to  proceed  to  New  Orleans,  but  declining  to  commu- 
nicate his  motives  in  making  this  requisition,  was  refused.    From  this 
place,  on  the  fifteenth  of  November,  he  dispatched  Burling,  one  of  his 
aids,  to  Mexico,  for  the  ostensible  purpose  of  apprising  the  viceroy  of  the 
danger,  with  which  his  sovereign's  dominions  were  menaced ;  but,  as  the 
general  mentions  in  his  memoirs,  "on  grounds  of  public  duty  and  profes- 
sional enterprise  to  attempt  to  penetrate  the  veil  which  concealed  the 
topographical  route  to  the  city  of  Mexico,  and  the  military  defences 
which  intervened,  feeling  that  the  equivocal  relation  of  the  two  countries 
justified  the  rune." 

Wilkinson  reached  New  Orleans,  towards  the  end  of  November,  and  in 
his  first  communication  to  the  President  of  the  United  States,  after  his 
arrival,  mentioned,  that  among  his  countrymen,  he  had  discovered  char- 
acters, who  had  hitherto  been  distinguished  for  integrity  and  patriotism, 
men  of  talents,  honored  bj'  the  confidence  of  government  and  distinguished 
by  marks  of  its  regard,  who,  if  not  connected  with  the  flagitious  plan  by 
active  co-operation,  approved  it,  and  withheld  timely  and  important 
information. 

Accounts  of  the  requisition  made  for  a  detachment  of  the  neighboring 

territory,  and  of  the  refusal  of  its  executive,  were  soon  received  in  New 

Orleans,  and  excited  much  surprise.    The  inhabitants  wondered  that, 

after  the  amicable  adjustment  of  all  difficulties  with  the  Spaniards,  the 

territory  of  Orleans,  with  a  reasonable  force  of  regular  troops,  and  an 

efficient  militia  well  armed  and  disciplined,  should  require  any  aid  from 

the  Mississippi  territory.    As  yet,  Burr's  plans  were  but  partially  spoken 

of  and  disbelieved;  the  people  had  heard  of  an  apprehended  insurrection 

in  some  of  the  western  states ;   but  the  merchants  who  had  fr«fluent 

accounts  from  above,  understood  that  things  were  perfectly  tranquil  there. 

Surprise  was  further  excited  at  the  appearance  of  an  uncommon  number 

of  men  at  work  on  the  old  fortifications,  and  on  the  hearing  of  a  contract 

for  a  sufficient  number  of  pickets  to  enclose  the  whole  city.    This  and 

45 


M 


338 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


other  contracts,  entered  into  since  the  arrival  of  Wilkinson,  instead  of 
being  oftured,  as  was  usual,  to  any  who  would  engage  in  them  on  the 
lowest  terms,  were  entered  into  secretly  and  as  if  intended  to  be  kept  from 
the  public  eye.  • 

On  the  seventh  of  Decem})er,  Wilkinson  disuatched  lieutenant  Swann, 
of  the  army,  to  Jamaica,  with  a  letter  to  the  ofncer  commanding  the  naval 
force  on  that  station,  informing  him  of  Burr's  plans,  and  that  a  report 
was  afloat  that  the  aid  of  a  British  naval  armament  had  been  either 
promised  or  applied  for,  and  warning  him  and  all  British  military  and 
naval  officers,  that  their  interference  or  any  co-operation  on  their  part, 
would  be  considered  as  highly  injurious  to  the  United  States,  and 
aft'ecting  the  present  amicable  relations  between  the  two  nations.  The 
communication  concluded  with  the  expression  of  a  hope  that  the  British 
government  would  refrain  from  any  interference  or  co-operation,  and 
prevent  any  individual  from  aflbrding  aid  ;  and  the  assurance  that  the 
writer  would,  with  all  the  force  under  his  command,  resist  any  effort  of  a 
foreign  power  to  favor  Burr's  projects. 

On  the  ninth  of  December,  a  meeting  of  the  merchants  and  some  of  the 
principal  inhabitants  was  called  at  the  government  house,  where 
Claiborne  and  Wilkinson  attended  to  apprise  them  of  the  danger  to  which 
the  country  was  exposed.  The  first  said  that  the  object  of  the  prepa- 
rations of  the  latter  was  to  defend  New  Orleans,  against  a  numerous  and 
powerful  party,  headed  by  one  of  the  first  characters  in  the  union. 
Wilkinson  spoke  of  the  co-operation  of  the  British  navy  with  Burr,  and 
the  ultimate  destination  of  the  expedition  for  Mexico,  after  they  had 
plundered  the  banks,  seized  on  the  shipping,  and  helped  themselves 
with  everything,  which  an  army  of  seven  thousand  men  might  want. 

It  was  then  proposed  to  the  meeting,  that  the  shipping  in  the  river 
should  be  detained  and  the  crews  discharged,  that  they  might  be 
employed  on  board  of  the  vessels  of  the  United  States.  This  was  imme- 
diately agreed  to,  and  a  subscription  was  opened  for  extra  bounty  and 
clothing  for  such  sailors,  as  would  enter  the  public  service,  and  within  a 
short  space  of  time  a  considerable  sum  was  raised. 

In  a  letter  to  the  President  of  the  United  States,  Wilkinson  stated  he 
had  offered  to  Hall,  the  district  judge  of  the  United  States,  and  Mathews, 
one  of  the  territorial  iudges,  on  the  twelfth  and  thirteenth,  all  the 
testimony  he  possessed  against  Burr  and  Bollman,  to  the  end  that  the 
former  might  De  proclaimed  for  apprehension  throughout  the  United 
States,  and  the  latter   committed  to  close  confinement  to  secure  his  | 
testimony,  and  prevent  his  correspondence  and  machinations  in  aid  of  i 
Burr's  plans.    The  first  proposition  was  rejected,  as  "  it  would  be  too  late,  j 
as  Burr  might  be  on  his  way ;"  the  second  was  rejected,  as  Bollman's 
offense  was  bailable  and  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus  would  set  him  at  large;  I 
that  after  some  reflections  judge  Hall  said :     I  believe  it  will  be  the  best! 
for  the  general  to  exercise  his  discretion ;"  Mathews  did  not  say  anything,! 
and  as  they  left  Wilkinson,  he  told  them  he  hoped  they  would  not  hangj 
him  for  what  he  would  do,  and  th^  both  answered  in  the  negative.        I 

On  Sunday,  the  fourteenth,  Dr.  Erick  Bollman,  was  arrested  by  order! 
of  Wilkinson  and  hurried  to  a  secret  place  of  confinement,  and  on  the| 
evening  of  the  following  day  application  was  made  on  his  behalf,  for  a 
writ  of  habeas  corpus,  to  Sprigg,   one  of  the  territorial  judges,  ffhoj 
declined  acting  till  he  could  consult  Mathews,  who  could  not  then  ' 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


339 


,  instead  of 
hem  on  the 
be  kept  from 

nant  Swann, 
ing  the  naval 
that  a  report 
t  been  either 
military  and 
on  their  part, 
i  States,  and 
nations.    The 
liat  the  British 
operation,  and 
ranee  that  the 
any  effort  of  a 

ind  some  of  the 

house,   where 
danger  to  which 
;ct  of  the  prepa- 
a  numerous  and 
g  in  the  union. 
y  with  Burr,  and 
:  after  they  had 
3lped  themselves 
might  want, 
king  in  the  river 
,  they  might  be 

This  was  imrae- 
xtra  bounty  and 
ace,  and  within  a 

Ikinson  stated  he 
te8,andMathewj, 
I  irteenth,  all  the 
,  the  end  that  the 
ihout  the  United 
kent  to  secure  his 
nations  m  aid  ol 
Uvouldhetoolate, 
cted,  as  Bollmans 
'  set  him  at  large,, 
it  will  be  the  best 
I  not  say  anything, 
.y  would  uot  hang 
the  negative. 
'  arrested  hv  order! 
cement,  and  J)n  thj 
n  his  behalf,  for 

torial  P«l8f '  T 
could  not  then  b« 


found.    On  the  sixteenth,  the  writ  was  obtained  from  the  superior  court ; 

imt  BoUman  was,  in  the  meanwhile,  put  on  board  of  a  vessel  and  sent 

down  the  river.      On  the  same  day,  application  was  made  to  Workman, 

the  judge  of  the  county  of  Orleans,  for  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus,  in  favor 

of  Ogden  and  Swartwout,  who  had  been  arrested  a  few  days  before,  by 

order  of  Wilkinson,  at  Fort  Adams,  and  were  on  board  of  a  bomb  ketch 

of  the  United   States,  lying  before  the  city.     Workman  immediately 

granted  the  writ,  and  called  on  Claiborne  to  inquire  whether  he  had 

assented  to  Wilkinson's  proceedings ;  Claiborne  replied  he  had  consented 

to  the  arrest  of  BoUman,  and  his  mind  was  not  made  up  as  to  the 

propriety  of  that  of  Ogden  and  Swartwout.      Workman  then  expatiated 

on  the    illegality    and    evil    tendency  of   such    measures,    beseeching 

Claiborne  not  to  permit  them,  but  to  use  his  own  authority,  as  the 

constitutional  guardian  of  his  fellow-citizens,  to  protect  them  ;  but  he  was 

answered  that  the  executive  had  no  authority  to  liberate  those  persons, 

and  it  was  for  the  judiciary  to  do  it,  if  they  thought  fit.    Workman  added. 

that  he  had  heard  that  Wilkinson  intended  to  snip  off  his  prisoners,  ancl 

if  this  was  permitted,  writs  of  habeas  corpus  would  prove  nugatory. 

From  the  alarm  and  terror  prevalent  in  the  city,  the  deputy  sheriff 
could  procure  no  boat  to  take  him  on  board  of  the  ketch,  on  the  day  the 
writ  issued.  This  circumstance  was  made  known  early  on  the  next 
morning  to  Workman,  who,  thereupon,  directed  the  deputy  sheriff  to 
procure  a  boat  bv  the  offer  of  a  considerable  sum  of  money,  for  the 
payment  of  which  he  undertook  the  county  would  be  responsible.  The 
wnt  was  served  soon  afterwards,  and  returned  at  five  in  the  evening  by 
commodore  Shaw  and  the  commanding  officer  of  the  ketch,  lieutenant 
Jones ;  Swartwout  had  been  taken  from  the  ketch  before  the  service  of  the 
writ.  Ogden  was  produced  and  discharged,  as  his  detention  was  justified 
on  the  order  of  Wilkinson  only. 

On  the  eighteenth  of  December,  Wilkinson  returned  the  writ  of  habeas 
corpus  into  the  superior  court,  stating  that,  as  commander-in-chief  of  the 
army  of  the  United  States,  he  took  on  himself  all  responsibility  for  the 
arrest  of  Erick  Bollman,  charged  with  misprison  of  treason  against  the 
government  of  the  United  States,  and  he  had  adopted  measures  for  his 
safe  delivery  to  the  government  of  the  United  States :  that  it  was  after 
several  conversations  with  the  governor  and  one  «  the  judges  of  the 
territory,  that  he  had  hazarded  this  step  for  the  nat.  .1  safety,  menaced 
to  its  basis  by  a  lawless  band  of  traitors,  associated  :  ader  Aaron  Burr, 
whose  accomplices  were  extended  from  New  York  to  New  Orleans ;  that 
no  man  held  in  higher  reverence  the  civil  authorities  of  his  country,  and 
it  was  to  maintain  and  perpetuate  the  holy  attributes  of  the  constitution, 
against  the  uplifted  arm  of  violence,  that  he  had  interposed  the  force  of 
arms  in  a  moment  of  the  utmost  peril,  to  seize  upon  Bollman,  as  he  should 
upon  all  others,  without  regard  to  standing  or  station,  against  whom  any 
proof  might  arise  of  a  participation  in  the  lawless  combination. 

This  return  was,  afterwards,  amended  by  an  averment  that,  at  the  time 
of  the  service  of  the  writ,  Bollman  was  not  in  the  possession  or  power  of 
the  person  to  whom  it  was  addressed. 

On  the  following  day  Ogden  was  arrested  a  second  time  by  the 
commanding  officer  of  a  troop  of  cavalry  of  the  militia  of  the  territory, 
in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  by  whom  Alexander  was  also  taken 


-'•if. 


.  mm 


840 


HI8T0HY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


in  custody ;  on  the  nnplicntion  of  Livingston,  Workman  issued  writs  of 
habuuH  corpus  for  both  uriHonurs. 

Instead  of  ft  return,  Wilkinson  sent  a  written  message  to  Workniiin, 
begging  him  to  accept  his  return  tf»  the  superior  court,  as  applicai)le 
to  the  two  traitors,  who  were  the  subjects  of  his  writs.  On  this, 
Livingston  procured  from  the  court,  a  rule  that  Wilkinson  make  a  further 
and  more  explicit  return  to  the  writs,  or  show  cause  why  an  attachinont 
should  not  issue  against  him. 

Workman  now  called  again  on  Claiborne,  and  repeated  his  observations 
and  recommended,  that  Wilkinson  should  be  opposed  by  force  of  arms. 
He  stated,  that  the  violent  measures  of  that  ofiicer  had  produced  great 
discontent,  alarm  and  agitation  in  the  public  mind ;  and,  unless  such 
proceeding  were  cft'ectually  ojjposed,  all  confidence  in  government  wouhl 
be  at  an  end.  He  urged  Claiborne  to  revoke  the  order,  by  which  he  hiul 
placed  the  Orleans  volunteers  under  Wilkinson's  command,  and  to  call 
out  and  arm  the  rest  of  the  militia  force,  as  soon  as  possible.  He  stated 
it  as  his  opinion,  that  the  army  would  itot  oppose  the  civil  power,  when 
constitutionally  brought  forth,  or  that,  if  they  did,  the  governor  might 
soon  have  men  enough  to  render  the  opposition  ineffectual.  He  added, 
that,  from  the  laudable  conduct  of  commodore  Shaw  and  lieutenant 
Jones,  respecting  Ogden,  he  not  only  did  not  apprehend  anv  resistance 
to  the  civil  authority  from  the  navy,  but  thought  they  might  be  relied  on. 
Similar  representations  were  made  to  Claiborne  by  Hall  and  Mathews; 
but  they  were  unavailing. 

On  the  twenty-sixth,  Wilkinson  made  a  second  return  to  the  writ  of 
habeas  corpus,  stating  that  the  body  of  neither  of  the  prisoners  was  in  his 
possession  or  control.  On  this,  Livingston  moved  for  process  of 
attachment. 

Workman  now  made  an  official  communication  to  Claiborne.  He 
began  b^  observing  that  the  late  extraordinary  events,  which  had  taken 
place  within  the  territory,  had  led  to  a  circumstance,  which  authorized 
the  renewal,  in  a  formal  manner,  of  the  request  he  had  so  frequently 
urged  in  conversation,  that  the  executive  would  make  use  of  the  consti- 
tutional force  placed  under  his  command,  to  maintain  the  laws,  and 
protect  his  fellow  citizens  against  the  unexampled  tyranny  exercised 
over  them. 

He  added,  it  was  notorious  that  the  commander-in-chief  of  the  military 
forces  had,  by  his  own  authority,  arrested  several  citizens  for  civil  offenses, 
and  had  avowed  on  record,  that  he  had  adopted  measures  to  send  them 
out  of  the  territory,  openly  declaring  his  determination  to  usurj)  the 
functions  of  the  judiciary,  by  making  himself  the  only  judge  of  the  guilt  of  j 
the  persons  he  suspected,  and  asserting  in  the  same  manner,  and  as  yet 
without  contradiction,  that  his  measures  were  taken  after  several  consult- 
ations with  the  governor. 

He  proceeded  to  state,  that  writs  of  habeas  corpus  had  been  issued  from  j 
the  court  of  county  of  New  Orleans:  on  one  of  them,  Ogden  had  beenj 
brought  up  and  discharged,  but  he  had  been,  however,  again  arrested,  byl 
order  of  the  general,  together  with  an  officer  of  the  court,  who  had  aidedj 
professionally  in  procuring  his  release.  The  general  had,  in  his  return  toj 
a  subsequent  writ,  issued  on  his  behalf,  referred  the  court  to  a  retumj 
made  by  him  to  a  former  writ  of  the  superior  court,  and  in  the  further  return 
which  he  had  been  ordered  to  make,  he  had  declared  that  neither  of  thd 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


341 


led  writs  of 

I)  \Vi)rkmi\n, 
18  appUcuUle 
».  On  this, 
lake  a  furtlior 
11  attachment 

» observations 
force  of  arnw. 
roduced  great 
,,  unless  such 
rnment  would 
r  which  he  had 
id,  and  to  call 
)le.    He  stated 
il  power,  when 
governor  might 
tal.    He  added, 
and  lieutenant 
[  any  resistance 
tfht  be  relied  on. 
I  and  Mathews; 

n  to  the  writ  of 

Boners  was  in  his 

for    process  ot 


prisoners  was  in  his  p(  /er,  possession  or  custody ;  but  he  had  not  averred 
what  was  requisite,  in  order  to  exempt  him  from  the  penalty  of  a  contempt 
of  court,  that  these  persons  were  not  in  his  nower,  possession  or  custody, 
at  the  time  when  the  writs  were  served,  ana,  in  consequence  of  the  defi- 
ciency, the  court  had  been  moved  for  an  attachment. 

The  judge  remarked,  that  although  a  common  case  would  not  roqjuiro 
the  st«'p  he  wos  taking,  yet,  he  deemed  it  his  duty,  before  any  decisive 
measure  was  pursued  against  a  man,  who  had  all  the  regular  force,  and 
in  pursuance  of  the  governor's  public  orders,  a  great  part  of  that  «»f  the 
territory  at  his  disposal,  to  ask  whether  the  executive  nad  the  ahility  to 
enforce  the  decrees  of  the  court  of  the  county,  and  if  he  had,  whether  ho 
would  deem  it  expedient  to  do  it,  in  the  present  instance,  or  whether  the 
allegation  by  which  he  supported  these  violent  measures,  was  well  founded? 
Not  only  the  conduct  and  power  of  Wilkinson,  said  the  judge,  but 
various  other  circumstances,  peculiar  to  our  present  situation,  the  alarm 
excited  in  the  public  mind,  tne  description  and  character  of  a  large  part 
of  the  population  of  the  country,  might  render  it  dangerous,  in  the  hignest 
degree,  to  adoj)t  the  measure  usual  in  ordinary  cases,  of  calling  to  the  aid 
of  the  sheriff,  the  muse  coniitnhix,  unless  it  were  done  with  the  assurance 
of  being  supported  by  the  governor  in  an  efficient  manner. 

The  letter  concluded  by  requesting  a  precise  and  speedy  answer  to  the 
preceding  inquiries,  and  an  assurance  that,  if  certam  of  the  governor's 
support,  the  judge  should  forthwith  punish,  as  the  law  directs  the 
contempt  offered  to  his  court ;  on  the  other  hand,  should  the  governor  not 
think  it  practicable  or  proper  to  afford  his  aid,  the  court  and  its  officers 
would  no  longer  remain  exposed  to  the  contempt  or  insults  of  a  man, 
whom  they  were  unable  to  punish  or  resist. 

The  legislature  met  on  the  twelfth  of  January.  Two  days  after,  general 
Adair  arrived  in  the  city,  from  Tennessee,  and  reported  he  had  left  Burr 
at  Nashville,  on  the  twenty-second  of  December,  with  two  flatboats, 
destined  for  New  Orleans.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  day  of  Adair's  arrival, 
the  hotel  at  which  he  had  stopped  was  invested  by  one  hundred  and 
twenty  men,  .under  lieutenant-colonel  Kingsbury,  accompanied  by  one 
of  Wilkinson's  aids.  Adair  was  dragged  from  the  dining  table  and 
conducted  to  headquarters,  where  he  was  put  in  confinement.  They  beat 
to  arms  through  the  streets,  the  battalion  of  the  volunteers  of  Orleans,  and 
a  part  of  the  regular  troops,  paraded  through  the  city,  and  Workman, 
Kerr  and  Bradford  were  arrested  and  confined.  Wilkinson  ordered  the 
latter  to  be  released,  and  the  two  former  were  liberated  on  the  following 
day,  on  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus,  issued  by  the  district  Judge  of  the 
United  States.  Adair  was  secreted  until  an  opportunity  offered  to  ship 
him  away. 

Accounts  arrived  a  few  days  after,  that  Burr  was  at  Bayou  Pierre,  a 
little  above  the  city  of  Natchez,  with  fourteen  boats.  He  had  been  joined, 
at  the  mouth  of  Cumberland  river,  by  a  dozen  boats,  that  had  descended 
the  Ohio ;  there  were  from  eighty  to  one  hundred  men  with  him,  and  he 
had  about  forty  stands  of  arms. 

Claiborne  made  an  ineffectual  attempt  to  induce  the  legislature  to  pass 

an  act  for  the    uspension  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus.    The  draft  of  a 

memorial  to  be  presented  to  congress  by  the  territorial  legislature,  was 

I'  introduced  in  its  lower  house ;  the  object  of  it  was  to  place  the  conduct 

of  Wilkinson  in  its  true  light  before  the  national  council.    After  an 


•1, 


.  ji 


842 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


nnimntod  dchato,  which  hinted  during  several  dnys,  the  ineinoriul  wim 
rejected  by  a  nmjority  of  neven  out  of  twenty-one  members. 

On  tlie  twenty-eighth,  ndvices  were  received  from  Nntchoz,  that  on  the 
fifteenth,  Chuborne,  cohtnel  of  the  militia  of  the  MiHsissippi  territory,  Imd 
marched  at  the  head  of  a  large  detachment  towards  the  part  of  the  river  ut 
which  Burr  had  stopped ;  that  Burr  had  written  to  the  secretary  (»f  the 
territory,  who  exercised  the  functions  of  governor,  that  he  was  icadv  to 
Burrenifer  himself  to  the  civil  authority ;  that  the  secretary  ha<l  met  lilni, 
and  they  had  rode  together  to  Natchez,  where  Burr  gave  bond  for  his  appear- 
ance before  the  territorial  court  at  its  next  term.  Ho,  however,  left  the 
territory,  and  the  governor  issued  a  proclamation,  oflering  a  reward 
of  two  tnousand  dollars  for  his  apprehension. 

In  the  latter  part  of  that  month.  Burling,  who  had  been  sent  by 
Wilkinson  to  Mexico,  had  returned.  The  viceroy  had  not  been  the  dupe 
of  Wilkinson's  ru»e,  and  gave  a  very  cold  reception  to  his  messenger,  who 
was  strictly  watched,  and  permitted  to  stay  but  a  short  time  in  tne 
country. 

Lieutenant  Swann,  who  had  been  sent  to  Jamaica,  came  back  about  the 
same  time.  Admiral  Drake  observed  to  Wilkinson,  that  from  the  style 
and  manner  in  which  the  communication  he  had  received  was  written,  he 
was  at  a  loss  how  to  answer  it ;  but  he  begged  him  to  be  assured  that 
British  ships  of  war  would  never  be  employed  in  any  improper  service, 
and  that  he  should  ever  be  ready  most  cnccrfully  to  obey  the  orders  of 
his  sovereign.  Sir  Eyre  Coote  trusted  and  sincerely  believed  that  the 
representation  made  to  Wilkinson  was  totally  groundless,  as  his  letter 
contained  the  only  intelligence  received  on  the  subject. 

Workman  resigned  his  office,  finding  that  Claiborne  paid  no  attention 
to  his  communications. 

Towards  the  middle  of  March,  Burr  was  arrested  near  Fort  Stoddart, 
and  placed  under  a  strong  guard,  by  whom  he  was  conveyed  to  Richmond, 
in  Virginia,  where  he  was  admittea  to  bail. 

Lieutenant  Wilkinson,  who  had  accompanied  Pike  up  the  Missouri, 
now  reached  New  Orleans.  In  his  report,  dated  the  sixt^j  of  April,  he 
stated  that  the  Osage  Indians  had  been  left  in  their  village,  about  the 
fifteenth  of  August ;  after  which.  Pike's  party  traced  the  Osage  river  to 
its  source,  and  reached  the  towns  of  the  Pawnees,  on  the  twenty-fifth  of 
September.  These  Indians  had  lately  been  visited  by  a  body  of  armed 
Spaniards,  from  Santa  Fe.  The  flag  of  Spain  was  waving  over  their 
council  room.  Pike  induced  them  to  substitute  that  of  the  United  States 
for  it.  Proceeding  thence,  westward,  the  party  came  to  the  Arkansas  river, 
on  the  fifteenth  of  October.  After  a  short  nalt,  the  lieutenant  was  detached, 
Vith  five  men,  down  the  stream,  to  explore  the  country,  and  float  down 
to  the  Mississippi.  Pike  and  the  rest  of  the  party,  set  out  for  the  source  of 
Red  river. 

The  legislature  adjourned  towards  the  end  of  April,  after  having  passed 
several  very  important  acts.  The  country  courts  were  abolished ;  a  court 
was  established  in  each  parish,  the  judge  of  which  was  ex-officio  judge  of 
probates,  and  acted  as  clerk,  sheriff"  and  notary,  It  having  been  found, 
that  annual  sessions  of  the  superior  court,  out  of  New  Orleans,  were 
inconvenient,  semi-annual  ones  were  directed  to  be  holden  at  Lafourche, 
Pointe  Coupee,  Alexandria,  Opelousas  and  Attakapas.  The  number  of 
members  oi  the  house  of  representatives  was  fixed  at  twenty-five :  six  of 


IIIRTOUY  OF  LOriSIANA. 


343 


einorial  wax 

that  on  tlK' 
orritory,  had 
if  the  rivor  at 
ri'tary  i»f  the 
was  rinulv  to 
lunl  iiH't  inin, 
for  his  a\»\u'ar- 
vever,  loft  tho 
ring  a  reward 

l»een  sent  by 
been  the  dune 
nessenner,  \vl»o 
ft  time  in  tiic 

I  back  about  the 
from  t\\e  style 
waH  written,  he 
be  awsurcd  that 
nproper  aerviee, 
f  the  ortlers  of 
,elieved  that  the 
,88,  as  his  letter 


up  the  Missouri, 
xtl>  of  April,  he 
illage,  about  the 
le  Osage  river  to 
twenty-fifth  ol 
-I  body  'of  armed 
aving  over  their 
the  United  States 
16  Arkansas  river, 
ant  was  detached. 
and  float  down 
for  the  source  of 


these  were  to  retm'sent  the  countv  of  OrleanH ;  the  counties  of  rrerniun 
('(»ast,  Aoadie,  Lafourche,  lU'rvilfe,  I'ointe  Couj)ee,  Hnpidos,  OpclouHas 
and  Attakapns,  were  to  Hend  two  members  ea(d) ;  and  one  was  to  come 
frctin  each  of  those  of  C*oncordia,  Wushita  and  NutehitocheH.  The  territory 
was  dividoil  into  ninctetni  parishes. 

WilkiuHon  sailed  to  Vir(|(inia,  towards  the  middle  of  May,  fur  the  purpose 
of  attending  Hurr's  trial,  in  Uiehmond. 

On  the  flrst  of  July,  Pike  reached  Natchitoches,  We  have  seen  that  he 
had  sent  a  small  detachment  from  his  party  down  the  Arkannas  river  in 
October.  From  thence  he  had  travelled  westwardly,  and  rambled 
throughout  the  Rocky  mountains,  till  the  beginning  of  the  new  year, 
when  he  reached  a  branch  of  thb  Rio  del  Norte,  which  he  miHtook  for  one 
of  those  of  Red  river.  He  was  overtaken  by  two  Hpanish  officers  and  one 
hundn'd  men,  sent  by  don  Joachim  Allencaster,  who  commanded  at  Hanta 
Fe.  The  ofiicers,  at  the  head  of  the  Spanish  party,  were  sent  to  escort 
i'ike  and  his  party  to  that  city,  from  whence,  ho  was  informed  they  would 
he  conducted,  by  the  most  direct  route  to  the  navigable  waters  of  Red  river 
which  they  would  descend  to  Natchitoches.  Although  dubious  of  the 
sincerity  of  this  invitation,  and  believing  ho  was  in  a  situation  to  defend 
himself!  as  long  as  his  provisions  lasted,  or  till  an  opportunity  otfered  of 
escaping  by  ni^ht;  yet,  mindful  of  the  {laciflc  disposition  of  the 
government  of  t'  e  United  States,  and  of  his  instructions  in  case  he 
reeonnoitered  a  party  of  Spanish  troops,  he  determined  on  complying 
with  don  Joachim's  request. 

On  his  arrival  at  Santa  Fe,  he  was  informed  that  don  Nemesio  de 
Salcedo,  the  captain-general  of  the  interior  provinces  had  given  orders 
that  he  should  be  sent  with  his  men  to  the  city  of  Chihuahua,  in  the 
province  of  Biscay,  the  residence  of  the  captain-general.  He,  accordingly, 
left  Santa  Fe,  on  the  second  day  after  his  arrival,  and  reached  Chihauhua 
on  the  twentieth  of  April. 

Here,  he  was  compelled  to  open  his  trunk,  in  presence  of  don  Nemesio 
and  an  Irishman,  in  the  service  of  Spain.  All  his  official  papers,  his 
correspondence  with  Wilkinson,  his  diary,  the  notes  he  had  taken  on  the 
geologv,  topography  and  climate  of  the  country,  and  the  Indian  tribes  he 
had  visited,  were  seized  and  detained.  He  was  supplied  with  money, 
guides  and  an  escort,  and  set  off  for  Natchitoches,  three  days  after  his 
arrival  at  Chihuahua. 

In  a  letter,  which  Salcedo  gave  him  for  Wilkinson,  he  observed  that 
the  latter  could  not  be  ignorant  of  the  repeated  representations  made  by 
the  Spanish  minister  at  Philadelphia,  and  by  the  marquis  de  Casa-Calvo, 
while  he  was  in  Louisiana,  warning  the  government  of^  the  United  States, 
from  extending  its  expeditions  into  territories  unequivocally  belonging  to 
the  Cathcdic  king.  He  added  that  the  papers  taken  from  JPike,  afforded 
evident  and  incontestible  proof  of  his  being  guilty  of  a  direct  violation  of 
the  territorial  rights  of  the  crown  of  Spain,  which  would  have  iustified 
his  detention,  and  that  of  every  individual  accompanying  him,  as 
prisoners ;  but  a  desire  to  give  the  utmost  latitude  to  the  system  of 
narmony  and  good  understanding,  subsisting  between  the  two  govern- 
ments, and  a  hope  that  such  measures  would  be  taken  by  the  officers  of 
the  United  States,  as  would  prevent  any  ill  consequences  resulting  from 
the  moderation  of  those  of  Spain,  had  induced  him  to  detain,  in  the 
archives  of  the  captainship-general,  all  the  papers  Pike  had  presented, 
sndnftrmit  him  nnd  his  nartv  to  return  home. 


^1   n 


''m 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

A  MOTION  being  made  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  December,  1807,  in  the 
house  of  representatives  of  the  United  States,  that  the  President  be 
requested  to  mstitute  an  inquiry  into  the  conduct  of  Wilkinson,  who  was 
suspected  of  being  a  pensioner  of  Spain,  he,  on  the  second  of  January, 
made  application  for  a  court  of  inquiry,  and  one  was  accordingly  ordered 
to  assemble. 

A  short  time  after,  Clark,  the  delegate  of  the  territory  of  Orleans,  deliv- 
ered to  the  house,  under  the  sanction  of  his  oath,  a  statement  of  several 
transactions,  which  had  come  to  his  knowledge,  within  .  le  jireceding 
twenty  years,  strongly  implicating  Wilkinson's  conduct,  as  a  pensioner  of 
Spain  and  an  accomplice  of  Burr. 

The  second  territorial  legislature  began  its  second  session,  on  the  eighth 
of  January.  The  professional  gentlemen,  who  had  been  appointed  in 
1805,  to  prepare  a  civil  and  criminal  code,  Moreau  Lislet  and  Brown, 
reported  "  a  digest  of  the  civil  laws  now  in  force  in  the  territory  of  Orleans, 
with  alterations  and  amendments  adapted  to  the  present  form  of  govern- 
ment." Although  the  Napoleon  code  was  promulgated  in  1804,  no  copy 
of  it  had  as  yet  reached  New  Orleans :  and  the  gentlemen  availed  them- 
selves of  the  project  of  that  work,  the  arrangement  of  which  they  adopted, 
and  mutatis  mutandis,  literally  transcribed  a  considerable  portion  of  it. 
Their  conduct  was  certainly  praiseworthy ;  for,  although  the  project  is 
necessarily  much  more  imperfect  than  tne  code,  it  was  far  superior  to 
anything,  that  any  two  individuals  could  have  produced,  early  enough,  to 
answer  the  expectation  of  those  who  employed  them.  Their  labor  would 
have  been  much  more  beneficial  to  the  people,  than  it  has  proved,  if  the 
legislature  to  whom  it  was  submitted,  had  given  it  their  sanction  as  a 
system,  intended  to  stand  by  itself,  and  be  construed  by  its  own  context, 
by  repealing  all  former  laws  on  matters  acted  upon  in  this  digest. 

Anterior  laws  were  repealed,  so  far  only,  as  they  were  contrary  to,  or 
irreconcilable  with  any  of  the  provisions  of  the  new.  This  would  have 
been  the  case,  if  it  had  not  been  expressed. 

In  practice,  the  work  was  used,  as  an  incomplete  digest  of  existing 
statutes,  which  still  retained  their  empire;  and  their  exceptions  and 
m  idifications  were  held  to  affect  several  clauses  by  which  former  principles 
were  absolutely  stated.  Thus,  the  people  found  a  decoy,  in  what  was  held 
out  as  a  beacon. 

The  Fuero  Viejo,  Fuero  Juezgo,  Partidas,  Recopilationes,  Leyes  de  las 
Indias,  Autos  Accordados  and  Royal  schedules  remained  parts  of  the 
written  law  of  the  territory,  when  not  repealed  expressly  or  by  a  necessary'] 
implication. 

Of  these  musty  laws  the  copies  were  extremely  rare ;  a  complete  collec- 
tion of  them  was  in  the  hands  of  no  one,  and  of  very  many  of  them,  not  a 
single  copy  existed  in  the  province. 

To  explain  them,  Spanish  commentators  were  consulted  and  the  corpus 
juris  civih's  and  its  own  commentators  were  resorted  to ;  and  to  eke  out 
any  deficiency,  the  lawyers  who  came  from  France  or  Hispaniola  read 
Pothier,  d'Agucsseau,  Dumoulin,  etc.  j 

Courts  of  justice  were  furnished  with  interpreters,  of  the  French,  Spanish 
and   English  languages;   these  translated  the  evidence  and  the  charge 


HISTORY  OF  IX)U1SIANA. 


545 


1807,  in  the 
Presidcat  be 
ion,  who  was 
of  January, 
ingly  ordered 

)rleans,  deliv- 
ent  of  several 
.  10  preceding 
a  pensioner  of 

,  on  the  eighth 
a.  appointed  m 
et  and  Brown, 
tory  of  Orleans, 
form  of  govern- 
n  1804,  no  copy 
^  availed  them- 
3h  they  adopted, 
le  portion  of  it. 
h  the  project  is 
3  far  superior  to 
,  early  enough,to 
^heir  labor  \yould 
tas  proved,  if  the 
leir  sanction  as  a 
its  own  context, 
lis  digest, 
•e  contrary  to,  or 
'  'his  would  have 

tlieest  of  existing 
t  exceptions  and 
[former  principles 
*,  in  what  was  held 

Ls,  Leyes  de  las 
lined  parts  of  he 
■  or  by  a  necessary  1 

la  complete  coUec- 
\ny  of  them,  not  a 

Jtedandthecor^ 
fotandtoekeou 

■   Hispaniolarea'l 

^e  French,  Spanish 
te  and  the  charge 


of  the  court,  when  necessary,  but  not  the  arguments  of  the  counsel.  The 
case  was  often  opened  in  the  English  language,  and  then  the  jurymen, 
wlio  did  not  understand  the  counsel,  were  indulged  with  leave  to  withdraw 
from  the  box  into  the  gallery.  The  defense,  being  in  French,  they  were 
recalled  and  the  indulgence  shown  to  them  was  enjoyed  by  their 
companions,  who  were  strangers  to  that  language.  All  went  together  into 
the  jury  room;  each  contending  the  argument  he  had  listened  to  was 
conclusive,  and  they  finally  agreed  on  a  verdict,  in  the  best  manner  they 
could. 

Among  the  most  useful  acts  that  were  passed,  at  this  session,  was  one 
for  the  establishment  of  a  school  in  each  parish. 

The  court  of  inquiry  on  Wilkinson's  conduct  did  not  terminate  its 
investigation,  till  the  month  of  June;  its  report  was  in  favcrof  the  general, 
and  was  approved  of  by  the  President  of  the  United  States. 

In  the  fall,  the  foreign  relations  of  the  union  assumed  an  aspect  which 
produced  a  general  impression  that  a  rupture  with  Great  Britain  was 
neither  improbable  nor  distant,  and  the  executive  received  information 
that  the  disposable  force  at  Halifax,  was  held  in  readiness  to  serve  in  the 
West  Indies,  or  take  possession  of  New  Orleans,  (should  the  forces  of  the 
United  States  move  northerly)  and  keep  that  city  as  an  equivalent  for 
what  might  be  lost  in  Canada. 

Accordingly,  on  the  second  of  November,  the  secretary  of  war  directed 
Wilkinson  to  take  measures,  without  delay,  for  assembling  at  New 
Orleans  and  its  vicinity,  as  large  a  portion  of  the  regular  troops  as  circum- 
stances would  allow.  The  third,  fifth  and  seventh  regiments,  with  a 
battalion,  composed  of  four  comi)anies  of  the  sixth  and  the  companies  of 
light  dragoons,  light  artillery  and  riflemen,  raised  in  the  states  south  of 
New  Jersey,  were  destined  to  the  service,  and  the  general  was  instructed 
to  make  arrangements  for  reaching  New  Orleans  in  order  to  take  the 
command  of  the  forces  in  that  department,  as  soon  as  possible,  and  to 
make  such  a  disposition  of  them  as  would  most  effectually  enable  him  to 
defend  the  country  against  an  invading  foe.  He  was  authorized,  in  case 
of  necessity,  to  call  on  the  executives  of  the  territories  of  Orleans  and 
Mississippi,  for  such  parts  of  their  militia  as  might  be  wanted. 

He  embarked  at  Baltimore  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  January,  1809,  and 
touched  at  Annapolis,  Norfolk  and  Charleston  to  accelerate  the  motions 
of  the  troops  in  those  places,  and  sailed  to  Havana,  on  a  special  mission 
to  the  captain-general  of  the  island  of  Cuba. 

On  the  ninth  of  February,  congress  passed  an  act  authorizing  the 
President  of  the  United  States  to  cause  the  canal  Carondelet  t(i  be 
extended  to  the  Mississippi  and  deepened  throughout,  so  as  to  admit  of 
an  early  and  safe  passage  to  gunboats  from  the  river  to  the  lake,  if,  on  a 
survey,  he  should  be  convinced  that  this  was  practicable  and  would 
conduce  to  the  defense  of  New  Orleans,  and  an  appropriation  of  twenty- 
five  thousand  dollars  was  made  therefor. 

On  the  fourth  of  March,  James  Madison  succeeded  Jefferson  in  the 
presidency  of  the  United  States. 
Wilkinson,  on  his  return  from  Havana,  stopped  at  Pensacola,  and 
reached  New  Orleans  on  the  nineteenth  of  April. 
Tile  force  which  he  found  in  that  city  was  a  little  less  than  two  thousand 
men,  and  one  third  of  u  was  on  tKe  sick  list.  He  spent  some  time  in 
reconnoitring  the  country  around,  in  search  of  a  spot  from  which  the 


346 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


|{! 


troops  might  readily  be  brought  into  action,  in  case  of  an  attack,  and  in 
which  they  might,  m  the  meanwhile,  enioy  as  much  health  and  comfort 
as  the  climate  would  allow ;  his  choice  fell  on  an  elevated  piece  of  ground 
on  the  left  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  about  eight  miles  below  the  city,  near 
the  point  at  which  the  road  leaain^  to  the  settlements  of  Terre-aux-Boeufs 
leaves  that  which  runs  along  the  river. 

Between  the  nineteenth  of  May  and  the  eighteenth  of  July  of  this  year, 
thirty-four  vessels  from  the  island  of  Cuba,  with  5,797  individuals,  of 
whom  1,828  were  white,  1,978  free  blacks  or  colored  peron8,,^nd  1,991 
slaves.  These  people  had  sought  a  refuge  in  that  island,  on  the  insur- 
rection of  the  blacks  in  Hispaniola. 

A  large  detachment  was  sent  to  Terre-aux-Boeufs  to  make  the  necessary 
preparations  and  the  rest  of  the  troops  gradually  followed ;  on  the 
thirteenth,  seven  hundred  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  had 
assembled. 

They  had  hardly  been  three  weeks  encamped,  when  the  most  peremptory 
order  from  the  department  of  war,  of  the  twenty-fourth  of  October,  was 
received  by  Wilkinson,  directing  him  immediately  to  embark  his  whole 
force,  leaving  only  sufficient  garrisons  of  old  troops  at  New  Orleans  and 
Fort  St.  Philip,  and  proceed  to  the  high  grounds  on  the  rear  of  Fort  Adams 
and  Natchez,  and  by  an  equal  division  of  his  men  form  an  encampment 
at  each  place. 

A  difficulty  in  procuring  boats,  and  other  circumstances,  did  not  allow 
the  troops  to  begin  ascending  the  river,  before  the  fifteenth  of  September ; 
their  progress  lasted  forty-seven  days ;  during  which,  out  of  nine  hundred 
and  tnirty-five  men,  who  embarked,  six  hundred  and  thirty-eight  were 
sick,  and  two  hundred  and  forty  died. 

Although  the  report  of  the  court  of  inc^uiry,  in  the  preceding  year,  had 
been  favorable  to  Wilkinson,  the  general  impression,  tnat  he  had  received 
large  sums  of  money  from  the  Spanish  government  in  Louisiana  to  favor 
its  views  in  detaching  the  western  people  from  the  Atlantic  states,  was 
not  absolutely  effaced.  Clark  had  published  a  statement  of  different 
transactions,  in  which  Wilkinson  had  been  concerned,  during  the 
preceding  years,  and  had  annexed  to  it  copies  of  a  number  of  authentic 
documents,  from  which  he  concluded  the  proof  was  irresistible,  that  the 
general  had  been  a  pensioner  of  Spain  ana  an  accomplice  of  Burr,  whom 
he  had  betrayed,  when  he  found  his  plans  could  not  succeed.  Clark's 
publication  excited  suspicion  in  many  and  caused  conviction  in  some. 
The  disasters,  attending  the  forces  sent  to  the  Mississippi,  were  attributed 
by  Wilkinson's  enemies  to  his  misconduct  and  the  clamor  against  him 
became  so.  general,  that  it  was  thought  proper  to  call  him  to  the  seat  of 
government.  Wade  Hampton,  who  was  sent  to  supersede  him,  assumed 
the  command  of  the  troops  on  the  nineteenth  of  December. 

The  total  number  of  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates,  during  the 
last  ten  months  of  this  year,  never  exceeded  nineteen  hundred  and  fifty- 
three.  Out  of  it,  seven  hundred  and  sixty-four  died  and  one  hundred  and 
sixty-six  deserted.  So  that  the  total  loss  was  nine  hundred  and  thirty, 
almost  one  half  of  the  whole.  The  greatest  sickness  was  in  the  month  of 
August,  when  five  hundred  and  sixty-three  men  were  on  the  sick  list. 

The  third  territorial  legislature  held  its  first  session  on  the  ninth  of 
February,  and  adjourned  late  in  March,  without  having  passed  any 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


347 


ick,  and  in 
nd  comfort 
e  of  ground 
le  city,  near 
!-aux-Boeufs 

of  this  year, 
Uviduals,  of 
i8,^nd  1,991 
on  the  insur- 

bhe  necessary 

wed;   on  the 

privates  had 

,8t  peremptory 
f  October,  was 
,ark  hia  whole 
w  Orleans  and 
of  Fort  Adams 
,n  encampment 

g  did  not  allow 
:\ 'of  September; 
of  nine  hundred 
hirty-eight  were 

jeding  year,  had 

he  had  received 

puisiana  to  favor 

[antic  states,  was 

lent  of  different 

ned,  during  the 

Iber  of  authentic 

Isistible,  that  the 

e  of  Burr,  whom 

Succeed.    Clark  s 

Uiction  in  some. 

K  were  attributed 

Imor  against  him 

lim  to  the  seat  ot 

Jde  him,  assumed 

[fv'ates,  during  the 
andred  and  fifty- 
one  hundred  and 
idred  and  thirty, 
in  the  month  ot 
the  sick  list. 
on  the  ninth  ot 
iving  passed  any 


very  important  public  act.  By  one  of  its  resolutions,  however,  twenty 
thousand  dollars  were  appropriated  to  the  establishment  of  a  college. 

Early  in  May,  Claiborne  having  obtained  leave  of  absence,  lef*  the 
territory  on  a  visit  to  the  eastern  states — and  the  executive  functions 
devolved  on  the  secretary,  Thomas  B.  Robertson. 

In  the  summer,  a  number  of  citizens  of  the  United  States,  who  had 
removed  to  the  neighborhood  of  Bayou  Sara,  joined  by  others  from  the 
Mississippi  territory,  took  up  arms,  embodied  themselves  and  marched  to 
the  fort  of  Baton  Rouge.  Delassus,  who  commanded  it,  having  but  a 
handful  of  men,  was  unable  to  prevent  their  taking  it.  The  people  of  the 
district  sent  delegates  to  a  convention,  that  met  at  St.  Francisville,  declared 
their  independence  and  framed  a  constitution.  Fulwar  Skipwith  was 
appointed  governor  of  the  new  state. 

By  a  census  taken  this  year,  by  the  marshal  of  the  United  States,  under 
an  act  of  congress,  it  appears  that  the  population  of  the  territory  was  as 
follows : 

City  and  suburbs  of  New  Orleans, 

Precinct  of  New  Orleans, 

Plaquemines, 

St.  Bernard, 

St.  Charles,     . 

St.  John  Baptist, 

St.  James, 

Ascension, 

Assumption,  . 

Lafourche,    . 

Iberville, 

Baton  Rouge, 

Pointe  Coupee, 

Concordia,    .        , 

Ouachita, 

Rapides,   . 

Catahoula, 

Avoyelles, 

Natchitoches, 

Opelousas,    . 

Attakapas, 

76,556 

On  receiving  information  that  the  garrison  of  the  fort  at  Baton  Rouge 
had  been  driven  out,  the  President  of  the  United  States  issued  a  procla- 
mation, on  the  16th  of  October,  setting  forth  that  the  territory  south  of 
the  31st  degree  of  northern  latitude,  east  on  the  Mississippi,  as  far  as  Rio 
Perdido,  of  which  possession  had  not  yet  been  delivered  to  the  United 
States,  had  ever  been  considered  and  claimed  by  them  as  part  of  the 
country  they  had  acquired  by  the  treaty  of  the  30th  April,  1803,  and  their 
acquiescence  in  its  temporary  continuation  under  the  authorities  of 
Spain,  was  not  the  result  of  any  distrust  of  their  title,  as  had  been 
particularly  evinced  by  the  general  tenor  of  their  laws,  but  was  occasioned 
oy  their  conciliatory  views,  a  confidence  in  the  justice  of  their  cause,  and 
tne  result  of  candid  discussion  and  amicable  negotiations  with  a  friendly 


17,242) 
7,310i 

24,552 

1,549 

1,020 

3,291 

2,990 

3,955 

2,219 

2,472 

1,995 

2,679 

1,463 

4,539 

2,895 

.     1,077 

2,200 

.      1,164 

1,209 

.     2,870 

5,048 

I 

.     7,369 

1 

m 

1 

^  'IIHH 

::.^'igm[ 

SImM 

H^H 

inHI 

IB 

311 

B 

'$ 

Hii 

1 

f** 


,Km 


m 


348 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


power ;  that  a  satisfactory  adiustmcnt  of  existing  differences,  too  lon<» 
di'liiycd,  without  the  fault  of  tne  United  States,  had  been  for  some  time' 
entirely  suspended,  by  events  over  which  they  had  no  control ;  and  a  crisis 
Avas  now  arrived,  subversive  of  the  order  of  things  under  the  authority  of 
Spain,  whereby  a  failure  of  on  the  part  of  the  United  States,  to  take  the 
country  into  their  possession,  might  lead  to  events  ultimately  contravening 
the  views  of  both  parties ;  while  in  the  meantime  the  security  and  tran- 
quillity of  their  adjoining  territories  were  endangered,  and  new  facilities 
given  to  the  violation  of  their  revenue  and  commercial  laws,  and  of  those 
for  the  prohibition  of  the  importation  of  slaves  ;  the  failure  might  farther 
be  considered  as  a  dereliction  of  their  title,  and  an  insensibility  to  the 
importance  of  the  stake. 

It  was  urged,  that  the  acts  of  congress,  although  comtemplating  a 
present  possession  by  a  foreign  prince,  had  also  had  in  view  an  eventual 
one  by  the  United  Stat  js,  and  had  accordingly  been  so  framed,  as  in  that 
case  to  extend  their  operations  thereto. 

The  President  concluded  by  announcing  that  under  these  weighty  and 
urgent  considerations,  he  had  deemed  it  right  and  requisite,  that  possession 
should  be  immediately  taken  of  the  said  territorv,  in  the  name  and  behalf 
of  the  United  States.  The  governor  of  the  territory  of  New  Orleans  was 
accordingly  directed  to  carry  the  views  of  the  United  States  into  complete 
execution,  and  to  exercise  over  that  part  of  the  territory  the  authority  and 
functions,  legally  appertaining  to  his  office ;  the  people  were  charged  to 
pay  due  regard  to  him  in  his  official  character,  to  be  obedient  to  the  laws, 
to  cherish  harmony  and  demean  themselves  as  ])eaceful  citizens,  under 
assurance  of  protection  in  the  enjoyment  of  liberty,  property  and  the 
religion  they  profess. 

Claiborne,  on  his  return  from  the  United  States,  stopped  at  Natchez, 
where  governor  Holmes  furnished  him  with  a  detachment  of  the  militia  of 
the  Mississippi  territory,  which  was  joined  by  a  volunteer  troop  of 
horse,  from  the  neighborhood.  They  marched  to  St.  Francisvillo,  the 
first  town  below  the  line  of  demarcation,  where,  on  the  7th  of  December, 
without  any  opposition,  he  hoisted  the  flag  of  the  United  States,  in  token 
of  his  having  taken  possession  of  the  eduntry,  in  their  name  and  behalf, 
the  inhabitants  cheerfully  submitting  to  his  authority.  He  announced 
this  event  by  a  proclamation,  and  by  subsequent  ones  established,  in  this 
new  part  o^  the  territory  of  Orleans,  the  parishes  of  Feliciana,  East 
Baton  Rouge,  St.  Helena,  St.  Tammany,  Biloxi  and  Pascagoula. 

No  attempt  was  made  to  occupy  the  town  of  Mobile,  nor  any  part  of  the 
country  around  it,  and  the  Spanish  garrison  of  Fort  Charlotte  was  left 
undisturbed ;   Claiborne  havnig  been  especially  instructed  not  to  take 

Eossession,  by  force,  of  any  post  in  which  the  Spaniards  had  a  garrison, 
owever  small  it  might  be. 

We  have  seen  that  in  the  latter  part  of  the  preceding  year,  Wilkinson 
had  been  ordered  to  the  seat  of  government :  he  reached  it  towards  the 
middle  of  April.  There  were  then  two  committees  of  the  house  of  repre- 
sentatives, charged  with  enquiries  on  matters  that  concerned  him,  viz: 
the  cause  of  the  great  mortality  among  the  troops  on  the  Mississippi, 
during  the  preceding  year;  his  public  life,  conduct  and  character:  and 
while  the  attention  of  the  house  was  thus  arrested  on  the  general,  the 
executive  deemed  it  proper  to  suspend  any  proceeding  in  regard  to  him. 
Congress  adjourned,  without  either  of  the  committees  making  a  report. 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


349 


8,  too  long 

some  time, 
and  a  crisis 
luthority  of 

to  take  the 
ontravening 
ty  and  ttan- 
lew  facilities 
and  of  those 
night  farther 
ibility  to  the 

itemplating  a 
sv  an  eventual 
3d,  as  in  that 

e  weighty  and 
ihat  possession 
me  and  behalf 
XV  Orleans  was 
,  into  complete 
3  authority  and 
were  charged  to 
ent  to  the  laws, 
citizens,  under 
operty  and  the 

ped  at  Natchez, 
of  the  militia  of 
lunteer  troop  of 
Francisville,  the 
h  of  Decemher, 
'states,  in  token 
ame  and  l)ehall, 

He  announced 
,ahlished,inthis 

Feliciana,  t^ast 

lagoula. 

or  any  part  of  he 

harlotte  was  lett 
cted  not  to  take 
had  a  garrison, 

I  year,  Wilkinson 

Id  it  towards  the 

lie  house  of  repre- 

Lerned  him,  viz: 

i  the  Mississippi. 

Id  character:  imd 

■  the  general,  the 

I  in  regard  to  lunj. 

'  making  a  report. 


Soon  after  the  meeting  of  congress,  in  the  winter,  the  first  committee 
made  a  report,  which  did  not  implicate  Wilkinson's  conduct ;  the  other, 
without  an  expression  of  their  opinion,  submitted  to  the  house  the  whole 
evidence  before  them :  without  acting  on  it,  the  house  directed  it  to  be 
laid  before  the  President  of  the  United  States. 

(;lail>orne  came  to  New  Orleans  early  in  January,  to  meet  the  third 
territorial  legislature,  at  its  second  session ;  but  an  uncontrollable  event 
induced  him  to  prorogue  it  till  the  fourth  Monday  of  that  month* 

The  slaves  of  a  ])lantation,  in  the  parish  of  St.  John  the  Baptist,  on  the 

left  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  about  thirty-six  miles  above  New  Orleans, 

rcvolte<l  and  were  immediately  joined  by  those  of  several  neighboring 

idantations.     They  marched  along  the  river,  towards  the  city,  divided 

into  companies,  each  under  an  officer,  with  beat  of  drums   and   flags 

displayed,  compelling  the  blacks  they  met  to  fall  in  their  rear ;  and  before 

they  could  be  cliecked.  set  fire  to  the  houses  of  four  or  five  plantations. 

Their  exact  number  was  never  ascertained,  but  asserted  to  be  about  five 

hundred.    The  militia  of  the  parish  and  those  above  and  below,  were  soon 

under  arms  ;  major  Milton  came  down  from  Baton  Rouge,  with  the  regular 

force  under  his  orders,  and  general  Hampton,  who  was  then  in  the  city, 

iicadcd  those  in  Fort  St.  Charles  and  the  barracks.    The  blacks  were  soon 

surrounded  and  routed ;  sixty-six  of  them  were  cither  killed  during  the 

action,  or  hung  on  the  spot,  immediately  after.     Sixteen  were  sent  to  the 

city  for  trial,  and  a  number  fled  to  the  swamps,  where  they  could  not  be 

pursued  :  several  of  these  had  been  dangerouslj'  wounded,  and  t'le  corpses 

of  others  were  afterwards  discovered.     The  blacks  sent  to  New  Orleans, 

were  convicted  and  executed.    Their  heads  were  placed  on  high  poles, 

above  and  below  the  city,  and  along  the  river  as  far  as  the  plantation  on 

which  the  revolt  began,  and  on  those  on   which  they   had  committed 

devastation.     To    insure    tranquillity  and   quiet  alarm,   a  part  of  the 

regular  forces  and  the  militia  remained  on  duty,  in  the  neighborhood, 

(luring  a  considerable  time. 

The  general  assembly  made  provision  for  the  rej)resentation  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  new  part  of  the  territory  in  the  legislature.  They 
erected  two  new  judicial  districts,  viz  :  th(»se  of  Feliciana  and  Catahoula ; 
the  town  of  Vidalia,  in  the  parish  of  Concordia,  opposite  to  the  city  of 
Natchez,  was  established ;  a  charter  of  incorporation  was  granted  to  a 
number  of  individuals,  who  had  formed  themselves  into  companies,  for 
establishing  two  banks,  the  Planter's  bank  and  the  bank  of  Orleans ;  these 
institutions  appeared  to  be  called  for  by  the  expiration  of  the  charter  of 
the  bank  of  the  United  States.  The  first  had  a  capital  of  six  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  and  the  duration  of  its  charter  was  fifteen  years  ;  the 
capital  of  the  other  was  five  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  its  charter 
had  the  same  duration. 

An  act  was  passed,  granting  to  Livingston  and  Fulton,  the  sole  and 
exclusive  right  and  privilege  to  build,  construct,  make  use,  employ  and 
navi|:ate  boats,  vessels  and  water  crafts,  urged  or  })ropellcd  througn  the 
water  l)y  fire  or  steam,  in  all  the  creeks,  rivers,  bays  and  waters  what- 
soever, within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  territory,  during  eighteen  years  from 
the  first  of  January,  1812. 

Before  the  adjournment  of  the  legislature,  official  information  was 
received,  that  congress  had,  on  the  eleventh  of  February,  passed  an  act, 


'  ''i^m 


1 

■ 

1 

'  III 

»  lid 

T  '  iK 

is 

H 

1 1  >  ^ 

WM 

350 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


to  enable  the  people  of  the  territory  to  form  a  constitution  and  state 
government,  and  the  admission  of  such  state  in  the  union. 

Congress  had  not,  as  yet,  determined  that  the  part  of  the  ceded  territory 
of  which  possession  had  been  taken  a  few  months,  should  be  part  of  the 
new  state,  and  its  inhabitants  were  not  authorized  to  appoint  members 
of  the  convention,  for  framing  the  constitution. 

The  qualifications  of  the  electors  were  citizenship  of  the  United  States 
one  year's  residence  in  the  territor)^  and  having  paid  a  territorial,  county 
district  or  parish  tax ;  persons  having,  in  other  respects,  the  legal  qualifi' 
cations  for  voting  for  representatives  of  the  general  assembly  of  the 
territory,  were  also  authorized  to  vote. 

The  act  was  silent  as  to  any  qualifications,  with  regard  to  the  members 
of  the  convention ;  their  number  was  not  to  exceed  sixty ;  the  third 
Monday  of  September  was  named  for  their  election,  and  they  were  directed 
to  meet  on  the  first  Monday  in  November.  The  members  who  were  to 
compose  it  were  to  be  apportioned  among  the  counties,  districts  and 
parishes  by  the  legislature. 

The  election  was  to  be  held  at  the  same  place  and  conducted  in  the 
same  manner,  as  that  for  members  of  the  house  of  representatives. 

The  convention  was  to  assemble  in  the  city  of  New  Orleans. 

That  body  was  first  to  determine,  by  the  majority  of  the  whole  number 
elected,  whether  it  be  expedient  or  not,  at  that  time,  to  form  a  constitution 
or  state  government,  for  the  people  of  the  territory,  and  if  it  was 
determined  to  be  expedient,  was  to  declare,  in  the  same  manner,  in  behalf 
of  the  people,  that  it  adopted  the  constitution  of  the  United  States. 

Congress  required  that  the  constitution  to  be  formed,  should  be 
republican ;  consistent  with  the  constitution  of  the  United  States ;  contain 
the  fundamental  principles  of  civil  and  religious  liberty ;  secure  to  the 
citizens  the  right  of  trial  by  jury  in  criminal  cases,  and  that  of  the  writ 
of  habeas  i^orpiis,  conformably  to  the  provisions  of  the  constitution  of  the 
United  States ;  and  that  after  the  admission  of  the  new  state  into  the 
union,  the  laws  which  suit  a  state  may  pass  and  be  promulgated,  and  its 
records  of  every  description,  be  preserved,  and  its  legislative  and  judicial 
written  proceedings  be  conducted  in  the  language  in  which  the  laws,  the 
legislative  and  judicial  written  proceedings  were  then  published  and 
conducted. 

The  convention  was  further  required  to  provide,  by  an  ordinance  irrevo- 
cable, without  the  consent  of  the  United  States,  that  the  people  of  the 
territory  do  agree  and  declare  that  they  do  forever  disclaim  all  right  or 
title  to  the  waste  or  unappropriated  lands,  lying  within  the  territory,  and 
that  the  same  shall  be  and  remain  at  the  sole  and  absolute  disposition  of 
the  United  States ;  and,  moreover,  that  each  and  every  tract  of  land  sold 
by  congress,  shall  remain  exempt  from  anv  tax  laid  by  the  order,  or  under 
the  authority  of  the  state,  county,  township,  parish,  or  any  other  purpose 
whatever,  for  the  term  of  four  years  from  the  respective  days  of  the  sale 
thereof:  further,  that  the  lands  of  citizens  of  the  United  States,  residing 
without  the  state,  shall  never  be  taxed  higher  than  the  lands  belonging  to 
persons  residing  therein ;  and  no  tax  shall  ever  be  imposed  on  lands  | 
belonging  to  the  United  States. 

Congress  agreed  that  five  per  cent,  on  the  net  proceeds  of  the  sales  of 
the  public  lands  of  the  United  States,  should  be  applied  to  laying  out  j 


HISTOnV  OF  LOUISIANA. 


851 


)n  and  state 

dcd  territory, 
)C  v^art  of  the 
oint  members 

Jnitod  States, 
torial,  county, 
e  legal  qualifi- 
isemblyof  the 

0  the  members 
xty;  the  third 
jyweredireeted 
fs  who  were  to 
},  districts  and 

:)mlucted  in  the 
ntatives. 
leans. 

le  whole  number 
m  a  constitution 
and  if  it  was 
lanner,  in  behalf 
ited  States. 
med,  should  be 
d  States ;  contain 
ty ;  secure  to  the 

1  that  of  the  writ 
institution  of  the 
ew  state  into  the 
mulgated,  audits 
ative  and  judicial 
lich  the  laws,  the 
n  published  and 

i  ordinance  irrevo- 
[the  people  of  the 
fclaimall  right  or 
f the  territory,  and 
lute  disposition  ot 
I  tract  of  land  sold 
Ihe  order,  or  under 
Iny  other  purpose 
fe  davsof  thesale 

led  States,  residing 

lands  belonging  0 , 

[imposed  on  lands 

Ids  of  the  sales  of 
lied  to  laying  out 


and  constructing  public  roads?  and  levees,  in  the  state,  as  the  legislature 
may  direct. 

"f  he  act  linally  provided  that  if  the  constitution  or  form  of  government 
to  be  made,  was  not  disapproved  by  congress,  at  their  next  session  after 
they  received  it,  the  new  state  should  be  admitted  into  the  union,  upon 
the'same  footing  with  the  original  states. 

The  legislature  apportioned  the  number  of  members  of  the  convention 
among  the  parishes,  and  made  provision  for  the  expenses  attending  it,  and 
adjourned  m  the  latter  i>art  of  April. 

In  the  summer,  a  court  martial  was  ordered  for  the  trial  of  Wilkinson, 
to  meet  at  Frederickstown,  and,  on  the  11th  of  July,  he  was  furnished 
with  a  copy  of  the  charges  against  him.  He  was  accused  of  having 
corruptly  combined  with  the  government  of  Spain,  in  Louisiana,  for  the 
separation  of  the  western  people  from  the  Atlantic  states ;  of  having 
corruptly  received  large  sums  oi  money  from  Spain  ;  of  having  connived 
at  the  designs  of  Burr ;  of  having  been  an  accomplice  in  them ;  of  waste 
of  public  money  ;  and  finally,  of  disobedience  to  orders. 

m  the  month  of  November,  the  convention  assembled  at  New  Orleans. 
The  constitution  of  the  United  States  was  adopted ;  a  constitution  was 
formed,  and  received  the  signatures  of  all  the  members  of  the  convention 
on  the  22(1  of  January. 

The  preamble  of  tliis  document,  describes  the  limits  of  the  new  state, 
and  declares  the  erection  of  the  territory  into  a  state,  by  the  name  of 
Louisiana. 

The  pcnvers  of  government  are  divided  into  three  distinct  branches, 
each  of  which  is  confided  to  a  separate  body  of  magistracy,  the  legislative, 
executive  and  judiciary ;  and  it  is  declared  that  no  person  or  number  of 
persons,  of  any  of  the  magistracies,  shall  exercise  any  power  confided  to 
anv  of  the  others. 

the  legislative  powers  are  vested  in  a  general  assembly,  composed  of  a 
senate  and  house  of  representatives. 

The  election  is  to  take  place  on  the  first  Monday  of  July,  in  every  other 

year. 

The  qualification"  of  electors  are  the  same,  in  regard  to  the  senate  and 

house  of  representatives. 
Every  free  white  male  citizen  of  the  United  States,  having  attained  the 

age  of  twenty-one  years,  and  resided  one  year  in  the  country,  and  having 

within  the  last  six  months  paid  a  state  tax,  or  being  a  purchaser  of  lands 

of  the  United  States,  is  entitled  to  a  vote. 
Free  wliite  male  citizens  of  the  United  States,  having  attained  the  age 

of  twenty-one   years,   resided  in   the  state  during  the  two  preceding 

years,  ancl  during  the  last  in  the  county  or  district,  and  holding  landed 

property   therein  to  the  value  of  five  hundred  dollars,  are  eligible  as 

members  of  the  house  of  representatives. 
The  number  of  representatives  is  to  be  ascertained  and  regulated  by  the 

number  of  qualified  electors ;  a  census  thereof  is  to  be  taken  in  every 

fourth  year. 
The  state  is  divided  into   fourteen    senatorial  districts,  which   are 

I  forever  to  remain  indivisible,  and  each  of  which  elects  a  senator. 
Each  senator  must  be  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  have  attained  the 

[age of  thirty  years,  and  have  double  the  time  of  residence,  and  value  of 

property,  required  of  a  member  of  the  house  of  representatives. 


|f||H| 

'1m 

\f 


irftl 


4  '•^ 


!      1 


352 


IIISTOKY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


Sonntors  are  elected  for  six  years,  one-third  of  them  going  out  every 
second  venr. 

In  eitlier  house,  a  majority  of  its  members  constitutes  a  quorum,  l)ut  a 
less  number  may  adjourn  and  compel  attendance. 

Each  is  judge  of  the  qualifications  and  elections  of  its  own  members; 
appoints  its  officers ;  determines  the  rules  of  its  proceedings ;  niiiy  punish 
and,  with  the  concurrence  of  two-thirds,  expel  a  member,  but  not  a  second 
time  for  the  same  offence ;  keeps  and  puolishes  a  weekly  journal  of  its 
proceedings ;  and  enters,  thereon,  the  yeas  and  nays,  at  the  desire  of  two 
members. 

Neither,  during  the  session,  can  without  the  consent  of  the  other, 
adjourn  for  more  than  three  days,  nor  to  any  place,  than  that  in  which 
thev  respectively  sit. 

T^he  members  of  each  house  receive  a  compensation  for  their  services, 
from  the  treasury.  Except  in  cases  of  treason,  felony  and  breach  of  the 
peace,  thev  are  jjrivileged  from  arrest,  while  sitting  in,  going  to,  or  returning 
from  the  house,  and  for  any  speech  therein,  cannot  be  questioned  else- 
where. Thev  are,  during  the  period  of  their  service  and  the  followinj; 
year,  ineligible  to  any  office  created,  or  the  emoluments  of  which  were 
increased  during  the  period  for  which  they  were  elected,  unless  the  office 
be  filled  by  the  suffrages  of  the  people. 

Clergymen,  priests  or  teachers  of  any  religious  persuasion  and  collectors 
of  public  taxes,  not  duly  discharged,  are  ineligible  as  members  of  the 
general  assembly. 

Every  bill  is  to  be  read  three  times,  in  each  of  the  houses. 

Bills  for  raising  a  revenue  originate  in  the  house  of  representatives; 
but  the  senate  may  propose  amendments. 

The  executive  power  is  vested  in  the  governor. 

He  must  be,  at  least,  thirty-five  years  of  age,  have  resided  six  years  in 
the  state,  immediately  before  the  election,  and  hold  in  his  own  right,  a 
landed  estate  of  the  value  of  five  thousand  dollars,  according  to  the  ta.x 
list. 

Members  of  congress,  persons  holding  any  office  under  the  United 
States,  and  ministers  of  any  religious  society,  are  ineligible  as  governor. 

Every  fourth  year  the  electors  of  members  of  the  legislature  vote  for  a 
governor,  at  the  time  and  place  at  which  they  vote  for  the  legislature :  and. 
on  the  second  day  after  the  meeting  of  that  body,  the  members  of  both 
houses  meet  in  the  house  of  representatives,  choose  a  governor  out  of  the 
two  individuals  having  received  the  greatest  number  of  votes  from  the 
people  :  but,  if  more  than  two  have  such  a  number,  the  members  vote  for 
them  in  the  same  manner :  but  if  more  than  one  individual  have  an  equal 
number  of  votes,  next  to  the  one  who  had  the  highest,  they  vote  for  one 
of  the  former,  to  be  voted  for  with  the  latter. 

In  this,  as  in  all  other  elections,  the  yotes  are  taken  by  ballot. 

The  governor  is  commander-in-chief  of  the  army  and  navy,  and  the 
militia,  except  wh^a  the  latter  is  in  the  service  of  the  United  States;  but 
does  not  act  personally  in  the  field,  unless  so  advised  by  the  legislature. 
He  nominates  and  appoints,  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  senate. 
judges,  sheriff's  and  all  other  officers,  created  by  the  constitution,  whose 
appointment  it  does  not  vest  in  other  persons ;  he  fills,  provisionally,  all 
vacancies  happening  during  the  recess  of  the  legislature;  he  has  power  to  | 
remit  fines  and  forfeitures ;  except  in  cases  of  impeachment,  he  grants  i 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


353 


g  out  every 
lorum,  but  w 

n\  uKMubers ; 

may  punish 

notu  wi'oml 
journivl  of  Ut< 
desire  of  two 

of  the  other, 
that  in  which 

their  services. 
[  l)reaei\  of  the 
to,  or  returninsi 
aestioned  else- 
[  tlu'  following: 
of  which  were 
inless  the  office 

m  tind  eolleetors 
members  of  the 

es. 
representatives; 

xed  six  years  in 
Kis  own  right,  a 
[rding  to  the  tax 

■ider  the  United 
Ible  as  governor. 
Uature  vote  tor  a 
,  legislature :  and, 
incnibers  of  both 
[vernor  out  of  the 
If  votes  from  the 
Lenibers  vote  for 
[ual  have  an  equal 
Ihey  vote  for  one 

ballot. 
Id  navv,  and  he 
Inited  States;  but 
Iv  the  legislature. 
Li  of  the  senate. 
Institution,  whoi'J 
1  provisionally,  a" 
•  he  has  power  to  I 

iment,  he  grants 


reprieves,  and,  with  the  approbation  of  the  senate,  pardons ;  in  case  of 
treason,  he  granti*  reprieves  till  the  meeting  of  the  general  assembly,  who 
alone  may  pardon. 

He  may  recjuire  information,  in  writing,  from  any  officer  in  the  execu- 
tive depaVtment,  on  any  matter  relating  to  their  respective  offices. 

He  gives,  from  time  to  time,  to  the  general  assembly,  information 
respecting  the  situation  of  the  state,  and  recommends  measures  to  their 
consideration,  and  takes  care  that  the  laws  be  executed. 

On  extraordinary  occasions,  he  convenes  the  general  assembly,  at  the 
seat  of  government,  or  elsewhere  in  cases  of  danger.  If  the  houses  disagree, 
at  the  time  of  their  adjournment,  he  adjourns  them  to  any  day  within 
four  months. 
He  visits  the  several  counties,  at  least,  once  in  every  two  years. 
Every  bill,  after  having  passed  both  houses,  is  sent  to  the  governor,  who 
signs  it,  if  he  approves  of  it ;  otherwise  he  returns  it  to  the  house  from 
whence  it  came,  with  his  objections,  where,  after  they  are  entered  on  the 
journal,  the  bill  is  reconsidered,  and  if  two-thirds  of  the  members  elected, 
vote  for  it,  it  is  sent,  with  the  objections,  to  the  other  house,  and  becomes 
a  law,  if  voted  for  there,  by  two-thirds  of  the  member;j  elected. 

Resolutions,  to  which  both  houses  made  assent,  are  sent  to  the  governor 
in  the  same  manner  as  bills. 

If  the  governor  does  not  return  a  bill  or  resolution  within  ten  days  after 
receiving  it,  his  approbation  is  presumed,  unless  the  house,  in  which  it 
originated,  prevents  its  return  by  an  adjournment. 

A  secretary  of  state  is  appointed  for  the  same  period  as  the  governor ; 
he  attests  the  latter's  official  acts,  and  is  the  keeper  of  the  archives. 

The  governor's  compensation  cannot  be  increased  or  diminished  during 
the  incumbent's  period  of  service. 

The  judicial  power  is  vested  in  a  supreme  and  inferior  courts.  The  first 
is  composed  of  not  less  than  three  nor  more  than  five  judges.  It  sits  at 
New  Orleans  during  the  months  of  January,  February,  March,  April, 
May,  June,  July,  November  and  December,  for  the  eastern  district ;  and 
at  Opelousas  during  the  rest  of  the  year,  for  the  western.  The  legislature 
may  change  the  place  of  sitting,  m  the  western  circuit,  every  fifth  year. 
Its  jurisdiction  is  appellate  only,  and  extends  to  civil  cases,  in  which  the 
value  of  the  matter  in  dispute  exceeds  three  hundred  dollars. 
Inferior  courts  are  established  by  law. 

The  judges  are  conservators  oi  the  peace  throughout  the  state;  they 
hold  their  offices  during  their  good  behavior.  They  are  removable  on 
impeachment,  and,  for  anv  reasonable  cause,  not  sufficient  for  impeach- 
ment, they  may  be  removed  by  the  governor,  on  the  address  of  three-fourths 
of  each  house  of  the  general  assembly. 

The  power  of  impeachment  is  vested  in  the  house  of  representatives 
alone.  The  senate  is  the  sole  judge,  and  conviction  cannot  take  place 
without  the  concurrence  of  two-thirds  of  the  senators  present. 

The  governor  and  all  civil  officers  are  liable  to  impeachment  for  any 
misdemeanor  in  office.  The  judgment  extends  only  to  removal  and 
disqualification,  but  is  subject  to  prosecution  in  other  courts. 

In  case  of  the  governor's  impeachment,  death,  resignation  or  removal, 
his  functions  devolve  on  the  president  of  the  senate. 

Provision  was  made  for  the  freedom  of  the  press ;  the  writ  of  habeas 
corpus;  the  trial  by  jury,  and  the  due  administration  of  justice  in  criminal 


41 


354 


HISTORY  or  LOUISIANA. 


onsoH ;  mlmiBsion  to  bail,  and  the  exclusion  of  cruel  and  unusual 
punishment. 

The  clauses  recommended  by  connress  were  inserted.  ^ 

A  mode  tor  revising  the  constitution  was  provided. 

Arrangements  were  made,  in  a  schedule,  for  the  morch  of  the  state 
government,  at  the  expiration  of  the  territorial,  by  continuing  the  officers 
of  the  former,  until  BUperse<led  l»y  law. 

Those  who  prepared  the  first  form  of  a  constitution,  submitted  to  the 
convention,  took  the  constitution  of  Kentucky  for  a  model ;  they  made 
several  alterations,  and  others  were  introduced  bv  the  convention. 

One  of  the  jirincipal  was  a  provision  for  the  salarv  of  the  judges  of  the 
supreme  court,  which  was  fixe<i  at  five  thousand  dollars  ;  another  was  the 
obligation  imposed  on  the  judges  of  all  courts,  as  often  as  it  may  be 
possible,  in  every  definitive  judgment,  to  refer  to  the  particular  law,  in  virtue 
of  which,  the  iudgment  is  rendered,  and,  in  all  cases,  to  adduce  the 
reasons  on  whicn  it  is  founded. 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

On  the  tenth  of  January,  1812,  the  inhabitants  of  New  Orleans  witnessed 
the  approach  of  the  first  vessel,  propelled  by  steam,  which  floated  on  the 
Mississippi,  the  New  Orleans,  from  Pittsburg.  The  captain  stated,  he 
had  been   but  two  hundred  and  fifty-nine  hours,  actually,  on  the  way. 

We  have  seen  that  soon  after  the  cession,  the  Pope  had  placed  tlie 
ecclesiastical  concerns  of  the  success  of  Louisiana,  under  the  care  of 
bishop  Carrol,  of  Baltimore;  he  now  confided  them  to  the  abbe  Dubourg, 
a  French  clergyman,  who  had  resided  for  several  years  in  Baltimore,  and 
who  came  to  New  Orleans  with  the  appointment  of  Apostolic  Adminis- 
trator. 

The  President  of  the  United  States  approved,  on  the  14th  of  February, 
1812,  the  sentence  pronounced  by  the  court  martial,  on  the  23d  of 
December  preceding,  acquitting  Wilkinson  of  all  the  charges  exhibited 
against  him. 

Early  in  the  month  of  April,  congress  passed  an  act  for  the  admission 
of  the  territory  of  Orleans,  as  a  state,  into  the  Union ;  but  the  act  was  not 
to  be  in  force  till  the  30th  of  the  month,  the  ninth  anniversary  of  the 
treaty  of  cession.  It  was  declared  to  be  a  condition  of  the  admission  of 
the  new  member,  that  the  river  Mississippi,  and  the  navigable  waters 
leading  into  it,  and  into  the  gulf  of  Mexico,  should  be  common  highways, 
and  forever  free,  as  well  to  the  inhabitants  of  that  state  as  to  those  of  the 
other  states  and  territories  of  the  United  States,  without  any  tax,  duty. 
impost  or  toll  therefor,  imposed  by  the  state,  and  that  this  condition  and 
all  others,  stated  in  the  act  of  the  preceding  session,  for  enabling  the 
inhabitants  of  the  territory  to  form  a  constitution,  etc.,  should  be 
considered  as  the  fundamental  terms  and  conditions  of  the  admission  of 
the  state  into  the  union. 

A  few  days  after,  another  act  was  passed,  for  extending  the  limits  of  I 
the  state,  by  annexing  thereto,  the  country  south  of  the  Mississippi  f 
territory,  ancl  east  of  the  Mississippi  river  and  the  lakes,  as  far  as  Pearl  j 
river. 


HIRTOUY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


355 


(1    unusual 


of  the  state 
g  the  otttcers 

littcd  to  the 
;  they  mnile 
ntion. 

judges  of  the 
lother  was  the 
as  it  may  be 
flaw,  in  virtue 
to  adduce  the 


•leans  witnessed 
1  tioated  on  the 
ptain  stated,  he 
illy,  on  the  way. 
had  placed  the 
der  the  care  of 
e  abbe  Dubourg, 
1  Baltimore,  and 
ostolic  Adminis- 

4th  of  February, 

on  the  23d  of 

harges  exhibited 

3r  the  admission 
it  the  act  was  not 
miversary  of  the 
;he  admission  ot 
navigable  waters 
jmmon  highways, 
as  to  those  of  the 
,t  any  tax,  duty 
[lis  condition  ancl 
for  enabling  the 
etc.,    should  be 
the  admission  ot 

iding  the  limits  of  I 
If  the  Mississippi 
les,  as  far  as  Pearl 


The  legislature  was  retiuired,  in  case  it  assented  to  this  accession  of 
territory,  to  make  provisitui,  at  its  next  session,  for  the  re|)re8entation  of 
the  inhabitants,  in  the  legislature,  accordin|i;  to  the  principles  of  the 
constitution,  and  for  securing  to  them  e(iual  rights  with  those  enjoyed  by 
the  jMJople  of  the  other  parts  of  the  state  ;  the  law  passed  for  this  pur])ose 
being  liable  to  revision,  niodificntion  and  amendments  by  congress,  and, 
also,  in  the  mode,  provided  for  amendments  to  the  constitution,  but  not 
liubie  to  change  and  amendment  by  the  legislature  of  the  state. 

On  the  12th  of  the  same  month,  W'ilkinson  was  directed,  by  the  secretary 
of  war,  to  return  to  New  Orleans  and  resume  his  command. 

Authentic   copies  of  the   late  acts  of  congress  having   reoched   New 
Orleans  in  the   beginning  of  June,  Poydras.  the  president  of  the  late 
convention,  in  compliance  with  a  provision  of  the  schedule,  annexed  to 
the  constitution,  issued  his  proclamation  for  the  election  of  a  governor 
and  members  to  the  legislature, 
(leneral  Wilkinson  reached  New  Orleans  on  the  8th  of  June. 
Congress  declared  war  against  Great  Britain  on  the  18th. 
The  senate  and  house  of  representatives,  according  to  the  constitution, 
assembled  on  the  27th,  and  on  the  following  day  proceeded  to  the  election 
of  a  governor ;  Claiborne  and  Villere,  the  son  of  the  gentleman  who,  wo 
have  seen,  fell  under  the  bayonets  of  a  Spanish  guard,  in  1769,  were  the 
individuals  who  had  received  the  highest  number  of  votes  from  the  people; 
the  former,  who  had  a  larger  number  than  the  latter,  was  chosen. 

The  first  act  of  the  legislature,  was  that  by  which  the  proposed  extent 
of  territory  was  assented  to ;  and  the  next  was  that  providing  for  the 
representation  of  the  new  citizens  of  the  state,  in  its  legislature,  and  the 
extension  to  them  of  all  the  rights  enjoyed  by  the  inhabitants  of  the 
other  parts  of  the  state.  They  were  allowed  three  senators  and  six 
members  of  the  house  of  representatives. 

It  was  thought  best  to  postpone  the  establishment  of  the  judiciary 
department,  till  the  new  members  of  the  legislature  could  be  elected  ani 
take  their  seats ;  and  after  attending  to  such  matters  as  required  imme- 
diate attention,  the  legislature  adjourned  early  in  September,  to  the  23d 
of  November. 

On  the  nineteenth  of  August,  the  county  suffered  a  great  deal  from  a 
hurricane,  the  ravages  of  which  exceeded  those  hitherto  known  by  any  of 
the  inhabitants.  Several  buildings  were  blown  down  in  New  Orleans, 
particularly  a  verv  large  and  elegant  market  house. 

At  their  second  session,  a  supreme,  district  and  parish  courts  were 
organized;  the  first  was  to  be  composed  of  three  judges,  and  Hall, 
Mathews  and  Derbigny  were,  accordingly,  appointed.  The  state  was 
divided  into  seven  districts,  in  which  a  court  was  to  be  holden,  in  each 
parish,  except  the  first,  by  a  district  judge,  who  had  the  same  jurisdiction 
as  the  late  territorial  superior  court.  In  the  first  district  the  court  was  to 
Ije  holden  in  New  Orleans  only. 

The  parish  courts  were  continued  on  the  same  footing,  except  that  of 
New  Orleans,  to  which  the  jurisdiction  of  a  district  court  was  given. 

The  arms  of  the  United  States  were  unsuccessful  on  the  northern 
frontier,  during  the  year  1812 ;  general  Hall  surrendered  his  army  to  the 
enemy,  who  possessed  themselves  of  the  whole  Michigan  territory.  General 
Van  Ranselaer  was  more  fortunate,  at  the  battle  of  Queenstown,  where  he 


/    1 


»1., 


\.  -m 


^ .  ni 


a 


850 


HISTORY  OF   LOUIfllANA. 


drove  fjfl'thu  nHKailuntH,  with  a  conHiilcruhle  Iohh,  particularly  that  of  their 
lender,  general  Hroek. 

The  now  acquired  much  eclat:  the  Britinh  frigatein  Guerriere,  Mace- 
donian and  Java,  W(>re  taken  by  captains  (lull,  Decatur  and  Bainhriil^e; 
the  sloop  of  war  Alert,  by  captain  I'orter,  and  the  brigs  of  war  Detroit 
and  Calediniia,  by  lieutenant  JoncH. 

The  United  Htat(>H  lont  the  brigH  NautiluH  and  Vixen  and  the  nloop  of 
war,  the  Wasp. 

On  the  12th  of  February,  1S13,  congrewH  authori/(>d  the  President  of  the 
Ihiited  StatcH,  to  occupy  and  hold  that  part  of  West  Florida,  lying  west 
of  the  river  Perdido,  not  then  in  the  |)OHHeH»ion  of  the  United  8tute8. 
Orders  for  this  purpose  Wi-re  sent  to  Wilkinson,  wh«)  iniinediatcly  took 
nieasures  with  coniniodore  Shaw,  and  the  necessary  equipments  being 
ninde,  the  forces  employed  in  this  service  reached  the  vicinity  of  Fort 
Charlotte,  in  the  night  between  the  7th  ami  Hth  of  April,  having  on  their 
way  dispossessed  a  Hnanish  guard,  on  Dauphin  island,  and  intercepted  ti 
Spanish  transport,  ruiving  on  board  detachments  of  artillery,  with 
provisions  and  munitions  of  war,  Don  (Jayetano  Perez,  who  conuuanded 
in  Fort  (-'harlotte,  received  the  first  infornmtion  of  Wilkinson's  approach 
from  his  drums.  The  i)laco  was  strong  and  well  supplied  with  artillery, 
but  the  garrison  consisted  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  effective  men  only, 
and  was  destitute  of  ])rovision8,  as  the  troops  depended  upon  the  town 
for  daily  subsistence.  Don  (layetano  capitulated  on  the  thirteenth.  The 
garrison  was  sent  to  Pensacola,  but  the  artillery  of  the  fort  was  retained, 
to  be  accounted  for  by  the  United  States ;  with  part  of  it,  Wilkinson 
established  a  small  fortification  on  Mobile  point,  which  commanded  the 
entrance  of  the  bay ;  he  left  colonel  Constant  in  command  at  Fort 
Charlotte,  and  returned  to  New  Orleans,  which  he  left  a  few  days  after, 
being  ordered  to  join  the  army  on  the  frontiers  of  Canada. 

General  Flournoy,  of  Georgia,  was  sent  to  command  the  forces  on  the 
Mississippi. 

The  British  had  sent  emissaries  from  Canada,  among  the  southern 
Indians,  with  a  view  to  induce  them  to  take  up  the  hatchet  against  the 
frontier  inhabitants  of  Georgia  and  the  Mississippi  territory.  Those  men 
were  successful  among  the  Creeks,  who,  on  the  20th  of  June,  manifested 
their  hostile  temper  by  the  massacre  of  several  individuals  of  their  own 
tribes,  who  were  friendly  to  the  United  States.  This  event  was  not, 
however,  followed  by  any  positive  act  of  hostility  against  the  United 
States,  till  the  13th  of  September,  when  they  committed  a  sudden, 
unprovoked,  and  daring  outrage  against  them. 

Major  Beasley  had  been  sent  to  command  a  stiiall  garrison,  which  it  had 
been  deemed  proper  to  put  in  Fort  Mimms,  in  the  Tensau  settlement  of 
the  Mississippi  territory ;  a  Creek  Indian  came  and  informed  him,  in  an 
apparently  friendly  manner,  that  he  was  to  be  attacked  within  two  days; 
having  made  his  communication,  he  departed  and  was  hardly  out  of  sight 
when  twenty  or  thirty  of  his  countrymen  came  in  view,  and  forcibly 
entered  the  fort.  In  the  attempt  to  shut  the  gate,  Beasley  was  killed; 
the  garrison  revenged  his  death  by  that  of  all  the  assailants.  This  first 
party  was,  however,  soon  followed  by  a  body  of  about  eight  hundred : 
the  garrison  was  overpowered,  the  fort  taken  and  every  man,  woman  and 
child  in  it  slaughtered,  with  the  exception  of  four  privates,  who,  though 
severely  wounded,  effected  their  escape  and  reached  Fort  Stoddard. 


that  of  their 

•ricro,  Miu'«- 

Buinl)ri«lne ; 

f  >vur  Detroit 

[  the  hIo»)1)  of 

e8i(l«"t  of  the 
(la,  \ym  w«8t 

Jnited  StuteH. 
rtixUfttely  took 
ptnentH  heing 
icinity  of  Kort 
uiving  on  tlieir 
1  intcrcei)te(l  iv 
artillery,   with 
ho  coiinuandcd 
ison's  approach 
l  with  artillery, 
ctive  men  only, 
I  upon  the  town 
hirtccnth.    The 
)rt  wa»  retained, 
of  it,  Wilkinson 
commanded  the 
mnuvnd  at  Fort 
[a  few  days  after, 

Lhe  forces  on  the 


IIIBTOIIY   OK   LOIIIMANA. 


857 


Thi«  minfortuno  wa«  eonsiderahlv  hoightono<l  hy  tho  nircum8tnnce  of 
A  niimher  of  tlie  Mettlern  near  the  mrt  having  Hent  their  faniilios  there  for 
protection  :  the  ntinil'<-<'  of  white  porHoni)  who  thuH  peritthcd  amounted  to 
three  hun<lre<l  and  Hfty  The  garriHon  nuide  a  nioMt  ol)Htinate  defeuHo: 
twohuntlred  and  fifty  Indiuu«<  w<>ro  killed  and  thununihor  of  tho  wountleu 
couhl  not  l»c  known. 

ThiH  event  hroko  up  thiH  K«ttleiiu<nt :  itfl  inhahitantfl  nought  the 
protection  of  tho  wlijN)  people,  at  Moliile  and  FortH  Stoddard  and  8t. 
Htevens. 

A  forty-fourth  regiment  (tf  infantry  had  been  ordered  to  he  raised,  and 
exclusively  employed  in  the  ntate  of  LouiHiaiia  and  West  Florida. 
Colonel  (i!  T.  Ross,  to  whom  tho  command  of  it  had  boon  given,  entorod 
on  the  recruiting  service  early  in  tho  month  of  October. 

On  the  first  account  of  the  disaster  at  Fort  Minims,  very  large  parties 
of  tlie  militia  of  the  states  of  Tennessee  and  (ieorgia,  voluntoered  their 
Hervices,  and  took  the  field  under  generals  Jackson  and  Floyd,  to  avenge 
their  countrymen.  Tho  first  bh)w  was  struck  on  tho  third  of  November, 
at  the  Tallusatche  towns,  where  one  hundred  and  eighty-six  warriors  wore 
killed,  and  eighty-four  women  and  children  made  prisoners :  tho  militia 
had  five  men  killed  and  forty-one  wounded.  A  week  after,  Jackson,  with 
al»out  two  thousand  Tennessee  volunteers,  fell  on  tho  Indians  at  Talledoga 
and  defeated  them,  killing  three  hundred  warriors :  ho  had  only  six  men 
killed  and  eighty  wounded. 

On  the  eighteenth,  a  division  of  the  Tennessee  volunteer  militia,  under 

penernl  WliiiC,  destroyed  the  towns  of  Little  Oakfulkee,  Genalga  and 

Hillshee ;  in  an  action  in  which  he  had  not  a  man  killed  or  wounded, 

and  he  killed  sixty  Indians  and  made  two  hundred  and  fiftv-six  prisoners. 

General  Floyd,  with  nine  hundred  and  sixty  men,  of  the  Georgia  militia, 

and  three  huntlrod  and  fifty  friendly  Indians,  attacked  fifteen  hundred 

hostile  Creeks,  at  Antosseo  and  Tallasseo.    Ho  burnt  upwards  of  four 

hundred  houses,  and  killed  two  hundred  warriors,  including  tho  kings  of 

the  two  towns.    His  loss  was  sevtn  killed  and  fifty-four  wounded. 

Congress,  on  the  seventeenth  of  December,  laid  a  general  embargo. 

In  the  latter  part  of  that  month,  Flournoy,  by  order  of  the  United 

States,  made  a  requisition  of  one  thousand  men  of  the  militia  of  the  state, 

to  be  employed  in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  during  six  months, 

unless    sooner    discharged.      Claiborne    complied  with  the  requisition 

immediately. 

The  arms  of  the  United  States  were  more  successful  on  the  northern 
frontier  during  this  year,  than  in  the  preceding,  yet  but  little  advantage 
was  obtained.  The  enemy  made  considerable  havoc  on  the  Chesapeake, 
in  the  towns  of  Hampton,  Havre  de  Grace,  Georgetown  and  Frederickton. 
The  navy  accmired  much  glory :  the  British  ships  Detroit  and  Queen 
Charlotte,  l»rig  Hunter,  schooners  Lady  Provost  and  Chippewa,  and  sloop 
Little  Belt,  were  taken  by  commodore  Perry.  The  brigs  Peacock  and 
Boxer  by  captain  Lawrence  and  lieutenant  Brown,  the  schooners 
Dominica  ana  Highflyer  by  a  privateer,  and  captain  Rodgers.  The 
United  States  lost  the  frigate  Chesapeake,  and  schooners  Viper,  Asp, 
Julia  and  Growler,  and  brig  Argus.       ^ 

The  legislature  began  its  third  session  on  the  third  of  January,  1814, 
but  did  not  pass  any  very  important  act. 
General  Claiborne,  at  the  head  of  a  detachment  of  the  Mississippi 


mf^, 


.^     Jj 


'^^ 


358 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


territorv,  on  the  twenty-third  of  January,  burned  the  town  of  Etchenachaca, 
(holy  ground)  and  routed  the  Indians.  Two  days  after,  general  Floyd 
was  attacked,  on  his  encampment,  forty-eight  miles  west  of  Catahouchee 
but  the  enemy  retreated  after  a  severe  conflict.  The  loss  of  the  general 
was  twenty-two  killed  and  twenty-seven  wounded. 

A  decisive  blow  was  at  last  struck  on  the  twenty-seventh  of  March 
when  general  Jackson  attacked  the  enemy's  entrenchments,  and,  after  an 
action  of  five  hours,  completely  defeated  them,  killing  seven  hundred  and 
fifty  warriors,  and  taking  two  hundred  and  fifty  women  and  children; 
His  loss  was  twenty-five  killed,  and  one  hundred  and  five  wounded. 

Congress,  on  the  fourteenth  of  April,  repealed  the  embargo  and  new 
importation  laws. 

In  the  course  of  that  month  the  banks  in  New  Orleans  ceased  to  pay 
specie  for  their  notes. 

Lieutenant-colonel  Pearson,  with  two  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  North 
Carolina  militia,  and  seventy  friendly  Indians,  having  scoured  the  banks 
of  the  Alabama,  made  six  hundred  and  twenty-two  men,  women  and 
children  prisoners. 

Official  accounts  were  received  at  Washington  City,  of  the  fall  of 
Bonaparte ;  the  restoration  of  Louis  XVIII. ,  and  the  consequent*  general 
pacification  in  Europe.  These  events  leaving  to  Great  Britain  a  large 
disposable  force,  and  offering  her  the  means  of  giving  to  the  war  in 
America  a  character  of  new  and  increased  activity  and  extent ;  although 
the  government  of  the  United  States  did  not  know  that  such  would  belts 
application,  nor  what  particular  point  or  points  would  become  olijeots  of 
attack,  the  President  deemed  it  advisable  to  strengthen  the  line  of  the 
Atlantic  and  the  gulf  of  Mexico.  His  directions  were  accordingly  com- 
municated by  the  secretary  of  war  to  Claiborne,  to  organize  and  hold  in 
readiness  a  corps  of  one  thousand  militia  infantry,  the  quota  of  Louisiana, 
also  a  requisition  made  on  the  executive  of  the  several  states  for  ninety- 
three  thousand  five  hundred  men.  Claiborne  lost  no  time  in  carrying  the 
views  of  the  general  government  into  execution. 

The  Creek  Indians  having  sued  for  peace,  power  was  given  to  Jackson 
to  conclude  it.     This  was  done  at  Fort  Jackson,  on  the  ninth  of  August. 

This  treaty  strongly  marks  the  temper  of  the  United  States'  agent,  it 
begins  by  stating  that  an  unprovoked,  inhuman  and  sanguinary  war, 
waged  by  the  hostile  Creek  Indians,  against  the  United  States,  has  been 
repelled,  prosecuted  and  determined  successfully  on  the  part  of  the  latter, 
in  conformity  with  the  principles  of  national  justice  and  honorable 
warfare,  and  consideration  is  due  to  the  rectitude  of  the  proceeding, 
dictated  by  instructions  relating  to  the  re-establishment  of  peace ;  that 
prior  to  the  conquest  of  that  part  of  the  Creek  nation,  hostile  to  the  United 
States,  numberless  aggravations  had  been  committed  against  the  peace, 
the  property  and  the  lives  of  the* citizens  of  the  United  States  and  those 
of  the  Creet  nation  in  amity  with  them,  at  the  mouth  of  Duck  river.  Fort 
Mimms  and  elsewhere,  contrary  to  national  faith,  and  an  existing  treaty; 
that  the  United  States,  previously  to  the  perpetration  of  such  outrages, 
endeavored  to  secure  future  amity  and  concora  between  the  Creek  nation 
and  their  citizens,  in  conformity  t^ith  the  stipulations  of  former  treaties, 
fulfilled  with  punctuality,  and  good  faith,  their  engagements  to  the  Creek 
nation,  and  more  than  two-thirds  of  the  whole  number  of  chiefs  and 
warriors,  disregarding   the  genuine  spirit  of  existing  treaties,  suflfered 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


359 


tchenachaca, 
jneral  Floyd 
Catahouchee, 
f  the  general 

th  of  March, 
,  and,  after  an 
i  hundred  and. 
and  children; 
rounded, 
argo  and  new 

I  ceased  to  pay 

y  of  the  North 
ured  the  banks 
en,  women  and 

of  the  fall  of 

sequent"  general 

Britain  a  lar|e 

r  to  the  war  in 

ktent;  although 

uch  would  belts 

ecome  oV)]ect8  of 

,  the  line  of  the 

iccordingly  conv 

ize  and  hold  m 

ota  of  Louisiana, 

itates  for  ninety- 

,e  in  carrying  the 

riven  to  Jackson 
ninth  of  August 
States'  agent.    It 
sanguinary  war, 
L  States,  has  been 
part  of  the  latter, 
and  honorable 
the  proceeding, 
it  of  peace;  that 
,tiletotheljnite(l 
against  the  peace, 
States  and  those 
'Duck  river,  tort 
n  existing  treaty; 
of  such  outrages, 
'  the  Creek  nation 
,f  former  treaties, 
.ents  to  the  Creek 
,er  of  chiefs  an^ 
treaties,  suffere^l 


themselves  to  be  instigated  to  violations  of  their  national  honor,  the 
respect  due  to  tiie  part  of  the  nation  faithful  to  the  United  States  and  the 
principles  of  humanity,  by  impostors,  denominating  themselves  prophets, 
and  by  the  duplicity  and  misrepresentations  of  foreign  emissaries,  whose 
governments  are  at  war,  open  or  understood,  with  the  United  States — 
wherefore : 

The  United  States  demand  an  equivalent  for  all  expenses,  incurred 
in  prosecuting  the  war  to  its  termination,  by  a  cession  of  all  the  territory 
l)elonging  to  the  Creek  nation,  within  certain  limits,  expressed  in  the 
treaty. 

The  United  States  guaranty  to  the  Creek  nation  the  integrity  of  the 
rest  of  their  territory. 

They  demand  that  the  Cre^k  nation  abandon  all  communication  and 
cease  to  hold  any  intercourse  with  any  British  or  Spanish  post,  garrison 
or  town,  and  that  they  shall  not  admit  among  them  any  agent  or  trader, 
who  shall  not  have  authority,  to  hold  commercial  or  other  intercourse  with 
them,  from  the  United  States. 

The  United  States  demand  an  acknowledgment  of  the  rights  of  estab- 
lishing military  posts  and  trading  houses,  and  to  open  roads  within  the 
territory,  guaranteed  to  the  Creek  nation,  and  a  right  to  the  free  navigation 
of  all  its  waters. 

The  United  States  demand  the  immediate  surrender  of  all  the 
persons  and  property  of  their  citizens  and  their  friendly  Indians,  and 
promise  to  restore  the  prisoners  they  made  in  the  nation,  and  the 
property  of  any  of  its  members. 

The  United  States  demand  the  capture  and  surrender  of  all  the 
prophets  and  instigators  of  the  war,  whether  foreigners  or  natives,  who 
have  not  submitted  to  the  arms  of  the  United  States,  or  become  parties 
to  the  treaty,  if  ever  they  shall  be  found  within  the  territory,  guaranteed 
by  the  United  States  to  the  nation  by  the  treaty. 

The  Creek  nation  being  reduced  to  extreme  want  and  not  having,  at 
present,  the  means  of  subsistence,  the  United  States,  from  motives  of 
humanity,  will  continue  to  furnish  gratuitously,  the  necessaries  of  life, 
until  '^rops  of  corn  be  considered  competent  to  yield  the  nation  a  supply, 
and  will  establish  trading  houses  among  them  to  enable  the  nation,  by 
industry  and  economy,  to  purchase  clothing. 

The  Creek  nation  acceaing  to  these  demands,  it  is  declared,  that  a 
permanent  peace  shall  ensue,  from  the  date  of  the  treaty  forever,  between 
the  Creek  nation  and  the  United  States,  and  the  Creek  nation  and  the 
Cherokee,  Chickasaw  and  Choctaw  nations. 

Early  in  the  month  of  August,  the  British  brig  Orpheus,  brought 
several  officers  of  that  nation  to  the  bay  of  Apalachicola,  with  several 
pieces  of  artillery.  There  object  was  to  enter  into  arrangements  with  the 
chiefs  of  the  Creek  nation  of  Indians  for  obtaining  a  number  of  their 
warriors  to  join  the  British  force,  which  was  soon  expected,  and  intended 
for  the  attack  of  the  fortification  which  Wilkinson,  after  he  had  taken 
Fort  Charlotte,  had  established  at  Mobile  point,  and  the  possession  of 
which  was  considered  an  an  object  of  great  importance  towards  the 
execution  of  ulterior  operations,  which  were  meditated  against  Louisiana. 
These  officers  easily  succeeded  in  rallying  a  number  of  Indians  around 
the  British  standard.    Individuals  from  almost  all  the  tribes  who  dwelt 


V  li    r 


S60 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


i 


to  the  eastward  of  the  Choctaws,  joined  the  Creeks ;  they  were  supplied 
with  arms  and  drilled. 

Soon  after,  colonel  Nichols  arrived  at  Peneacola.  He  had  sailed  from 
Bermudas  with  a  few  companies  of  infantry,  and  touched  at  the  Havana,  in 
expectation  of  obtaining  from  the  captain-general  of  the  island  of  Cuba,  a 
few  gunboats  and  small  vessels,  with  permission  to  land  his  men  and 
gome  artillery  at  Pensacola.  He  obtained  no  aid  :  but  it  is  imagined  the 
captain-general  did  not  seriously  object  to  his  effecting  a  landing  at 
Pensacola,  as  he  did  so  without  any  effort  made  by  the  Spanish  ofKoers 
there,  to  maintain  the  neutrality  of  the  place.  He  was  soon  joined  by  the 
officers  of  his  nation,  who  had   preceded  him  in  West  Florida,  acconi- 

Eanied  by  a  very  considerable  number  of  Indians.     He  established  his 
eadquarters  in  the  town,  from  vhich  he  issued,  on  the  twenty-ninth  of 
August,  his  proclamation  to  the  people  of  Louisiana. 

He  announced,  that  on  them  th^  first  call  was  then  made  to  assis^t  in 
the  liberation  of  their  natal  soil,  fiom  a  faithless  and  weak  govornnient. 
To  Spaniards,  Frenchmen,  Italians  and  Englishmen,  whether  residents  or 
sojourners  in  Louisiana,  application  was  made  for  assistance.  The  colonel 
said  he  had  brought  a  fine  train  of  artillery  and  everything  requisite,  was 
heading  a  large  body  of  Indians,  commanded  by  British  otHcers,  and 
W-is  seconded  by  numerous  British  and  Spanish  fleets.  His  object  was  to 
put  an  end  to  the  usurpation  of  the  United  States,  and  restore  the  country 
to  its  lawful  owners. 

He  gave  assurances  that  the  inhabitants  had  no  need  to  be  alarmed  at 
his  approach,  as  the  good  faith  and  disinterestedness,  which  Britons  had 
manifested  in  Europe,  would  distinguish  them  in  America.  The  people 
would  be  relieved  from  taxes  imposed  on  them  to  support  an  unnatural 
war :  their  property,  their  laws,  their  religion,  the  i>eace  and  tranquillity 
of  their  country,  would  be  guaranteed  by  men,  who  suffered  no  infringe- 
ment of  their  own. 

The  Indians,  he  added,  had  pledged  themselves  in  the  most  solemn 
manner,  to  refrain  from  offering  the  slightest  injury  to  any  but  the  enemies 
of  their  Spanish  or  British  fathers.  A  French,  Spanish  or  British  flag, 
hoisted  over  any  house,  would  be  a  sure  protection,  and  no  Indian  would 
dare  to  cross  the  threshold  of  such  a  dwelling. 

Addressing  himself  to  the  people  of  Kentucky,  he  observed,  they  had 
too  long  borne  with  grievous  impositions  ;  the  whole  brunt  of  the  war  had 
fallen  on  their  brave  sons.  He  advised  them  to  be  imposed  on  no  longer, 
but  either  to  revenge  themselves  under  the  standard  of  their  forefathers, 
or  observe  the  strictest  neutrality :  assuring  them,  that,  if  they  complied 
with  his  offers,  whatever  provisions  they  might  send  down  would  be  paid 
in  dollars,  and  the  safety  of  the  persons  accompanying  them,  as  well  as 
the  free  navigation  of  the  Mississippi  would  be  guaranteed  to  them. 

He  called  to  their  view,  and  he  trusted  to  their  abhorrence,  the  conduct 
of  those  factions  which  had  hurried  them  into  a  civil,  unjust  and  unnatural 
war,  at  a  time  when  Great  Britain  was  straining  every  nerve  in  the 
defense  of  her  own  and  the  liberties  of  the  world ;  when  the  bravest  of 
her  sons  were  fighting  and  bleeding  in  so  sacred  a  cause ;  when  she 
was  spending  millions  of  her  treasure,  in  endeavoring  to  put  down  one  of 
the  most  formidable  and  dangerous  tyrants  that  ever  disgraced  the  form , 
of  man  ;  when  groaning  Europe  Avas  almost  in  her  last  gasp ;  when  Britain 
alone  showed  an  undaunted  front :  when  her  assassins  endeavored  to  stab 


III8T0KY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


361 


3re  supplied 

Bailed  froin 
le  Havana,  in 
id  of  Cuba,  a 
[\\B  men  and 
imagined  the 

a  landing  at 
lanish  otHoers 
1  joined  by  the 
lorida,  accom- 
8tablit*hed  his 
renty-ninth  of 

le  to  assist  in 
Vc  government. 
her  residents  or 
,ce.  The  colonel 
<»  requisite,  was 
sh  otUcers,  and 
[is  object  was  to 
itore  the  country 

0  be  alarmed  at 
ich  Britons  had 
Lca.  The  people 
»rt  an  unnatural 
.\nd  tranquillity 


-served,  they  had 
mt  of  the  war  had 

,sed  on  no  longer, 
their  forefathers, 
if  tbey  complied 
Kvu  would  be  naid 
them,  as  well  as 
^ed  to  them, 
rence,  the  conduct 

^ust  and  unnatural 

'ery  nerve  m  the 

.n  the  bravest  ot 

cause ;  when  she 

,)  put  down  one  ot 

Jraced  the  orm 

'!> ;  when  Bntam 

.ndeavorodtostab 


her ;  from  the  war,  she  had  turned  on  them,  renovated  from  the  bloody, 
but  successful  struggle ;  Europe  was  now  happy  and  free,  and  she  now 
hastened  justly  to  avenge  tlie  insult.  He  besought  them  to  show  they 
were  not  collectively  unjust,  and  leave  the  contemptible  few  to  shift  for 
themselves ;  to  let  the  slaves  of  the  tyrants  sond  an  embassy  to  the  island 
of  Elba,  to  implore  Ins  aid,  and  let  every  honest  American  spurn  them 
with  united  contempt. 

He  asked,  whether  the  Kentuckians,  after  the  experience  of  twentv-one 
years,  could  longer  support  those  brawlers  for  liberty,  who  called  it 
freedom,  when  themselves  were  free.  He  advised  them  not  to  be  duped 
any  longer  and  accept  of  his  oflers,  assuring  them  what  he  had  promised 
he  guaranteed  to  them  on  the  soiuid  honor  of  a  Briiinh  officer. 

In  an  order  of  the  day  for  the  first  colonial  battalion  of  tlie  royal  corps 
of  marines,  colonel  Nichols  informed  them  they  were  called  upon  to 
perform  a  duty  of  the  utmost  danger,  and  to  begin  a  long  and  tedious 
march  through  wildernesses  and  swamps,  and  their  enemy,  being  enured 
to  the  climate,  had  a  great  advantage  over  them  ;  but  he  conjured  them 
to  remember  the  twenty-one  years  of  glory  and  toil  of  their  country,  and 
to  resolve  to  follow  the  example  of  their  noble  companions,  who  had 
fought  and  shed  their  blood  in  her  service ;  to  be  equally  faithful  and 
trust  in  their  moral  discipline,  and  the  least  and  most  perfidious  of  their 
enemies  would  not  long  maintain  himself  before  them. 

He  added,  that  a  cause,  so  sacred  as  that  which  had  led  them  to  draw 
their  swords  in  Europe,  would  make  them  unsheath  them  in  America,  and 
use  them  with  equal  credit  and  advantage.  In  Europe  their  arms  h&d 
not  been  employed  for  the  good  of  their  country  only,  but  for  that  of  those 
who  groaned  in  the  chains  of  oppression,  and  in  America  they  were  to 
have  the  same  discretion,  and  the  people  they  wore  now  to  aid  and  assist, 
groaned  under  robberies  and  murders,  committed  on  them  by  the 
Americans. 

He  said,  the  noble  Spanish  nation  had  grieved  to  see  her  territories 
insulted,  having  been  robbed  and  despoiled  of  a  portion  of  them,  while 
overwhelmed  with  distress  and  held  down  by  chains  a  tyrant  had  loaded 
her  with,  while  gloriously  struggling  for  the  greatest  of  all  possible 
blessings,  true  liberty ;  the  treacherous  Americans,  who  call  themselves 
free,  had  attacked  her,  like  assassins,  while  she  was  fallen ;  but  the  day 
of  retribution  was  fast  approaching ;  these  atrocities  would  excite  liorror 
in  the  hearts  of  British  soldiers,  and  would  stimulate  them  to  avenge  the 
oppressed. 

He  recommended  to  his  men  to  exhibit  to  the  Indians  the  most  exact 
discipline,  and  be  a  p.attern  to  those  children  of  nature ;  to  teach  and 
instruct  them,  with  the  utmost  patience,  and  correct  them  when  they 
deserve  it ;  to  respect  their  affections  and  antipathies  and  never  give  them 
ajust  cause  of  offense. 

He  concluded  by  reminding  them,  that  sobriety  above  all  things,  should 
be  their  greatest  care ;  a  single  instance  of  drunkenness  might  be  their 
ruin,  and  he  declared,  in  the  most  solemn  manner,  that  no  consideration 
whatever  should  ever  induce  him  to  forgive  a  drunkard. 
Emissaries  were  sent,  with  copies  of  this  proclamation  over  the  country, 
between  Mobile  river  and  the  Mississippi. 
On  the  capture  of  the  island  of  Guaclaloupe,  by  the  British,  most  of  the 
privateers,  commissioned  by  the  colonial  government,  unable  to  find  a 
« 


362 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


shelter  in  the  West  India  islands,  resorted  to  lake  Barataria,  to  the  west 
of  the  citv  of  New  Orleans,  for  supplies  of  water  and  provisions,  recruiting 
the  health  of  their  crews  and  disposing  of  their  prizes,  which  they  were 
unable  to  do  elsewhere.     At  the  expiration  of  the  period,  during  which 
their  commissions,  from  the  governor  of  Guadaloupe,  authorized  them  to 
cruise,  these  people  went  toCarthagena,  where  they  procured  commissions, 
authorizing  tlie  capture  of  Spanish  vessels ;  the  neutrality  of  the  United 
States,  preventing  vessels  thus  captured  from  being  brought  to  their  ports, 
they  were  brought  to  Barataria.     Under  that  denomination  was  included 
all  the  coast  on  the  gulf  of  Mexico,  between  the  western  mouth  of  the 
Mississippi  and  that  of  the  river  or  bayou  Lafourche.    Near  the  sea  between 
those  streams,  are  the  small,  large  and  larger  lakes  of  Barataria,  commu- 
nicating with  one  another  by  bayous,  the  numerous  branches  of  which 
interlock  each  other.     A  secure  harbor  afforded  a  shelter  to  the  vessels 
of  those  people,  who  had  established  near  it  a  small  village,  in  which  they 
met  individuals  from  the  settlements  of  Attakapas  and  Lafourche,  anil 
the  right  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  and  even  New  Orleans,  who,  having  but 
few  competitors,   purchased  merchandise  on  advantageous  terms,  and 
obtained  good  prices  for  the  provisions  they  brought.     Besides  privateers- 
men,  the  village  was  resorted  to  by  interlope  and  negro  traders  from 
foreign  ports;  and  it  was  reported,  that  some  of  the  Barataria  people  were 
addicted  to  piratical  pursuits.    The  violation  of  the  laws  of  neutrality, 
the  fiscal  regulations  and  those  against  the  importation  of  slaves,  by  the 
mpn  of  Barataria,  though  persisted  in  for  a  number  of  years,  had  not,  till 
very  lately,  attracted  the  notice  of  the  general  or  state  government. 
Commodore  Patterson  had  just  received  orders,  from  the  secretary  of  the 
navy,  to  disperse  those  marauders,  the  schooner  Carolina  had  been  ordered 
to  New  Orleans,  for  that  purpose,  and  colonel  Ross,  of  the  forty-fourth 
regiment,  had  been  directed  to  co-operate  in  this  measure.    These  officers 
were  now  making  preparations  for  this  purpose. 

On  the  thirty-first  of  August,  colonel  Nichols,  addressed  a  letter  to 
Lafitte,  the  most  influential  individual  at  Barataria,  informing  him  of  his 
arrival  at  Pensacola,  for  the  purpose  of  annoying  the  only  enemy  Great 
Britain  had  in  the  world,  and  called  on  him  and  his  brave  followers  to 
enter  into  the  service  of  Great  Britain,  in  which  he  should  have  the  rank 
of  a  captain,  and  lands  would  be  allowed  to  them  all,  according  to  their 
respective  ranks,  on  a  peace  taking  plac^. 

An  oflScer  of  the  marine  corps  was  dispatched  with  this  letter,  and  the 
commander  of  the  king's  ships  at  Pensacola  wrote  also  to  Lafitte,  referring 
him  to  captain  Lockyer,  of  the  Sophia,  who  was  sent  to  convey  Nichols' 
emissary.  On  the  third  day  of  September,  these  letters  were  delivered  to 
a  brother  of  Lafitte,  who  was  absent.  He  amused  his  visitors  and  encour- 
aged them  to  hope  he  would  come  into  their  views,  but  asked  the  delay  j 
of  a  fortnight  before  he  made  his  final  determination  known.  He  instantly 
sent  to  a  merchant  in  New  Orleans,  the  letter  he  had  received  and  Nichols'  I 
proclamation,  with  directions  to  communicate  them  to  Claiborne,  and  | 
deliver  him  a  letter,  in  which  Lafitte  offered  his  services,  and  those  of  his 
people,  to  defend  the  part  of  the  state  he  occupied,  or  be  otherwisel 
employed  against  the  enemy,  asking  only  that  a  stop  might  be  put  to  the! 
proscription  of  his  brother,  himself  and  their  adherents,  by  an  act  off 
oblivion.    He  concluded,  with  the  assurance  that,  if  his  request  was  not  j 


,  to  the  west 
IB,  recruiting 
ch  they  were 
luring  which 
ized  them  to 
commissions, 
)f  the  United 
to  their  ports, 
was  included 
mouth  of  the 
.heseahetween 
itaria,  commu- 
ches  of  which 
•  to  the  vessels 
!,  in  which  they 
Lafourche,  and 
vho,  having  but 
>U8  terms,  and 
sides  privateers- 
ro  traders  from 
aria  people  were 
^s  of  neutrality, 
of  slaves,  by  the 
>ars,  had  not,  till 
■ate   government. 
5  secretary  of  the 
had  heen  ordered 
■  the  forty-fourth 
kg     These  officers 


nis  letter,  and  the 
|o  Lafitte,  referring 
to  convey  Nichols 
t  were  delivered  to 
lisitorsandencouT- 
\i  asked  the  delay 
Lvn.    Hemstan^^v 
Lived  and  Nichols 
[to  Claiborne,  and 
L  and  those  of  his 
T'or  he  other^vl8e 
i^ightbeputtothj 

tents,  by  an  act  of 
[is  request  was  not| 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


363 


granted,  he  would  forthwith  leave  the  state,  to  avoid  the  imputation  of 
having  co-operated  in  an  invasion  of  Barataria. 

Claiborne  called  together  the  principal  oflBcers  of  the  army,  militia  and 
navy,  and  laid  before  them  Lafitte's  letter,  and  the  papers  he  had  received  ; 
they  recommended  that  he  should  not  have  any  intercourse,  or  enter  into 
correspondence  with  any  of  those  people.  Major-general  Villere  and 
Claiborne  were  the  only  persons,  at  this  meeting,  who  disapproved  of  the 
recommendation. 

At  the  expiration  of  the  delav,  captain  Lockyer  came  to  the  place 
indicated,  to  receive  Lafitte's  final  answer,  but  being  met  by  no  one,  he 
returned. 

Early  in  this  month,  the  quota  of  the  militia  in  the  state,  which  had 
been  ordered  to  be  held  in  readiness,  in  consequence  of  a  requisition  of 
Jackson,  who  had  succeeded  Flournoy,  in  command  of  the  seventh  military 
district,  was  directed  by  Claiborne  to  rendezvous  in  New  Orleans,  to  be 
organized  and  taken  into  the  service  of  the  United  States. 

Fort  Boyer,  the  fortification  which  Wilkinson,  after  the  Spanish 
garrison  was  driven  out  of  Fort  Charlotte,  at  Mobile,  had  erected,  on  a 
point  of  land  which  commands  the  entrance  of  Mobile  bay,  was  found  a 
great  obstacle  to  the  operations  of  the  British  in  Louisiana,  and  an  eftbrt 
was  made,  in  the  midale  of  September,  to  take  possession  of  it. 

Commodore  Perry,  with  a  flotilla  of  four  vessels  of  war,  in  which  he 
had  brought  Nichols  and  his  troops  to  Pensacola,  took  on  board  thirteen 
hundred  men,  six  hundred  of  whom  were  Indians ;  his  ships  had  ninety- 
two  pieces  of  heavy  artillery.  Major  Lawrence,  who  commanded  the  fort, 
had  a  garrison  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  men  and  twenty  pieces  of 
cannon.  Perry  landed  a  part  of  his  soldiers,  who  erected  a  battery,  the 
guns  of  which  and  those  of  the  ships,  began  at  once  a  tremendous  fire : 
but  the  fort  was  so  gallantly  defended  and  his  own  ship  was  so  injured 
that  he  was  obliged  to  set  fire  to  her :  the  other  three  were  so  absolutely 
disabled,  that  the  commodore  took  the  men  he  had  landed,  on  board,  and 
sailed  away,  having  had  one  hundred  and  sixty-two  men  killed  and  as 
many  wounded. 

Oti  the  eighteenth  of  September,  the  expedition  that  had  been  prepared, 
in  New  Orleans,  by  commodore  Patterson  and  colonel  Ross,  reached  the 
settlement  of  Barataria  men ;  those  people  had  abandoned  it,  as  soon  as 
they  perceived  the  vessels,  leaving  a  quantity  of  goods,  that  were  saved ; 
the  houses  were  all  destroyed. 
On  the  return  of  the  British  flotilla,  which  had  been  repulsed  before 
Fort  Boyer,  the  British  were  permitted  to  garrison  the  forts  at  Pensacola. 
Jackson,  who  was  then  at  Mobile,  determined  on  taking  possession  of  that 
town,  in  order  to  deprive  the  enemy  of  a  place  of  shelter  and  refuge.  He 
accordingly  assembled  at  Fort  Montgomery,  on  the  Alabama  river,  a  body 
of  about  four  thousand  men,  composed  of  regulars  and  militia  from  the 
state  of  Tennessee  and  Mississippi  territory,  and,  soon  after,  led  them 
towards  Pensacola,  and  halted  witnin  two  miles  of  the  town,  on  the  sixth 
of  November. 
Major  Peire,  an  aid  of  Jackson,  was  now  dispatched  with  a  communi- 
cation to  the  Spanish  governor,  announcing  to  him,  that  the  army  of  the 
I'nited  States  aid  not  approach  with  any  hostile  views  to  Spain,  and  had 
BO  object  but  to  deprive  the  British,  with  whom  they  were  at  war,  of  a 
place  of  refuge,  in  which  they  prepared  the  means  of  annoying  the 


iM-;  : 


'.',.'■,'' 

, ;  ii. 

'  "S'' 

'fly 

"■'  'nii' 

■  f,',  ■  ^ 

':i| 

'^'■■■..  ; 

'■'  ^'i 

,    -■   .  ; 

"*'» 

,■    ■ } 

■•        ;^, 

,-  •■^ 

■   I*.':'- 

;^- 

1. 

.  ■■?<>; 

ku 

L^^ilL 

■ 


864 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


inliabitants  of  the  adjoining  territory  of  the  United  States.  He  therefore 
re(iuired,  that  the  governor  should  admit  a  garrison  out  of  the  army  of 
the  United  States  ni  Fort  St.  Michael  and  that  of  the  Barrancas,  till  a 
sufficient  Spanish  force,  to  enable  the  colonial  government  of  Pensacola, 
to  support  the  neutrality  of  the  Catholic  king's  territory,  should  arrive. 
The  major  was  fired  on,  although  he  ajmroached  alone,  and  bore  a 
conspicuous  white  Hag ;  he  reconnoitred  tne  fort  and  distinctly  saw  it 
occupied  by  British  troojjs  ;  the  Spanish  fiag  was  <lisi)layed  over  it ;  but 
information  was  received  that,  on  the  preceding  day,  both  the  Spanish 
and  British  flags  had  been  simultaneously  hoisted. 

.Jackson,  on  the  return  of  Pcire,  sent  a  letter  to  the  governor,  by  a 
prisoner,  demanding  an  explanation.  A  Spanish  officer  soon  after  arrived 
with  a  letter  from  the  governor,  containing  assurances  of  his  having  had 
no  participation  in  the  transaction  complained  of,  and  that  if  the  connmi- 
nication  was  renewed  the  messenger  would  bo  received  with  due  respect. 
Poire  went  in  accordingly,  at  midnight,  and  on  Jackson's  proposition 
being  rejected,  declared  that  recourse  would  be  had  to  arms. 

Accordingly  on  his  return,  on  the  seventh,  three  thousand  men  were 
marched  in  three  columns,  along  the  beach,  in  order  to  avoid  the  fire  of 
Fort  St.  Michael ;  but  when  in  sight  of  the  town,  the  artillery  proving  too 
heavy  for  the  san  1,  the  middle  column  was  ordered  to  charge,  and  as 
soon  as  the  head  of  it  appeared  in  the  principal  street,  a  Spanish  battery 
of  two  pieces  of  cannon,  was  opened  on  it:  it  was  immediately  carried  at 
the  point  of  the  bayonet,  with  the  loss  of  eleven  men  killed  or  wounded; 
the  Spaniards  had  one  man  killed  and  six  wounded. 

The  governor  now  made  his  appearance,  with  a  white  flag  in  his  hand 
and  being  met  by  some  officers,  at  the  head  of  the  troops,  declared  his 
intention  to  accept  the  proposition  made  to  him.  Jackson,  on  l)ein» 
informed  of  this,  hastened  to  the  house  of  the  intendant,  who  assured 
him  the  town,  arsenals,  forts  and  munitions  of  war  would  be  surrendered. 
On  this,  Jackson  ordered  hostilities  to  cease,  and  his  troops  to  march  out 
of  town. 

Notwithstanding  the  strong  assurances  of  the  governor  and  intendant. 
the  forts  were  not  surrendered.  Jackson  was  making  preparations  to  storm 
Fort  St.  Michael,  when  the  officer  commanding  it,  lowered  his  fiag  and 
yielded  the  fortress,  before  a  single  blow  was  struck. 

The  troops  were  marching  towards  Fort  St.  Charles,  of  the  Barrancas, 
when  the  British  blew  it  up,  and  retreated  to  their  shipping,  with  some  of 
their  Indians.  Those  of  the  latter,  who  did  not  go  on  board,  fied  acros*: 
the  country ;  the  others  were  landed  on  the  Apalachicola,  and,  immedi- 
ately after,  the  vessel  sailed  away. 

The  American  army,  shortly  after,  returned  to  Mobile. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

The  second  state  legislature  had  began  its  first  sp'"'i')n  on  the  tenth  nfj 
November,  1814.     The  following  extract   from  CU  heme's  speech  shows 
how  little  foundation  there  was  in  the  rumor,  thai;  circulated,  of  the  disaf-j 
fection  of  the  inhabitants  of  Louisiana :     "  In  the  patriotic  ardor,  whiclil 
j)ervades  the  state,  I  behold  a  pledge  of  its  fidelity  and  devotion  to  tliej 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


365 


He  therefore 
the  arinv  of 
rrancrts,  till  a 
of  Pensacohi, 
hould  arrive, 
and    bore  a 
itinctly  saw  it 
1  over  it ;  i)Ut 
I  the  Spanish 

overnor,  by  a 
\x\  after  arrived 
his  having:;  had 
if  the  conunu- 
ith  clue  respect, 
n's  proposition 

19. 

sand  men  were 
ivoid  the  fire  of 
lerv  proving  too 
1  charge,  and  as 
Spanish  l)attery 
liately  carried  at 
led  or  wounded ; 

flag  in  his  hand 
ops,  declared  his 
ickson,  on  l)einji 
nt,  who  assured 
d  be  surrendered. 
)op8  to  inarch  out 

)r  and  intendant, 
arations  to  storm 
ercd  his  flag  and 

I  of  the  Barrancas. 

l\n»,  with  some  ot 

[board,  fled  across 

ola,  and,  immedi- 


Im  on  the  tenth  of 

Inc's  speech  show? 
ilatcd,ofthedisijt- 

l-iotic  ard.or,  whj  h 
devotion  to  tlH| 


American  union.  This  ardor,  this  American  spirit,  has  been  tested  by 
the  facility  with  which  the  late  requisition,  for  an  auxiliary  force  of  militia 
infantry,  fias  been  carried  into  effect,  by  the  laudable  zeal  with  which  the 
volunteer  cavalry  and  riflemen  have  pressed  forward  in  their  country's 
cause.  In  meetin;?  the  requisition,  I  am  satisfied  with  the  conduct  of 
every  officer,  whose  duty  it  was  to  co-operate ;  and  I  have  noticed,  with 
pleasure,  the  promptitude  with  which  most  of  the  regiments  furnished 
their  contingent.  But,  for  the  valuable  services  of  the  cavalry  and  rifletnen. 
we  are  particularly  indebted  to  the  distinguished  patriotism  of  the  citizens 
of  Feliciana  and  Attakapas.  You  cannot,  gentlemen,  too  highly  appre- 
ciate the  patriotic,  the  martial  spirit  which  at  present  exists." 

(leneral  Jackson  reached  New  Orleans  on  the  second  of  December,  and, 
(»n  the  next  day,  descended  the  river  to  view  Fort  St.  Charles,  at  Plaque- 
mines, and  other  works  which  were  projecting  on  the  opposite  bank.  A 
c(tnimittee  of  the  legislature  waited  on  him,  with  the  copy  of  a  resolution 
of  that  body,  testifying  to  the  great  and  important  services  lately  rendered 
by  him  and  the  gallant  army  under  his  command,  entitled  them  to  the 
thanks  and  gratitude  of  the  general  assembly. 

Accounts  were  now  received  from  Pensacola,  that  a  very  large  naval 

force  of  the  enemy  was  off  that  port,  and  it  was  generally  understood  New 

Orleans  was  the  object  of  the  attack ;  eighty  vessels  were  in  sight,  and 

more  than   double   that  number  were  momentarily  looked  for.     There 

were  vessels  of  all  descriptions  and  a  large  body  of  troops.     Admiral 

Cochrane  commanded  the  fleet,  and  his  ship  the  Tonnant,  was  off  the  port. 

Lieutenant  Jones,  who  commanded  on  lalce  Borgne,  a  flotilla  consisting 

of  five  gunboats  and  a  schooner,  was  ordered  to  reconnoitre  and  ascertain 

the  disposition  and  force  of  the  enemy,  and  in  case  they  should  attempt, 

through  this  route,  to  effect  a  disembarkation,  to  retire  to  the  Rigolets, 

the  principal  pass  between  lakes  Borgne  and  Pontchartrain,  and  there, 

with  his   flotilla,  make  an  obstinate  resistance  and  contend  to  the  last. 

He  remained  off  Ship  Island  till  the  twelfth,  when  the  enemy's   force 

lieing  much  increased,  he  retired  to  a  position   near  the   Malheureux 

island,  from  whence,  on  his  being  attacked,  he  had  a  better  opportunity 

of  making  his  retreat  to  the  Rigolets,  where  alone  he  was  instructed  to 

make  opposition.    This  pass  and  that  of  Chef  Menteur,  unite  at  the 

entrance  of  the  lakes,  and  form  a  narrow  channel,  on  reaching  which  the 

gunboats  would  be  enabled  to  present  as  formidable  an  opposition,   as 

could  be  made  to  all  the  force  tnat  could  be  brought  against  them,  and 

put  at  defiance  any  effort  that  could  be  made  against  the  city  through 

that  route. 

On  the  thirteenth,  Jones  perceived  the  enemy's  barges  approaching  him, 
and  immediately  weighed  his  anchors,  with  the  design  of  reaching  the 
Rigolets :  but  found  this  absolutely  i:'npracticable.  A  strong  wind  having 
blown  for  some  days  to  the  east,  from  the  lake  to  the  gulf,  had  so  reduced 
the  de))th  of  ^vater,  that  the  best  and  deepest  channels  were  insufficient  to 
float  his  little  squadron  ;  the  oars  were  resorted  to,  but  in  vain.  Every- 
thing that  could  be  spared  was  thrown  overboard ;  but  this  was  also 
ineffectual.  At  last,  a  sudden  tide  brought  a  momentary  relief,  lifted  the 
boat  from  the  shoals,  and  Jones  directed  his  course  to  the  Rigolets,  and 
came  to  an  anchor  at  one  o'clock  on  the  next  morning,  in  the  west 
passage  of  the  Malheureux  island,  and  at  daybreak  saw  the  pursuit  had 
been  abandoned. 


'.'''ti 


>'Vl 


in 


366 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


There  was,  at  the  bay  of  St.  Louis,  some  public  stores,  which  he  had 
sent  the  schooner  Sea  Horse,  to  bring  off.  The  British  barges  made  two 
vain  attempts  to  capture  this  vessel.  Her  commander  deeming  it 
impossible  to  execute  Jones'  orders,  destroyed  the  stores :  and  seeing  the 
enemy  returning  in  great  force,  blew  up  tne  schooner  and  retreated  l>y 
land.' 

On  the  morning  of  the  fourteenth,  the  enemy's  barges  were  seen 
approaching  the  gunboats ;  a  retreat  became  impossible,  the  wind  was 
entirely  lulled,  a  perfect  calm  prevailed,  and  a  strong  current  setting  to 
the  gulf,  rendered  every  effort,  to  reach  the  Kigolets  unavailing,  the 
resolution  was  taken  to  fight  as  long  as  there  remained  the  hope  of  tlio 
least  success.  The  line  was  formed,  with  springs  on  the  cables.  Forty- 
three  barges,  mounting  as  many  cannon,  with  twelve  hundred  fine  nicn, 
were  advancing  in  an  extended  line,  and  came  soon  in  reach ;  at  half  after 
eleven  o'clock  they  commenced  to  fire,  and  the  action  immediately  became 
general.  Owing  to  a  strong  current  setting  out  to  the  east,  two  of  the 
boats  were  unable  to  keep  their  anchorage,  and  floated  about  one  hundred 
yards  in  advance  of  the  line.  The  enemy  advanced  in  three  divisions; 
the  centre  one  bore  down  on  the  centre  boat,  commanded  by  the  senior 
officer,  and  twice  attempting  to  board,  was  twice  repulsed,  with  an  immense 
destruction  of  officers  and  men  and  the  loss  of  two  boats,  which  were  sunk. 
Jones  being  too  severelv  wounded  to  maintain  the  deck,  the  command 
devolved  on  Parker,  who  no  less  valiantly  defended  his  flag,  till  his 
wounds  compelled  him  to  retreat,  and  the  boat  was  soon  after  carried ; 
another  boat,  though  gallantly  defended,  was  soon  after  taken  and  the 
guns  of  both  turned  on  the  others,  which  were  compelled  to  surrender. 
The  loss  on  board  of  the  gunboats  was  ten  men  killed  and  thirty -five 
wounded ;  that  of  the  British  not  less  than  three  hundred.  The  Americans 
had  five  boats,  one  hundred  and  eighty-two  men,  and  twenty-three  guns. 
The  force  of  the  assailants  has  already  been  stated. 

The  loss  of  the  gunboats  left  the  enem)'  comnlete  master  of  the  lakes 
to  the  east  of  the  island  on  which  the  city  of  New  Orleans  stands,  and 
gave  him  the  facility  of  reaching  it  by  any  of  the  waters  running  easterly 
to  any  of  these  lakes. 

The  crisis  appeared  really  alarming.  The  force  in  New  Orleans  consisted 
only  of  seven  hundred  men  of  the  seventh  and  forty-fourth  regiments  of 
the  United  States,  and  one  thousand  state  militia,  besides  one  hundred 
and  fifty  sailors  and  marines.  Three  thousand  men  of  the  militia  of 
Tennessee,  under  general  Carrol,  and  a  body  of  twelve  hundred  and  fifty 
riflemen  of  the  same  state,  under  general  Coffee,  were  looked  for ;  and  it  wan 
reported,  a  body  of  twenty-five  hundred  men  from  Kentucky,  under  general 
Thomas,  were  on  their  march  ;  and  it  was  deemed,  that  after  leaving  a  suffi- 
cient part  of  the  militia  of  the  state  in  the  different  parishes  to  keep  the  slaves 
in  awe,  three  thousand  men  might  be  brought  to  the  defense  of  the  city- 
making,  with  some  aid  from  the  Mississippi  territory,  a  general  total  of 
about  twelve  thousand  :  but  the  enemy  was  much  nearer  to  the  city  than 
three-fourths  of  this  force. 

Although  the  population  of  New  Orleans  was  composed  of  individuals 
of  different  nations,  it  was  as  patriotic  as  that  of  any  city  in  the  union. 
The  Creoles  were  sincerely  attacned  to  liberty  and  the  general  goverment; 
they  had  given  a  strong  evidence  of  this,  on  tneir  admission  into  the  union, 
by  the  election  of  the  governor,  judges,  and  almost  every  other  officer 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


867 


ch  he  had 

mnde  two 
Aeeiuing  it 

seeing  the 
jtreated  hy 

»  were  »een 
ic  wii\<l  was 
it  netting  to 
.vailing,  the 

hope  of  the 
jles.  Vorty- 
ed  fine  men, 
;  at  half  after 
ately  became 
(t,  two  of  the 
;  one  hundred 
ree  divisions ; 

by  the  senior 
h  an  immense 
ieh  were  sunk. 
the  command 
9  flag,  till  his 

after  carried  •, 
taken  and  the 
[  to  surrender, 
and  thirty-five 
iThe  Americans 
aty-three  guns. 

er  of  the  lakes 
,n8  stands,  and 
inning  easterly 

rleans  consisted 
h  regiments  ot 
•8  one  hundred 
the  militia  of 
mdrcd  and  fifty 
ifor;  anditwa* 
y,  under  general 

r  leaving  a  sufti- 
lo  keep  the  slaves 

ise  of  the  citv-- 
eeneral  total  ot 
Z  the  city  than 

yj,  of  individuals 
Aty  in  the  union. 
Iieral  goverment; 
In  into  the  union, 

fery  other  officer 


sent  to  them  by  the  President  of  the  United  States.  The  Spaniards  were 
very  small  in  number,  and  a  few  of  them  might  have  been  elated  to  see 
the  flag  of  their  nation  raised  in  the  country,  but  they  had  no  sympathetic 
feeling  for  the  British  ;  the  individuals  of  that  nation  who  were  not  natu- 
ralized had  retired  into  the  interior.  There  were  a  few  from  almost  every 
other  European  nation,  but  nothing  was  apprehended  from  them. 

Claiborne  was  sincerely  attached  to  the  government  of  his  country,  and 
the  legislature  was  i)repared  to  call  forth  and  place  at  Jackson's  disposal 
all  the  resources  of  the  state. 

The  disappointment  of  some,  who  had  unsuccessfully  struggled  for 
ascendency,  had  united  them  in  opposition  to  Claiborne's  measures. 
There  were  a  few  citizens  of  the  United  States  of  considerable  talents  and 
influence  among  them,  many  of  whom  had  seats  in  the  legislature ;  and 
hitherto  when  no  immediate  danger  seemed  to  threaten,  had  thrown  some 
difficulty  in  the  way  of  Claiborne  on  his  attempt  to  bring  a  part  of  the 
militia  into  the  service  of  the  United  States.  The  governor,  who  in  1806, 
had  joined  Wilkinson  in  the  cry  of  spies  and  traitors,  was  disposed  to 
consider  his  opponents  as  of  that  character. 

Hall,  the  district  judge  of  the  United  States,  had  become  obnoxious  to 
a  few  individuals ;  he  had  been  from  the  beginning  very  strict  in  enforcing 
the  laws  of  congress,  and  persons  brought  before  him  for  breaches  of  the 
revenue,  embargo  or  non-importation  laws,  had  conceived  the  idea  that  he 
was  extremely  severe.  Among  the  papers  of  Lafitte,  which  had  been 
lately  taken  at  Barataria,  had  been  found  letters  of  several  merchants, 
who  had  hitherto  sustained  a  good  character,  affording  evidence  of  their 
being  accomplices  of  that  man,  and  prosecutions  had  been  instituted 
against  some  of  them.  The  stern  impartiality  of  the  judge  had  induced 
a  belief  they  had  much  to  apprehend ;  the  counsel,  whom  they  had 
eniployed,  were  generally  the  opponents  of  Claiborne. 

The  want  of  an  able  military  chief  was  sensibly  felt,  and  notwith- 
standing any  division  of  sentiment  on  any  other  subject,  the  inclination 
was  universal  to  support  Jackson,  and  he  had  been  hailed  on  his  arrival 
by  all.  There  were  some,  indeed,  who  conceived  that  the  crisis  demanded 
a  general  of  some  experience  in  ordinary  warfare ;  that  one  whose  military 
career  had  begun  with  the  current  year,  and  who  had  never  met  with  any 
but  an  Indian  force,  was  ill  calculated  to  meet  the  warlike  enemy  who 
threatened ;  but  all  were  willing  to  make  a  virtue  of  necessity,  and  to 
take  their  wishes  for  their  opinions,  and  manifested  an  unbounded  confi- 
dence in  him.  All  united  in  demonstrations  of  respect  and  reliance,  and 
every  one  was  ready  to  give  him  his  support.  His  immediate  and 
incessant  attention  to  the  defense  of  the  country,  the  care  he  took  to  visit 
every  vulnerable  point,  his  unremitted  vigilance  and  the  strict  discipline 
enforced,  soon  convinced  all  that  he  was  the  man  the  occasion  demanded. 
Unfortunately  he  had  been  surrounded,  from  the  moment  of  his 
arrival,  by  persons  from  the  ranks  of  the  opposition  to  Claiborne,  Hall 
and  the  state  government,  and  it  was  soon  discovered  that  he  had  become 
impressed  with  the  idea,  that  a  great  part  of  the  population  of  Louisiana 
was  disaffected  and  the  city  full  of  traitors  and  spies.  It  appears  such 
were  his  sentiments  as  early  as  the  eighth  of  September ;  for  in  a  letter 
of  Claiborne,  which  he  since  published,  the  governor  joins  in  the  opinion 
and  writes  to  him,  "  I  think  with  you  that  our  country  is  full  of  spies  and 
traitors."    The  governor  was  not  unwilling  to  increase  his  own  merit,  by 


::^:i!v;a 


:|   ! 


I 
it 


*'       Mi 


i^a 


868 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


magnifviiiK  the  obstacles  ho  luul  to  surmount:  ho  therefore  stated  in  his 
corresponuenee  with  Jiiekson  every  opposition  he  met  with,  and  did  not 
fail  to  represont  every  one,  who  di(l  not  think  as  ho  did,  as  inimical  to  the 
country.  Those  who  inunediatoly  surrounded  Jackson  (jn  his  arrival, 
with  a  view  to  enhance  his  reliance  on  them,  availed  themselves  of  ovcry 
opportunity  to  increase  his  sense  of  danger. 

Time,  wliich  is  the  true  tost  of  the  soundness  of  opinions,  has  shown 
that  the  people  of  Louisiana  deserved  well  of  their  country  during  tin- 
invasion,  and  that  not  one  shadow  of  treason  or  disafiection  appeared  in 
them. 

An  instance  of  what  is  called  the  machinations  of  foreigners,  has  hoi-n 
recorded.  Colonel  Coliol,  a  Spanish  officer  of  the  garrison  of  Pcnsacula, 
had  an  only  daughter  married  to*  Lacroix,  a  wealthy  planter,  and 
was  on  a  visit  at  his  farm,  a  few  miles  below  the  citv  :  in  writing  thonci' 
to  one  of  his  friends  in  Pensacola,  he  stated  the  weakness  of  the  force  the 
British  would  have  to  encounter  in  Louisiana,  and  expressed  his  belief  of 
their  success.  This  letter  was  intercepted  and  s(;nt  to  Clail)()rne,  who 
submitted  it  to  the  attorney-general.  The  latter  thought  there  was  no 
room  for  his  interference,  but  gave  it  as  his  opini()n,  that  in  tinio  of  war, 
when  an  invasion  was  apprehended,  the  governor  might  send  away  any 
foreigner  whom  he  suspected  of  any  concert  with  the  enemy,  (^n  this, 
the  colonel  was  ordered  away,  and  obeyed.  The  commu  >ication  between 
New  Orleans  and  Pensacola  was  opened  ;  there  was  no  I'ritish  force  in  the 
latter  j)lace,  and  the  information  conveyed  was  such  as  nnght  have  been 
had  from  any  traveller.  The  colonel  acted  perhaps  indiscreetly,  but  it  is 
far  from  being  clear  he  had  any  hostile  view. 

Jackson  had  Claiborne's  assurance  that  the  latter  would  receive  and 
obey  his  orders,  and  supixtrt  all  his  measures  for  the  common  defense. 

The  legislature  was  in  session,  since  the  beginning  of  the  precedin}? 
month.  We  have  seen  that  Claiborne,  at  the  opening  of  the  session,  had 
oifered  them  his  congratulations,  on  the  ala  r'ty  with  which  the  call  of  the 
United  States  for  a  body  of  militia  had  been  met,  which,  with  the  detail 
of  the  proceedings  of  that  body,  is  the  best  refutation  of  the  charges  which 
have  been  urged  against  them.  It  will  show,  that  in  attachment  to  the 
Union,  in  zeal  for  the  defense  of  the  country,  in  liberality  in  furnishing 
the  means  of  it,  and  in  ministering  to  the  wants  of  their  brave  fellow- 
citizens  who  came  down  to  assist  them  in  repelling  the  foe,  the  genera! 
assembly  of  Louisiana  does  not  suffer  by  a  comparison  of  its  conduct  with 
that  of  any  legislative  body  in  the  United  States.  The  assertion,  that  any 
member  of  it  entertained  the  silly  opinion,  that  a  capitulalion,  if  any 
became  necessary,  was  to  be  brought  about  or  effected  by  the  agency  oi" 
the  houses,  any  more  than  by  that  of  a  court  of  justice,  or  the  city  council 
of  New  Orleans,  is  absolutely  groundless. 

As  early  as  the  twenty-second  of  November,  Louaillier,  one  of  the 
members  of  the  house  of  representatives  for  the  county  of  Opelousas, 
whose  name  will  be  frequently  mentioned  in  the  sequel  of  the  work,  in  a 
report,  which  he  made  as  chairman  of  the  committee  of  ways  and  means, 
had  drawn  the  attention  of  the  legislature  to  the  necessity  of  their  making 
suitable  provision  for  the  defense  of  the  country.  "Who,"  it  is  said  in 
this  document,  "has  not  admired  the  patriotic  ardor  which  was  displayed 
in  the  execution  of  the  works  deemed,  by  the  principal  cities  of  the  union 
and  our  sister  states,  necessary  for  the  protection  of  such  as  could  be 


HISTORY  OK   LOUISIANA. 


369 


itcnl  in  liirt 
ivl  (li'l  not 
nu'iU  to  the 
iuH  iivrivtil, 
,'es  of  every 

has  shown 
'  i\m'\\\\i  th^' 
a\)\>i'io'eil  in 

rs,  has  i)een 
t*  Pensai'ula, 
j)Uinti'r,  i\w\ 
ritin^  thenoe 

the  torco  tiio 
\  iuslx'Uet'ttf 
ivii)orne,  who 
thcvo  was  no 

time  of  war, 
;nd  away  any 
inv.  On  tins, 
•ivtion  \)t'twcen 
ish  foroc  in  the 
ght  have  been 
recUy,  but  it  is 

1(1  receive  and 
lion  defense. 
■  the  pvecedniii 
he  session,  had 
h  the  call  of  the 
with  the  detail 
e  charges  which 
tchment  to  the 
r  in  furnishing 
r  brave  fellow- 
be,  the  general 
its  conduct  with 

iertion,  that  any 
;ula;ion,  if  anv 
the  agency  ot 
the  city  council 


assailed  by  the  enemy?  The  nuigistratcH,  the  citizen^,  the  offlci  rs  of  tlie 
general  uovcrnnient,  manifested  the  utmost  zeal  to  obtain  the  desin 
object — tneir  safety  and  the  ignominious  retreat  of  the  enemy  were  tl 
glorious  result  of  their  efforts.  How  docs  it  happen  that  such  a  nobi>^ 
example  has  not  been  followed  in  this  nart  ot  the  union?  Are  we  so 
situated  as  to  have  no  dangers  to  dread?  Is  our  population  of  such  a 
description  as  to  secure  our  tran<iuillity  ?  Shall  we  always  confine  ourselves 
to  adcTresses  and  j)roclamations?  Are  we  always  to  witness  the  several 
departments  entrusted  with  our  defense,  languishing  in  a  state  of  inactivity 
hardly  to  be  excused,  even  in  the  most  peaceable  times?  No  other 
evidence  of  patriotism  is  to  bu  found  than  a  disposition  to  avoid  every 
expense,  every  fatigue — nothing  as  yet  has  been  j)erformed  ;  it  is  the  duty 
of  the  legislature  to  give  the  necessary  impulse,  but  it  is  only  by  adopting 
a  course  entirely  opi)osite  to  that  which  hitherto  has  been  pursued,  that  wo 
can  hope  for  success — if  the  legislature  adds  its  own  indolence  to  that  which 
generally  prevails,  we  can  easily  foresee  that  ere  long,  a  capitulation, 
similar  to  that  obtained  by  the  city  of  Alexandria,  will  be  the  consequence 
of  a  conduct  so  highly  culpable. 

"  A  considerable  wrce  is  now  assembled  under  the  orders  of  general 
Jackson,  which  will  speedily  receive  large  reinforcements  from  the  militia 
of  the  western  states,  out  it  is  nevertheless  true  that  the  principal  avenues 
to  our  capitaV  are  not  in  a  situation  to  insure  its  preservation  ;  and  that 
unless  we  are  determined  to  provide  for  its  safety  ourselves,  unless  we  act 
with  a  promptness  and  energy  equal  to  the  torpor  which  seems  to  have 
invaded  the  principal  branches  of  our  government,  that  force  will  only  be 
employed  in  retaking  this  territory,  which  must  fall  an  easy  prey  to  the 
first  efforts  of  an  invading  foe ;  the  legislature  has  been  convened  for  the 
purpose  of  raising  a  fund  adequate  to  the  expenses  necessary  to  ward  off" 
the  dangers  by  which  we  are  threatened — this  is  the  object  which  must  be 
accomplished — little  does  it  matter  whether  this  or  that  expenditure 
ought  to  be  supplied  by  the  general  or  by  the  state  government,  let  us  not 
hesitate  in  making  such  as  safety  may  require ;  when  this  shall  have  been 
secured,  then  our  claims  to  a  reimbursement  will  be  listened  to." 

On  the  same  day,  Rotfignac,  the  chairman  of  the  committee  of  defense, 
presented  a  plan,  which  was  directed  to  be  communicated  to  Claiborne, 
for  the  information  of  Jackson. 

Commodore  Patterson  having,  on  the  seventh  of  December,  suggested 
a  plan  of  defense  against  any  attempt  of  the  enemy  to  ascend  the 
Mississippi,  the  legislature,  after  having  ordered  it  to  be  laid  before 
Jackson,  directed  the  committee  of  defense  to  ascertain  what  number  of 
men,  and  the  quantity  of  ordnance  and  other  arms,  the  commanding 
officers  of  the  land  and  naval  forces  would  require,  that  it  might  be  known 
what  was  to  be  supplied  by  the  state. 

On  the  thirteenth,  the  sum  of  seventeen  thousand  dollars,  the  remaining 
part  of  twenty  thousand,  which  Claiborne  had  borrowed  during  the  recess 
of  the  legislature,  for  the  defense  of  the  country,  on  account  of  the  state, 
was  directed  to  be  applied,  under  the  orders  of  Jackson,  in  procuring 
materials  and  workmen  for  the  completion  of  such  batteries  and  other 
fortifications  as  he  had  directed,  and  a  further  sum  of  eleven  thousand 
dollars  was  appropriated  to  the  same  object. 

Claiborne  was  at  the  same  time  requested  to  recommend  it  to  the 
plasters  of  the  parish  of  Orleans  and  the  neighboring  ones,  to  place 

49 


bm 


S:m  !t 


370 


IIIHTORY  or   LOUI8IANA. 


ininicdiatoly  jis  niuny  of  thoir  working  htindfl  ns  tlioy  couM  Hjmro  at  the 
din|H»Hal  of  Jackson,  to  he  omploycd  on  thcHe  fortiticationH — a  ntquiHition 
winch  wan  conipliod  with  ho  j^enerally,  that  more  handu  were  Hent  than 
could  he  eni|)h)yed. 

At  the  HUgf?«'Htion  of  Patterson  and  Jacknon,  (Maihorne  proponed  to  the; 
Icgirthiture,  on  the  following  da.  the  suspenHion  of  the  writ  of  hitlwoH 
corpuH,  in  order  to  enahle  the  eonnuodore  ininiediately  to  prewH  hamh  for 
the  Hervice  of  the  United  States  and  thepttnend,  in  ease  the  enemy  landed, 
to  apprehend  and  seeun;  (lisaf!'ect«'d  persons. 

Great  do«d»ts  were  (Mitertained  hy  th(^  legislature,  whether  any  person 
arrested  hy  the  commanding  oHicers  of  the  land  and  naval  forces  of  the 
United  States  could  1»*  relieved  on  writs  of  hdhnm  rorjmx,  issued  hv  a 
state  court  or  ju<lge,  and  tlu^y  knew  from  the  firmness  and  inMoxihilitv 
which  Hall,  the  district  judge  of  the  United  States,  had  manifested  iii 
1S()(),  that  ho  would  not  consider  hinjself  relieved  from  the  oldigation  of 
affording  relief  to  the  meanest  individual,  in  whose  favor  a  writ  of  hahciiM 
corpKx  was  api)lie<l  for,  till  congress  itself  decreed  a  suspension  of  it. 
Wilkinson  Inul  disregarded  the  writs  of  territorial  judges,  hut  had  not 
dared  to  disohey  those  of  Hall,  who  he  knew  would  not  suffer  it  to  he  dono 
with  impunity. 

Coming  from  every  part  of  the  state,  the  representatives  had  witnessed 
the  universal  alacrity  with  which  Jackson's  requisitions  for  a  quota  of  the 
militia  of  the  state  had  heen  complied  with  ;  they  knew  their  constituents 
could  he  depended  on  ;  they  knew  that  Jackson,  ('laihorne,  and  many  of 
the  military,  were  incessantly  talking  of  sedition,  disaffecti<m  and 
treason ;  hut  hetter  acquainted  with  the  people  of  Louisiana  than  thoso 
who  were  vociferating  against  it,  they  were  conscious  that  no  state  wa8 
more  free  from  sedition,  disaffection  and  treason,  than  their  own ;  thev 
thought  the  state  should  not  outlaw  her  citizens  when  they  were  rushing 
to  repel  the  enemy.  They  dreaded  the  return  of  those  days,  when 
Wilkmson  filled  New  Orleans  with  terror  and  dismay,  arresting  and 
transporting  whom  he  pleased.  They  recollected  that  in  18()6  Jefferson 
had  made  application  to  congress  for  a  suspension  of  the  writ  of  hnhcdH 
cnrpns,  hut  that  the  recommendation  of  the  President  was  not  deemed 
Bumcient  to  induce  the  legislature  of  the  union  to  suspend  it :  that  of 
Claihorne,  as  far  as  it  concerned  Jackson,  was  not  therefore  acted  on. 
The  members  had  determined  not  to  adjourn  during  the  invasion,  and 
thought  they  would  suspend  the  writ,  when  they  deemed  the  times 
required  it,  but  not  till  then. 

Louaillier,  in  his  report  as  chairman  of  the  committee  to  whom  was 
referred  the  consideration  of  suspending  the  writ,  in  ()r<ler  to  enable 
Patterson  to  impress  seamen,  considered  the  measure  as  inexpedient. 
The  committee  thought  the  country  would  he  ill  defended  hy  men  forml 
into  her  service ;  that  it  was  better  to  induce  sailors,  by  the  offer  of 
ample  bounties,  to  repair  on  board  of  the  ships  of  the  United  States,  than 
forcibly  to  drag  them  on  board.  A  sum  of  six  thousand  dollars  was 
therefore  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  commodore,  to  be  expended  in 
bounties;  and  to  remove  the  opportunity  of  seamen  being  tempted  to 
decline  entering  the  service  of  the  United  States,  by  the  hope  of 
employment  on  board  of  merchant  vessels,  an  embargo  law  was  passed. 

On  the  requisition  of  Jackson,  Claiborne  issued  a  proclamation  for 
calling  out  the  militia  of  the  state  en  masse  into  the  service  of  the  United 


HI8T0RY   OK   LOUIHIANA. 


371 


'■4 


[)ftrt>  at  the 

rc«iuiHiti<»n 

Bont  tlmii 

iohcmI  to  th«! 
it  of  hnluii>* 
<  hinvls  for 
L>iny  landi'tl, 

nny  pornoii 
'orcet*  of  tho 
isnut'<l  l)V  u 

iutlexilmity 
lanifested  in 
oMigntiou  of 
vrit  of  hnhi'di* 
pension  of  it. 
,  Imt  had  not 
r  it  to  be  dono 

had  witnessed 
II  quota  t)f  the 
\r  constituents 
,  and  many  of 
^affection    and 
ma  than  those 
,  no  state  was 
leir  own ;  they 
\'  were  rushing 
,8e  days,  when 
arresting  and 
1H()6  Jefferson 
I  writ  of  hahen^ 
as  not  deemed 
lend  it :  that  of 
before  acted  on. 
le  invasion,  and 
iiied  the  times 


States.  HIh  dull  was  ohrvi'<l  everywhere  with  protuptiu'ss  and  ahicrity  : 
they  were  ordered  to  hold  theiuHelveH  in  readiness  to  march  at  a  nioinent'8 
warning. 

On  the  sixteentli  of  I)ecend>er,  Chiihorne  sent  a  niessaKo  to  the  h'j^is- 
hiture,  stutJM^  that  the  tinu>  was  certainly  inauspicioUH  for  that  cool  and 
mature  deliberation  ncc»\sHary  to  the  formation  of  j^ood  luwsj  that  the 
enemy  menatHtd  the  canital,  and  how  noon  lu>  would  ctl'ect  his  landing 
was  uncertain ;  c'Very  hand  should  b(>  raised  to  repel  him,  and  every 
moment  o'-cupied  in  arran^^in^  and  complctinj^  means  of  defense:  hu 
therefore  h  tigested  the  expediency  of  the  lumses  adjourning  for  twenty 
or  twenty   ive  days. 

The  house  of  representativcH  concurred  with  the  report  of  their  com- 
mittee, who  considered  an  adjournment  at  the  present  (irisis  as  inexpedient. 
They  thought  that  it  might  be  highly  dangcroUH  ;  a<-cident8  might  nappen, 
unforeseen  cases  might  occur,  ii\  which  the  interfisrence  of  the  legiwlature 
might  be  nccesHary.  Should  this  happen  after  the  adjournment,  and  the 
state  be  thereby  endangered,  t)ie  nuMubers  nhould  incur  the  just  reproaches 
of  their  couHtituents.  Should  the  liouses  adjourn  for  the  proposed  period, 
lew  members  would  have  time  to  leave  the  city,  and  if  they  diu^  their 
mileages  would  exccsed  their  expenses,  if  they  continued  their  sitting. 
The  committe  therefore  recommended,  that  the  members  stay  at  their  post, 
ready,  on  any  emergency,  to  eontriljute,  as  far  as  in  them  lay,  to  the 
defense  of  the  country. 

The  suspension  of  the  writ  of  haheait  car^nix,  and  adjournment  of  the 
houses,  were  measures  which  Jackson  anxiously  desired.  There  was  a 
great  inclination  in  the  members  of  both  houses  to  gratify  him,  in  every 
instance  in  which  thev  could  do  it  with  safety ;  in  these  two  only,  they 
were  of  opinion  it  would  be  unsafe  to  adopt  his  views. 

He  now  issued  a  general  order,  putting  the  city  of  New  Orleans  and  its 
environs  under  strict  martial  law,  and  directed  that 

1.  Every  individual  entering  the  city,  should  report  himself  to  the 
adjutant-general's  office,  and  on  failure,  be  arrested  and  held  for  exam- 
ination. 

2.  None  should  bo  permitted  to  leave  the  city  or  bayou  St.  John,  without 
a  passport  from  the  general  or  some  of  his  stall'. 

8.  No  vessel,  boat  or  craft,  should  leave  the  city  or  bayou  St.  John, 
without  such  a  passport,  or  that  of  the  commodore. 

4.  The  lamps  of  the  city  to  be  extinguished  at  nine  o'clock,  after  which, 
every  person  found  in  the  streets  or  out  of  his  usual  place  of  residence, 
without  a  pass  or  the  countersign,  to  be  apprehended  as  a  spy  and  held 
for  examination. 

The  prcclaniation  of  nuirtial  law  was  understood  in  Louisiana,  as  it  is 
believed  to  be  in  other  states,  a  solemn  warning  that  the  martial  law  of 
the  United  States  would  be  strictly  enforced.  Martial  law  was  known  to 
be  that  system  of  legitimate  rules  by  which  the  martial  affairs  of  the 
nation  are  regulated.  It  was  not  imagined  that  the  President  of  the 
United  States  himself,  as  commander-in-chief  of  the  forces  of  the  union, 
could  add  aught  to  or  change  these  legitimate  rules ;  that  he  could  make 
imi'tial  law,  any  more  than  Ji^cal,  com niercial,  or  criminal  law. 

The  ct)llection  of  the  rules  by  which  the  conduct  of  the  citizens  of  a 
nation  in  time  of  peace  towards  all  belligerent  nations  is  regulated,  are 
called  the  laws  of  neutrality. 


'  -r 


jt""'  f ' 


372 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


When  Washington  found  that  the  sympathies  of  his  fellow-citizens  with 
the  French  nation,  might  tempt  some  of  them  to  violate  the  laws  of 
neutrality,  to  the  injury  of  the  British  nation,  with  which  his  was  at 
peace,  he  issued  a  proclamation,  reminding  them  of  their  obligations  and 
warning  them  of  the  consequences  those  should  expose  themselves  to,  who 
would  violate  the  laws  of  neutrality.  This  was  not  an  useless  ceremony. 
It  no  doubt  had  the  effect  of  preventing  breaches  of  those  laws.  In  1806, 
when  a  spirit  of  enterprise  seemed  likely  to  delude  some  of  the  citizens  of 
the  United  States  into  measures  that  might  involve  this  country  in  a  war 
with  Spain,  Jefferson,  actuated  by  the  same  motivesof  Washington,  issued 
a  proclamation  of  the  laws  of  neutrality.  It  was  not  considered  that  a 
proclamation  of  martial  law  could  add  anything  to  that  law,  any  more 
than  the  proclamation  of  the  laws  of  neutrality  by  Washington  and 
Jefferson,  add  to  these  laws.  To  enact  and  to  proclairu,  or  impose  a  law, 
were  thought  distinct  acts,  the  first  the  province  of  the  legislature,  the 
other  the  exclusive  right  of  the  executive  power. 

That  necessity  jttstifies  whatever  it  commands,  was  admitted  as  a 
principle  to  which  every  law  must  bend.  That  whatever  measure  became 
necessary  to  the  defense  of  the  country,  might  be  legitimately  enforced,  was 
admitted,  and  we  have  seen  that  the  attorney-general  had  given  out  as  his 
opinion  to  Claiborne,  that  th  ^  governor  of  a  place,  in  time  of  war,  might 
send  out  of  the  country  a  pei  son  attempting  anything  which  might  afford 
aid  to  the  enemy.  This  principle  was  known  to  result  from  martial  law, 
which  justifies  whatever  circumstances  require  for  the  defense  of  the 
country  or  to  annoy  the  foe.  It  was  known  to  be  independent  of  the 
proclamation  of  martial  law,  which  was  thought  to  add  nothing  to  the 
authority  of  the  officer  who  made  it — to  render  anything  whatever  lawful 
or  unlawful,  that  was  otherwise  before. 

Such  were  the  ideas  entertained  by  the  general  government  of  martial 
law.  "  In  the  United  States,"  said  the  secretary  of  war  (Dallas)  in  .^ 
communication  to  Jackson,  of  the  first  of  July,  1815,  "  there  exists  no 
authority  to  declare  or  impose  martial  law,  beyond  the  positive  sanction 
of  the  act  of  congress.  To  maintain  the  discipline  and  insure  the  safety 
of  his  camp,  an  American  commander  possesses  indeed  highly  important 
powers :  but  all  these  are  compatible  with  the  rights  of  the  citizen,  and 
the  independence  of  the  judicial  authority." 

A  number  of  individuals  who  had  heretofore  joined,  or  been  concerned 
with  privateers  lately  resorting  to  Barataria,  were  deterred  from  entering 
into  tne  service  of  the  United  States,  by  the  apprehension  of  prosecutions. 
With  the  view  of  quieting  their  fears,  the  legislature,  on  the  seventeenth, 
entered  into  resolutions  requesting  Jackson  to  endeavor  to  procure  an 
amnesty  in  favor  of  such  of  them  as  should  enlist  themselves  to  serve 
during  the  war,  and  earnestly  recommended  it  to  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  to  grant  them  a  full  pardon.  The  governor  was  at  the 
same  time  desired  to  endeavor  to  prevail  on  the  attorney  of  the  United 
States,  with  the  leave  of  the  court,  to  enter  nolle  prosequia  on  all  prosecu- 
tions against  such  persons  then  under  confinement,  on  the  above  condition. 
This  measure  was  adopted,  because  it  was  represented  to  the  houses  that 
Jack'-on  was  anxious  for  it.  A  number  of  members  had  strong  objections 
to  it,  deeming  it  improper  to  accept  the  services  of  persons  of  this 
description.    Claiborne    having    issued  a  proclamation,    to    make  the 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


373 


jitizens  with 
the  laws  of 
1  his  was  at 
igations  and 
lelves  to,  who 
3S  ceremony, 
ws.    In  1806, 
he  citizens  of 
ntry  in  a  war 
ngton,  issued 
idered  that  a 
,aw,  any  more 
shington  and 
impose  a  law, 
egislature,  the 

idmitted  as  a 
jasure  hecame 
y  enforced,  was 
dven  out  as  his 
'  of  war,  might 
ch  might  afford 
>m  martial  law, 
defense  of  the 
pendent  of  the 
nothing  to  the 
whatever  lawful 

ment  of  martial 
(Dallas)  in  51 
there  exists  no 
.ositive  sanction 
ksure  the  safety 
lighly  important 
■he  citizen,  and 


intention    of  the    legislature    in    this  respect  known,  a  considerable 
number  of  these  peoj)le  came  in  and  were  enrolled. 

The  crisis  obliging  every  one  to  take  up  arms,  to  quit  their  homes  and 
abandon  their  private  affairs,  in  a  manner  that  exposed  many  to  great 
inconvenience,  the  legislature  passed  an  act  forbidding  the  protest  of  any 
bill  or  note  till  the  expiration  of  four  months,  and  forbade  during  the 
same  period  the  institution  or  any  suit. 

On  the  nineteenth,  general  Carrol,  with  a  brigade  of  the  militia  of  the 
state  of  Tennessee,  consisting  of  twenty-five  hundred  men,  arrived,  and 
on  the  following  day  he  was  joined  by  general  Coffee  and  twelve  hundred 
riflemen  from  the  same  state. 

The  legislature,  on  the  motion  of  Louaillier,  appointed  a  committee,  at 
whose  disposal  they  placed  a  sum  of  two  thousand  dollars,  for  the  relief  of 
the  militia  of  the  state,  seafaring  men  and  persons  of  color,  in  the  service 
of  the  United  States.  The  committee  were  instructed  to  invite  their 
fellow-citizens  to  make  donations  of  woollen  clothes,  blankets,  and  such 
other  articles,  as,  in  case  of  an  attack,  might  be  useful  to  the  sick. 

At  this  period  the  forces  at  New  Orleans  amounted  to  between  six  and 

seven  thousand  men.    Every  individual  exempted  from  militia  duty,  on 

account  of  age,  had  joined  one  of  the  companies  of  veterans,  which  had 

been  formed  for  the  preservation  of  order.     Every  class  of  society  was 

animated  with  the  most  ardent  zeal ;  the  young,  the  old,  women,  children, 

all  breathed  defiance  to  the  enemv,  firmly  disposed  to  oppose  to  the 

utmost  the  threatened  invasion.    I'here  were  in  the  city  a  very  great 

number  of  French  subjects,  who  from  their  national  character  could  not 

have  been  compelled  to  perform  military  duty ;  these  men,  however,  with 

hardly  any  exception,  volunteered  their  services.    The  chevalier  de  Tousac, 

the  consul  of  France,  who  had  distinguished  himself  and  had  lost  an  arm 

in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  during  the  revolutionary  war,  lamenting 

that  the  neutrality  of  his  nation  did  not  allow  him  to  lead  his  countrymen 

in  New  Orleans  to  the  field,  encouraged  them  to  flock  to  Jackson's  standard. 

The  people  were  preparing  for  battle  as  cheerfully  as  if  for  a  party  of 

pleasure ;  the  streets  resounded  with  martial  airs ;  the  several  corps  of 

militia  were  constantly  exercising,  from  morning  to  night ;  every  bosom 

glowed  with  the  feelings  of  national  honor ;  everything  showed  nothing 

was  to  be  apprehended  from  disaffection,  disloyalty  or  treason. 

On  the  twenty-first,  major  Villere,  by  order  of  major-general  Villere,  his 
father,  sent  a  detachment  of  the  third  regiment  of  the  militia,  consisting 
of  eight  men  and  a  sergeant,  attended  by  two  mulattoes  and  a  negro,  to  a 
village  of  Spanish  fishermen,  on  the  left  bank  of  bayou  Bienvenu,  at  the 
distance  of  a  mile  and  a  half  from  its  mouth  on  lake  Borgne.  The  village 
in  which  from  thirty  to  forty  fishermen  dwelt,  was  found  deserted  by 
them,  with  the  exception  of  a  sick  man.  The  sergeant  sent  out  a  few  of 
his  men  in  a  boat,  to  ascertain  whether  there  was  any  of  the  enemy's 
shipping  near ;  on  the  next  day,  at  daybreak,  another  party  was  sent  out 
for  the  same  purpose,  and  other  parties  were  frequently  out  during  the 
day,  without  discovering  any  vessel  or  craft  approaching.  Towards 
evening,  three  men  arrived  from  Chef  Menteur,  having  traversed  the  lake 
without  seeing  any  enemy. 

A  Httle  after  midnight,  the  sentinel  below  the  village  gave  the  alarm ; 
by  the  last  gleams  of  the  setting  moon,  five  barges  full  of  men,  with  some 
artillery,  were  discovered  ascending  the  bayou.    The  sergeant  judging. 


m 


f:  I  I 


374 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


from  the  smallness  of  his  party,  it  would  be  imprudent  to  fin;,  ordered 
them  to  conceal  themselves  behind  one  of  the  cabins.  They  were 
however,  discovered  and  taken,  except  a  man,  who  attempting  to  escape 
through  the  prairies,  lost  his  way,  and  reached  Chef  Menteur,  alter  a 
ramble  of  three  days. 

The  first  division  of  the  British  army,  composed  of  about  three  thousand 
men,  under  general  Keaii,  proceeded  up  the  bayou  and  the  canal  of 
Villere's  plantation  ;  they  surrounded  the  house,  in  which  was  a  company 
of  militia,  whom  they  made  prisoners,  and  surprised  major  Villere, 
who,  notwithstjinding  several  pistols  fired  at  him,  effected  his  escape,  and 
running  to  some  distance  below,  crossed  the  river  and  reached  the  city. 

Jackson  received  the  first  intelligence  of  the  enemy's  landing  at  two 
o'clock,  and  in  half  an  hour  a  detachment  of  artillery,  with  two  field 
pieces  and  a  body  of  marines,  were  sent  in  advance.  Generals  Carrol 
and  Coffee,  who  were  encamped  with  the  force  of  Tennessee  four  miles 
above  the  city,  soon  reached  it,  and  at  four  o'clock  the  Tennessee  rifleinen, 
Mississippi  dragoons  and  Orleans  riflemen  took  their  stations  two  miles 
below  the  city.  The  battalion  of  men  of  color,  the  forty-fourth  regiment, 
and  a  battalion  of  the  city  militia,  soon  follow^ed ;  and  commodore 
Patterson,  on  board  of  the  United  States  schooner  Carolina,  floated  down 
towards  the  enemy. 

Claiborne,  with  two  regiments  of  the  state  militia,  and  a  company  of 
horse,  took  a  position  in  the  rear  of  the  city,  on  the  Gentilly  road,  to 
oppose  any  force  that  might  come  from  Chef  Menteur. 

A  negro  was  apprehended  on  the  levee,  a  few  miles  from  the  city,  with 
a  number  of  copies  of  a  proclamation  by  Admiral  Cochrane  and  general 
Keane,  inviting  the  Louisianians  to  remain  quiet  in  their  houses,  and 
assuring  them,  that  their  property  would  be  protected,  the  invaders  being 
at  war  with  the  Americans  only.  As  the  army  proceeded,  several  copies 
of  this  proclamation  were  seen  stuck  up  along  the  road. 

At  seven  o'clock,  the  Carolina  came  to  anchor  on  the  bank  of  Villere's 
batture,  opposite  to  the  centre  of  the  enemy's  encampment,  within  musket 
shot.  Such  was  their  security  that  taking  this  vessel  for  a  common  craft 
plying  on  the  river,  a  number  of  them  came  to  the  levee  to  examine  her 
more  closely.  She  now  began  so  dreadful  a  fire,  that  one  hundred  of 
them  wore  killed  before  the  consternation  which  her  salute  created 
suljsided.  An  unsuccessful  attempt  was  made  to  annoy  her  with  a  fire  of 
musketry :  Congrcve  rockets  were  resorted  to  with  as  little  success,  and 
in  loss  than  half  an  hour,  the  schooner  drove  the  enemy  from  his  camp. 

At  this  moment  colonel  Piatt  drove  in  one  of  the  enemy's  outposts  from 
the  main  road,  opposite  to  Lacoste's  plantation. 

»In  the  meanwhile  the  seventh  regiment  advanced  by  heads  of  companies 
to  the  distance  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards,  where  it  formed  in 
battalion  before  the  enemy,  with  whom  it  instantly  engaged,  with  a  very 
brisk  and  close  fire.  The  forty-fourth  now  came  up,  and  forming  on  the 
left  of  the  seventh,  commenced  firing.  Two  pieces  of  artillery  were  put 
in  battery  on  the  road,  and  the  marines  drawn  up  on  the  right,  on  the 
bank  of  the  river.  The  engagement  now  became  genex'al  on  botli  sides*. 
The  front  of  the  British  line  greatly  outflanking  our  line  on  the  loft,  and 
the  enemy  seeing  he  could  not  make  our  troops  give  way,  caused  some  of 
his  to  file  off'  on  the  old  levee,  by  a  gate  three  hundred  yards  from  the 
river,  with  the  intent  to  turn  our  right  flank.    The  forty-fourth  had 


fin;,  ordered 

They  were 

ng  to  eseajjc 

nteur,  alter  a 

irec  thousand 
the  canal  of 
as  a  company 
lajor    Villero, 
is  escape,  and 
led  the  city, 
anding  at  two 
vith  two  field 
inerals   Carrol 
ssee  four  niiles 
lessee  riflemen, 
ions  two  miles 
)urth  regiment, 
id    commodore 
la,  floated  down 


m  the  city,  with 
•ane  and  general 
heir  houses,  and 
e  invaders  being 
d,  several  copies 


■ads  of  companies 

lere  it  formed  in 

leed,  with  a  very 

V[  forming  on  the 

krtillery  were  put 

I  the  right,  on  the 

lal  on  both  sidei^. 

on  the  left,  and 

caused  some  ot 

1  yards  fronj  the 

forty-fourth  had 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


375 


already  been  obliged  to  oblique  on  the  left,  in  order  to  avoid  being  flanked, 
when  two  battalions  of  the  state  militia  and  a  few  Indians  advanced. 
The  enemy's  column  silently  approached  in  the  dark  to  turn  the  troops 
of  the  line,  fell  suddenly  almost  within  pistol  shot  of  the  extremity  of 
one  of  the  battalions  of  militia,  and  instantly  commenced  a  brisk  fire, 
One  of  these  battalions  forming  the  centre,  advanced  in  a  close  column 
and  displayed  under  the  enemy's  fire,  which  was  then  kept  up  by  his  whole 
front.  Already  had  the  enemy  been  forced  to  give  way,  and  our  troops 
continued  to  advance,  keeping  up  a  brisk  fire,  when  he  began  to  retreat, 
favored  by  darkness  now  increased  by  a  fog  and  by  the  smoke,  which  a 
light  breeze  blew  in  the  faces  of  our  men. 

In  the  meantime.  Coffee's  division  had  advanced,  in  order  to  fall  on 
the  enemy's  rear,  followed  by  a  company  of  rifiemen  of  the  state  militia : 
this  company,  after  having  penetrated  into  the  very  camp  of  the  enemy 
and  made  several  prisoners,  pushed  forward  to  the  right,  following  the 
movements  of  Coffee,  but  unfortunately  part  of  them,  through  a  mistake 
occasioned  by  the  darkness,  fell  among  a  corps  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
British,  who  were  moving  on  rapidly  towards  the  camp,  mistaking  them 
for  part  of  Coffee's  division,  and  were  made  prisoners.  Coffee  soon  took 
a  position  in  front  of  the  old  levee,  where  he  continued  a  destructive  fire. 
At  half-past  nine,  the  enemy  fell  back  to  his  camp,  where  all  the  troops 
passed  the  night  under  arms  and  without  fire. 

Jackson,  finding  that  darkness  rendered  it  useless  to  continue  the 
pursuit,  led  back  his  troops  to  his  former  position. 

At  about  half  after  eleven,  a  firing  of  musketry  was  heard  in  ^he 
direction  of  Jumonville's  plantation,  that  contiguous  to  and  beloy 
Villere's. 

A  detachment  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  men,  of  the  state  drafted 
militia,  had  been  stationed  at  the  English  Turn,  under  general  Morgan. 
On  the  first  intelligence  of  the  landing  of  the  enemy,  these  men  insisted 
on  being  instantly  led  to  oppose  him.  Morgan,  being  without  orders 
from  Jackson,  on  this  head  declined  gratifying  them.  But  when  the  fire 
from  the  Carolina,  av.i  the  subsequent  discharges  of  artillery  and 
musketry  on  shore  announced  that  the  conflict  was  commenced,  the 
entreaties  of  the  officers  and  men  of  this  detachment  became  so  pressing 
that  Morgan  could  no  longer  resist  them.  He  had  reached,  at  the  head 
of  them,  the  spot  at  which  the  road  that  leads  to  Terre-aux-Boeufs  leaves 
that  which  runs  along  the  levee,  during  the  hottest  part  of  the  action,  and 
continued  to  advance,  preceded  by  two  pickets,  the  one  on  the  high  road, 
the  other  in  the  fields,  near  the  woods.  The  former,  as  it  approached  the 
bridge  of  Jumonville's  plantation,  exchanged  a  fire  with  some  of  the 
onemy's  troops,  who  instantly  fell  back  behind  the  canal.  Darkness 
preventing  Morgan  to  ascertain  the  force  of  the  enemy  near  him,  or  the 
relative  situation  of  the  two  armies,  he  took  a  position  in  a  neighboring 
field,  to  avoid  an  ambush.  In  a  council,  to  which  he  called  all  his 
I  officers,  it  was  deemed  inexpedient  to  remain,  and  the  detachment  moved 
1  back  a  little  before  daylight. 

The  enemy,  who  had  received  a  reinforcement  during  the  action,  had  a 

1  force  of  very  near  five  thousand  men :  that  which  opposed  him  was  not 

much  above  two  thousand.     His  loss  exceeded  four  hundred :  Jackson 

bad  twenty-four  men  killed,  one  hundred  and  fifteen  wounded,   and 

Ueventy-five  made  prisoners. 


■r-i 


876 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


During  the  night,  whilst  anxiety  kept  the  mind  of  the  inhabitants  of 
New  Orleans,  who  had  remained  in  the  cit}',  in  painful  suspense  on  their 
impending  fate,  an  unfortunate  occurrence  excited  much  alarm  among 
them.  A  report  was  spread  that  Jackson,  before  his  departure,  had  taken 
measures  and  given  positive  orders  for  blowing  up  the  magazine  and 
setting  fire  to  various  parts  of  the  city,  in  case  the  British  succeeded  in 
forcing  his  ranks.  His  conduct,  in  this  respect,  was  considered  bv  some, 
as  an  evidence  of  his  deeming  his  defeat  a  probable  event.  'The  oitl 
inhabitants,  who  had  great  confidence  in  the  natural  obstacles  which  the 
situation  of  the  capital  presents  to  an  invading  foe,  and  which  they 
thought  insurmountable  if  proper  attention  was  bestowed,  concluded  that 
it  had  been  neglected :  they  lamented  that  the  protection  of  the  city  hiid 
been  confided  to  an  utter  stranger  to  the  topography  of  its  environs,  and 
while  frequent  explosions  of  musketry  and  artillery  reminded  them  that 
their  sons  were  facing  warlike  soldiers,  they  grieved  that  an  officer,  who, 
in  the  beginning  of  the  year  had  hardly  ever  met  any  but  an  Indian 
enemy,  and  whose  inexperience  appeared  demonstrated  by  the  rash  step 
attributed  to  him.  The  truth  or  falsity  of  the  report  was  sought  to  l)c 
ascertained  by  an  application  to  the  officer  left  in  command  at  tiie  city, 
who  declined  to  admit  or  deny  that  the  steps  had  been  taken,  or  the  order 
given, 

A  circumstance  tended  to  present  the  conflagration  of  New  Orleans  as 
a  more  distressing  event  than  that  of  Moscow.  The  burning  of  the 
houses  of  several  planters,  above  the  city,  in  1811,  was  remembered,  and 
apprehension  had  been  entertained  that  British  emissaries  would  be 
ready,  a  short  time  before  the  main  attack,  to  induce  the  slaves  towards 
Baton  Rouge  or  Donaldsonville,  to  begin  the  conflagration  of  their 
owners'  houses,  and  march  towards  the  city,  spreading  terror,  dismay, 
fire  and  slaughter ;  and  a  dread  prevailed  that  Jackson's  firing  of  tlie 
city  would  be  taken  by  them  for  the  signal  at  which  they  were  to  begin 
the  havoc — even  in  case  the  apprehensions  from  British  emissaries  were 
groundless.  The  idea  of  thus  finding  themselves,  with  their  wives, 
children  and  old  men,  driven  by  the  flames  of  their  houses  towards  a 
black  enemy,  bringing  down  devastation,  harrowed  up  the  minds  of  the 
inhabitants. 

Persons,  however,  who  hourly  came  up  from  the  field  of  battle,  brought 
from  time  to  time,  such  information  as  gradually  dispelled  these  alarms, 
and  in  the  morning  a  present  sense  of  safety  inspired  quite  difterent 
sensations,  and  the  accounts  which  were  received  of  Jackson's  cold, 
intrepid  and  soldierlike  behavior,  excited  universal  confidence. 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

At  four  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  twenty-fourth,  Jackson  ordered 
his  small  army  to  encamp  on  the  left  bank  of  Rodriguez's  canal,  about 
two  milds  below  the  field  of  battle,  leaving  the  Mississippi  mounted  rifle- 
men and  Feliciana  dragoons  near  it,  to  watch  the  motions  o{  the  enemy. 
The  canal  was  deepened  and  widened,  and  a  strong  wall  formed  in  front! 
of  it,  with  the  earth  which  had  been  originally  thrown  out.  The  levee  was 
broken,  about  one  hundred   yards  below,  and  a  broad  stream  of  water 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


377 


ihabitants  of 
ense  on  their 
alarm  among 
ire,  had  taken 
nagazine  and 
1  succeeded  in 
ered  bv  some, 
-ent.  'The  old 
3les  which  the 
id  which  they 
conchided  that 
jf  the  city  had 
s  environs,  and 
ided  tiiem  that 
an  officer,  who, 
but  an  Indian 
,y  the  rash  step 
s  souglU  to  be 
.nd  at  the  city, 
ien,  or  the  order 

New  Orleans  as 
burning  of  the 
emembered,  and 
isaries  would  be 
tie  slaves  towards 
igration  of  their 
cr  terror,  dismay, 
m's  firing  of  the 
,ey  were  to  begm 
1  emissaries  were 
nth  their  wives, 
bouses  towards  a 
,he  minds  of  the 

lof  battle,  brought 

lied  these  alarms, 

,(1  quite  tlifterent 

T  Jackson's  cold, 

idence. 


I  Jackson  ordered 

Iiez's  canal,aboiit 

3T)i  mounted  ritte- 

pns  of  the  enemy. 

Ill  formed  m  front 

xi.    The  levee  was 

stream  of  water 


passed  rapidly  over  the  plain,  to  the  depth  of  about  thirty  inches,  which 
prevented  the  approach  of  troops  on  foot. 

Embrasures  were  formed  in  the  wall,  and  two  pieces  of  artillery  placed 
so  as  to  rake  the  road  which  runs  along  the  levee. 

Morgan  was  now  directed  to  send  a  strong  detachment  from  the  English 
Turn,  who  advanced  as  near  as  they  could  towards  the  enemy's  camp  and 
destroyed  the  levee,  so  as  to  let  in  the  water  of  the  Mississippi,  whereby 
the  British  army  was  completely  insulated,  and  the  march  above  and 
below  obstructed. 

On  the  twenty-sixth,  Jackson,  fearing  for  the  situation  of  Morgan,  who, 
as  the  British  occupied  the  intermediate  space,  was  entirely  detached  from 
his  camp,  ordered  him  to  abandon  his  position,  carry  off  such  of  the 
cannon  as  he  convenientlv  could,  and  throw  the  remainder  into  the  river, 
from  whence  they  might  be  recovered  when  the  water  subsided ;  to  cross 
the  stream,  and  take  and  fortify  a  position  opposite  to  the  American 
lines. 

The  height  of  the  Mississippi  and  the  discharge  of  water  through  the 
openings  made  in  the  levee,  had  given  an  increased  depth  to  the  canal 
through  which  the  enemy  had  come ;  this  enabled  them  to  advance  their 
boats  much  nearer  to  their  encampment,  and  to  bring  up  a  new  supply  of 
artillery,  bombs  and  ammunition. 

Early  on  the  twenty-seventh,  a  battery  was  discovered  on  the  bank  of 
the  Mississippi,  whicn  had  been  erected  during  the  previous  night,  from 
which  a  fire  was  now  opened  on  the  Carolina,  which  was  Iving  near  the 
opposite  shore.  The  repeated  discharges  of  bombs  and  red  hot  shot  from 
this  battery  were  spiritedly  answered,  but  without  effect,  there  being  on 
board  but  one  long  twelve-pounder  that  could  reach.  A  red  hot  shot  was 
lodged  under  her  cables,  from  which  it  could  not  be  removed,  and  soon 
set  her  in  a  blaze.  Another  discharge  extended  the  ravages  of  the 
devouring  element,  and  flames  began  to  burst  from  numberless  places. 
Orders  were  now  given  to  abandon  her ;  one  of  the  crew  was  killed  and 
six  wounded ;  the  rest  reached  the  shore  in  safety,  and  soon  after  the  fire 
reached  the  magazine  and  the  vessel  was  blown  up. 

The  battery's  fire  was  now  directed  against  the  sloop  of  war  Louisiana, 
which  lay  at  some  distance  highe*  up,  the  preservation  of  which  was  the 
more  important,  as  she  was  the  only  public  vessel  remaining  on  the 
river.  She  was  accordingly  towed  up,  out  of  the  reach  of  the  enemy's 
guns. 

In  the  afternoon  the  British  moved  forward,  and  obliged  Jackson's 
advanced  guard  to  fall  back,  and  during  the  night  they  began  to  erect 
several  batteries  on  the  river. 

By  break  of  day,  the  enemy  displayed  in  several  columns  and  drove  in 
the  advanced  guards.  He  now  advanced,  preceded  by  several  pieces  of 
artillery,  part  of  which  played  on  the  Louisiana,  and  the  rest  on  Jackson's 
line. 

The  Louisiana  now  opened  a  tremendous  and  well  directed  fire  on  the 
assailants,  which  was  at  first  briskly  answered,  but  her  guns  and  those  of 
the  line  soon  silenced  the  enemy's,  broke  his  columns  and  forced  him  to 
disperse  and  fall  back  into  the  fields,  where  he  took  a  position,  beyond 
the  reach  of  the  Louisiana  and  Jackson's  artillery.  His  loss  was  estimated 
at  from  two  to  three  hundred  inen;  seven  were  killed  and  ten  wounded 


'\:f' 


'\f        ' 


378 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


on  the  American  line,  and  one  man  slightly  wounded,  by  the  bursting  of 
a  shell  on  board  of  the  Louisiana. 

The  legislature  had  ceased  to  sit,  on  the  first  intelligence  of  the  arrival 
of  ])art  of  the  British  army  on  Villere's  plantation.  Several  of  the 
members  held  commissions  in  the  militia,  and  had  joined  their  respective 
corps  ;  the  younger  had  volunteered  their  services,  and  the  aged  joined  the 
several  companies  of  veterans,  which  had  been  organized  for  the  mainte- 
nance of  order  in  the  city  and  its  suburbs.  Several  Avere  attending  a 
militai'y  committee,  and  others,  appi>intcd  by  the  legislature  to  super- 
intend the  supply  of  the  wants  of  indigent  fnmilies,  whose  heads  were  on 
the  line,  and  to  provide  succor  for  those  who  daily  reached  the  city  to 
assist  in  its  defense.  The  apprehension  from  the  black  population  which 
had  been  excited  by  the  rumor  of  Jackson's  intention  to  fire  the  city,  had 
induced  a  few  respectable  individuals  from  the  country,  who  possessed 
influence  in  their  respective  parishes,  and  whose  age  and  habits  disqual- 
ified them  from  active  military  service,  to  visit  those  neighborhoods,  in 
order  to  contribute  by  their  presence,  to  the  general  maintenance  of 
order.  The  city  council  were  active  in  providing  means  for  the  support 
of  the  needy,  and  Girod,  the  mayor,  was  incessantly  engaged  in  collecting 
arms  and  in  driving  stragglers  to  the  field.  Never  was  an  army  more 
abundantly  sui>plied  with  provisions — the  calls  of  Jackson  for  negroes  to 
work  on  his  line,  for  tools  and  munition,  were  instantly  attended  to. 

Every  day,  towards  noon,  three  or  four  of  the  members  of  each  house, 
who  served  among  the  veterans  or  on  the  committees,  attended  in  their 
respective  halls  to  effect  an  adjournment,  in  order  that,  if  any  circumstance 
rendered  the  aid  of  the  legislature  necessary,  it  might  be  instantly 
afforded.  On  going  for  this  purpose  to  the  government  house,  Skipwith, 
the  speaker  of  the  senate,  and  two  of  its  members,  found  a  sentinel  on  the 
staircase,  who,  presenting  his  bayonet,  forbade  them  to  enter  the  senate 
chamber.  They  quietly  retired  and  proceeded  to  the  hall  of  the  sessions 
of  the  city  council,  where  an  adjournment  took  place.  The  members  of 
the  other  house,  who  attended  for  the  same  purpose,  were  likewise 
prevented  from  entering  its  hall,  and  acted  like  those  of  the  senate. 

An  unsuccessful  attempt,  notwithstanding  great  exertions  were  used, 
was  made  on  the  thirtieth  to  obtain  a  quorum,  and  the  next  day  it  failed 
in  both  houses.  The  crisis  had  so  scattered  the  members,  that  those  who 
assembled  found  themselves  obliged  to  send  the  sergeant-at-arms  and 
other  messengers  to  require  the  attendance  of  the  absent  members.  With 
great  difficulty,  a  quorum  was  obtained  in  each  house,  late  in  the  evening. 
and  a  joint  committee  was  appointed,  to  wait  on  Jackson  and  inquire 
into  the  reasons  that  had  occasioned  the  violent  measures  resorted  to 
against  the  legislature. 

This  committee,  having  performed  this  service,  received  from  the 
general  a  written  statement,  in  the  following  words  : 

Camp  at  M'Carty's,  4  miles  below  New  Orleans. 

Headquarter)*,  December  31,  18U. 

The  Major-General  commanding  has  the  honor  to  acknowledge  tho 
receipt  of  the  joint  resolution  of  both  houses  of  the  honorable  the  legislature 
of  the  state  of  Louisiana,  now  in  session,  dated  the  30th  inst.  and  commu- 
nicated to  him  by  a  joint  committee  of  both  houses,  to  which  the  general 
gives  the  following  answer : 


HISTORY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


379 


jurstins;  of 

the  arrival 
eral  of  the 
ir  resY)ective 
id  joined  the 
the  nmintc- 
attending  a 
xc  to  super- 
eads  were  on 
,d  the  city  to 
alation  which 
the  city,  had 
rho  possessed 
abits  disqnai- 
hborhoods,  in 
aintenance  of 
or  the  support 
^d  in  collecting 
an  armynaore 
1  for  negroes  to 
tended  to. 
of  each  house, 
tended  in  theiv 
IV  circumstance 
ht  he  instantly 
nouse,  Skipwith, 
a  sentinel  on  the 
enter  the  senate 
I  of  the  sessions 
he  members  of 
were  likewise 
ihe  senate, 
tions  were  used, 
Bxt  day  it  failo'l 
8,  that  those  who 
eant-at-arms  and 
members.   NVitn 
tte  in  the  evening, 
son  and  inmurc 
mres  resorted  to 


,'ed  from  the 


-• 


iceiv 


Orleans. 

Lemher  31, 18U. 
[acknowledge  the 
Lble  the  legislature 
inst.  and  commu- 
Jwhichthe  general 


That  just  after  the  engagement  between  the  British  and  American 
armies  had  commenced  on  the  28th  inst.,  when  the  enemy  wa^  advancing, 
and  it  was  every  instant  expected  they  would  storm  our  lines ;  as  the 
general  was  riding  rapidlv  from  right  to  left  of  his  line — he  was  accosted 
l)y  Mr.  Duncan,  one  of  his  volunteer  aids,  who  had  just  returned  from 
New  Orleans;  observing  him  lo  be  apparently  agitated,  the  general 
stopped,  supposing  him  the  l)earer  of  some  information  of  the  enemy's 
movements,  asked  what  was  the  matter.  He  replied  that  he  was  the  bearer 
of  a  message  from  governor  Claiborne,  that  the  assembly  were  about  to 
give  up  the  country  to  the  enemy.  Being  asked  if  he  had  any  letter  from 
the  governor,  he  answered  in  the  negative.  He  was  then  interrogated  as 
to  the  person  from  whom  he  received  the  intelligence ;  he  said  it  was  from 
a  militia  colonel ;  the  general  inquired  where  the  colonel  was,  that  he 
ought  to  be  apprehended,  and  if  the  information  was  not  true,  he  ought 
to  be  shot,  but  that  the  general  did  not  believe  it.  To  this  Mr.  Duncan 
replied,  that  the  colonel  had  returned  to  New  Orleans,  and  had  requested 
him,  Mr.  Duncan,  to  deliver  the  above  message. 

The  general  was  in  the  act  of  pushing  forward  the  line,  when  Mr. 
Duncan  called  after  him  and  said,  "the  governor  expects  orders  what  to 
do."  The  general  replied  that  he  did  not  believe  the  intelligence ;  but  to 
desire  the  governor  to  make  strict  inquiry  into  the  subject ;  and  if  true  to 
Wow  them  up.  The  general  pursued  his  way,  and  Mr.  Duncan  returned 
to  the  city.  After  the  action,  Mr.  Duncan  returned,  and  on  the  general's 
stating  to  him  the  impropriety  of  delivering  such  a  message  publicly  in 
the  presence  of  the  troops,  as  well  as  the  improbability  of  the  fact,  he 
excused  himself  by  the  great  importance  of  the  intelligence,  and  then,  for 
the  first  time,  the  general  heard  the  name  of  colonel  Declouet,  as  Mr. 
Duncan's  author. 

The  above  statement,  the  general  gives  as  a  substantial  one,  of  the 
matter  referred  to  in  the  resolutions  of  the  senate  and  house  of  represen- 
tatives ;  and  to  this  he  adds,  that  he  gave  no  order  to  the  governor  to 
interfere  with  the  legislature,  except  as  above  stated. 

ANDREW  JACKSON, 

Maj.  Gen.  Commanding. 

This  statement  clearly  shows,  that  Jackson  did  not  believe  that  the 
general  assembly  had  the  least  thought  of  offering  terms  to  the  enemy — 
and  that  the  violence  exercised  against  them  was  the  effect  of  a  real  or 
pretended  misunderstanding  of  what  he  had  said. 

Duncan,  on  his   examination  before  a  committee  of  the  houses,  stated 

that  soon  after  the  beginning  of  the  attack,  he  met  colonel  Declouet,  who 

was  hastening   from  the   city,   apparently  in   great  perturbation,  who 

:  requested  him  to  inform  the  general  of  the  existence  of  a  plot,  among 

I  several  members  of  the  legislature,  to  surrender  the  country  to  the  enemy, 

I  and  that  he  had  heard,  that  Jackson  was  carrying  on  a  Russian  war,  and 

it  was  better  to  capitulate  and  save  the  city  :  that  he  had  been  invited  to 

join  in  the  plot.    Duncan  added,  that  Declouet  did  not  say  he  was  sent  by 

1  Claiborne,  and  that  as  far  as  he  recollected,  Jackson's  order  was  to  tell 

I  Claiborne  to  inquire  into  the  matter,  and  in  case  they  (the  legislature) 

made  any  such  attempt,  to  blow  them  up;  and  afterwards,  he  (Duncan) 

Imeeting  one  of  Claiborne's  aids,  directed  him  to  inform  the  governor,  the 

jgeneral  wished  him  to  prevent  the  legislature  from  assembling. 


mi  ... 


<5! 


380 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


Dcclouet  stated,  that  on  the  night  between  the  twenty-seventh  and 
twenty-eighth,  he  slept  at  his  brother's,  below  the  city,  and  noticed  the 
consternation  of  several  of  the  inhabitants,  and  conversed  with  several 
members  of  the  legislature,  who  apprehended  direful  consequences  from 
the  war.  Hence,  he  feared  a  proposition  would  be  made  by  the  legislature 
to  capitulate,  which  would  occasion  a  disastrous  division  in  the  country. 
In  the  morning,  he  set  off  with  the  view  of  communicating  his  appre- 
hensions to  Jackson,  but  as  he  did  not  reach  the  line  till  after  the 
beginning  of  the  attack,  he  requested  Duncan  to  make  his  communication 
to  the  general.  He  added,  no  member  of  the  legislature  had  manifested 
to  him  an  intention  of  doing  anything  positive.  The  step  he  took,  was 
grounded  on  the  apprehensions  he  entertained — apprehensions  which  he 
never  would  have  had,  if  he  had  been  acquainted  with  the  good  intentions 
and  beneficent  views  of  the  legislature. 

Jackson's  biographers  have  seized  on  this  event,  a  most  erroneous 
account  of  which  they  have  given,  to  blazon  his  character,  to  the  injury 
of  the  state  of  Louisiana. 

Eaton,  who  cannot  be  supposed  to  have  wanted  the  best  means  of  infor- 
mation, assures  his  readers  that  Jackson  was  apprehensive  of  a  design  in 
the  general  assembly  to  propose  a  capitulation  to  the  enemy,  and  intended 
to  have  had  them  confined  in  the  government  house.  By  placing  the 
statement  of  Jackson  side  by  side  with  Eaton's,  the  reader  will  be 
conscious  of  the  gross  error  under  which  Eaton  must  have  labored. 

"Jackson's  object,"  says  Eaton,  "was  not  to  restrain  the  legislature  in 
the  discharge  of  their  official  dutie?  ;  for  although  he  thought,  that  such 
a  moment  when  the  sound  of  the  cannon  was  constantly  pealing  in  their 
ears,  was  inauspicious  to  wholesome  legislation,  and  that  it  would  have 
better  comported  with  the  state  of  the  times  for  them  to  abandon  their 
civil  duties  and  appear  in  the  field,  yet  it  was  a  matter  indelicate  to  be 
proposed ;  and  it  was  hence  preferred  that  they  should  adopt  whatever 
course  might  be  suggested  by  their  own  notions  of  propriety.  This 
sentiment  would  have  been  still  adhered  to;  but  when,  through  the 
communication  of  Mr.  Duncan,  they  were  represented  as  entertaining 
opinions  and  schemes,  adverse  to  the  general  interest  and  safety  of  the 
country,  the  necessity  of  a  new  and  different  course  of  conduct  was  at 
once  oDvious.  But  he  did  not  order  governor  Claiborne  to  interfere  with, 
or  prevent  them  from  proceeding  with  their  duties ;  on  the  contrary,  he 
was  instructed,  so  soon  as  anything  hostile  to  the  general  cause  should  be 
ascertained,  to  place  a  guard  at  the  door,  and  keep  the  members  \.j  their 
post  and  to  their  duty.  My  object  in  this,  remarked  the  general,  was  that 
then  they  would  be  able  to  proceed  with  their  business  without  producing 
the  slightest  injury ;  whatever  schemes  they  might  entertain  would  have 
remained  with  themselves,  without  the  power  of  circulating  them  to  the 

greiudice  of  any  other  interest  than  their  own.  I  had  intended  to  have 
ad  them  well  treated  and  kindly  dealt  by ;  and  thus  abstracted  from 
everything  passing  without  doors,  a  better  opportunity  would  have  been 
afforded  them  to  enact  good  and  wholesome  laws ;  but  governor  Claiborne 
mistook  mv  order,  and  instead  of  shutting  them  indoors,  contrary  to  my 
wishes  and  expectation,  turned  them  out." 

The  other  writers,  who  have  preserved  details  of  the  events  of  these 
days,  have  all  fallen  into  great  mistakes,  and  Jackson  himself  appears  to 
have  been  egregiously  deceived.    One  of  his  letters  to  the  postmaster- 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


381 


general,  of  the  22d  of  March,  1824,  which  found  its  way  into  the  public 
prints,  contains  the  following  paragraph  : 

"  When  I  left  the  city,  ana  marched  against  the  enemy  on  the  night 
of  the  23d  of  December,*  1814,  I  was  obliged  to  leave  one  of  my  aids  in 
command,  having  no  other  confidential  officer  that  could  be  spared  from 
command.  A  few  days  after,  Mr.  Skipwith,  in  person,  applied  to  my  aid 
to  be  informed  what  would  be  my  conduct,  if  driven  from  my  lines  of 
defense  and  compelled  to  retreat  tHrough  New  Orleans — whether  I  would 
leave  the  supplies  for  the  enemy  or  destroy  them?  As  reported  by  my 
aid  to  me,  he  wanted  this  information  for  the  assembly,  that  in  case  my 
intention  was  to  destroy  them,  they  might  make  terms  with  the  enemy. 
Obtaining  no  satisfaction  from  my  aid,  a  committee  of  three  waited  on 
me  for  satisfaction  on  this  subject.  To  them  I  replied,  *  If  I  thought  the 
hair  of  my  head  knew  my  thoughts,  I  would  cut  it  off  or  burn  it ' — to 
return  to  their  honorable  body,  and  to  say  to  them  from  me,  that  if  I  was 
to  be  so  unfortunate  as  to  be  driven  from  the  lines  I  then  occupied,  and 
com|)elled  to  retreat  through  New  Orleans,  they  would  have  a  warm 
session  of  it." 

These  charges  were  noticed  by  Skipwith,  in  a  letter  to  Jackson  of  the 
thirteenth  of  May,  1827,  which  appeared  in  the  Richmond  Enquirer,  in 
the  following  manner : 

*'  It  was  on  one  of  the  eights,  about  the  time  alluded  to  bv  major 
Butler,  that,  returning  from  patrol  duty  from  the  grand  round  of  the 

city,  in  passing  and  seeing  lights  in  the  house  of  Mrs.  F ,  an  old  and 

much  respected  acquaintance  of  mine,  and  a  great  admirer  of  yours,  I 
called  in  to  pay  her  my  respects,  and  found  with  her  another  very 

interesting  lady,  Mrs.  E ,  who  in  the  course  of  her  conversation 

mentioned  a  report,  as  circulated  in  the  city,  and  I  think  she  said,  by 
some  Kentuckians  just  from  your  lines  of  defense,  that,  if  forced,  you 
would  destroy,  rather  than  see  the  city  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 
A  day  or  two  after,  at  the  request  of  the  military  council  of  the  city 
guards,  of  which  I  was  a  member,  I  waited  on  major  Butler  concerning  a 
citizen  under  arrest,  and  not  directly,  nor  indirectly,  charged  with 
anything  concerning  that  report ;  and  being  asked  by  him, '  If  there  was 
anything  new  in  the  city,'  I  remember  replying,  that  such  was  the 
report  'among  women.'  Conscious,  general,  of  having  through  life 
treated  the  names  and  characters  of  married  ladies  with  the  most 
scrupulous  caution  and  respect,  I  cannot  believe  that  I  mentioned  the 
names  of  the  two  ladies,  between  whom  I  heard  the  report :  and  never 
having,  at  any  time  attached  to  it,  myself,  either  belief  or  importance,  I 
could  not  have  made  it  a  subject  of  serious  communication  to  the  senate, 
to  the  military  council,  or  to  any  member,  individually,  of  them.  I  am 
willing,  therefore,  to  rest  the  truth  of  my  assertions,  in  repelling  this 
most  slanderous  and  bolstered  charge  o^  yours,  and  consequently  its 
utter  falsehood,  as  far  as  it  criminates  my  conduct  and  views,  on  the 
testimony  not  only  of  the  remaining  individuals,  who  composed  the 
senate  and  the  military  council,  but  on  the  testimony  of  any  two,  or 
three  remaining  individuals  in  society,  who  were  eye  witnesses  of  my 
conduct  at  the  invasion  of  New  Orleans,  and  whose  oaths  would  be 
respected  by  a  well  composed  jury  of  their  vicinity. 

"  I  may  well,  then,  sir,  pronounce  this  last  charge  of  yours  to  be  false, 
utterly  false !  as  applying  to  me  individually,  or  to  the  senate  over  which 


>.-t,| 


V  ti 


I, 


'    S.i 


■is 


r.:^.. 


U  i 


382 


HISTORY   OK  LOUISIANA. 


I  presided,  or  to  the  military  council  of  which  I  was  a  inenil)er,  or,  that 
the  most  distant  hint,  or  wish,  was  ever  expressed  in  any  of  their  delilj- 
erations,  or  in  i)rivate,  by  any  one  of  their  members,  with  my  knowledgo 
or  within  n>v  hearing,  "  to  make  terms  with  the  enemy."  And  more  taJHo 
if  possible,  fs  it  still,  that  '  the  legislature  should,  with  mv  consent  or 
connivance,  depute  a  committee  to  wait  on  you  on  that  sulnect,'  or  on 
any  other,  during  the  invasion,  in  which  I  had  any  agency,  that  was  not 
founded,  in  my  humble  estinnition  at  least,  on  principles  of  patriutinm 
and  honor.  I  may,  therefore,  hope  to  find  indulgence  in  every  hoiust 
breast,  for  having  expressed  in  some  degree,  the  profound  contempt  whitji 
this  charge  so  justly  merits,  and  which  it  is  impossible  for  me  with  life, 
to  cease  to  feel." 

Thibodaux,  then  a  member  of  the  senate,  who  afterwards  exercised,  iis 
president  of  that  body,  the  functions  of  chief  magistrate  of  the  state,  on 
the  resignation  of  governor  Robertson,  expressed  his  indignation  on  the 
subject,  in  a  letter  to  Skipwith,  on  the  lOtn  of  September,  1827. 

"  The  notorious,"  said  he,  "  ungenerous  and  unmerited  accusation, 
which  has  been  cast  upon  the  whole  legislature  of  Louisiana,  and  parti- 
cularly upon  the  senate,  by  general  Jackson,  in  his  published  letter  to  the 
l)0stma8ter-general,  in  order  to  defeat  your  pretensions  as  a  candidate  in 
opposition  with  his  favorite,  Mr.  Crogan,  is,  in  my  humble  opinion,  sucli 
as  ought  to  be  taken  up  and  repelled  with  the  indignation  it  really 
deserves.  This  charge  was  not  laid  upon  you  alone,  but  it  embraces  the 
whole  senate.  Could  you  not,  sir,  as  being  then  the  president  of  that 
honorable  body,  could  you  not,  with  propriety,  call  upon  the  members 
who  were  sitting  with  you,  and  prevail  upon  them  to  join  in  clearing, 
through  the  same  mecfium  that  was  made  use  of,  those  shameful  stains 
with  which  that  body  has  been  stigmatized?  And  would  it  not  be  but  fair, 
if  this  infamous  calumny  was  recoiled  towards  its  source  and  against  its 
very  author?  A  supine  silence  appears  to  operate  on  the  part  of  the 
members  of  the  general  assembly,  as  a  conviction  of  the  truth  of  the 
accusation  :  and  this  opinion,  as  you  may  know  yourself,  is  circulating  in 
the  public,  by  the  exertions  of  the  general's  friends. 

"  I  beg  leave  to  be  excused  for  attempting  to  suggest  the  right  course 
you  have  to  follow ;  these  are  the  dictates  of  a  heart  indignantly  oflended 
at  the  rash  attack  of  the  general,  and  although  it  does  not  fall  upon  me 
directly,  (for  you  will  recollect  I  was  on  active  military  service,)  it 
rebounds  upon  me  very  heavily,  and  wounds  me  to  the  very  hearths  core." 

The  journal  of  neither  of  the  houses  makes  any  mention  of  the  motion 
for,  nor  of  the  appointment  of,  the  committee  of  which  Jackson  speaks. 
The  members  of  the  house  of  representatives  have  universally  expressed 
their  indignation  at  the  unfounded  charge,  and  their  astonishment  at 
the  egregious  imposition,  under  which  Jackson  must  have  been,  when  he 
made  it. 

Major-General  Villere,  of  the  state  militia,  reached  the  camp  on  the 
twenty-ninth,  with  six  hundred  men  of  the  militia  of  his  division,  and 
was  directed  by  Jackson  to  take  the  command  of  a  second  line,  which  was 
now  formed  between  the  first  and  the  city. 

On  new  year's  day,  a  thick  fog  concealed  the  movements  of  the  enemy, 
till  towards  eight  o'cclock.  He  now  opened  a  brisk  fire  from  three 
batteries  he  had  just  completed.  The  left,  on  the  road,  had  two  twelve- 
pounders  ;  the  centre  eight  eighteen  and  twenty-four-pounders,  and  some 


I  exercistal,  ns 
f  the  state,  on 
'nation  on  tlio 

[827. 

;d   accusation, 
ma,  and  parti- 
od  lotter  to  the 
a  candidate  in 
;  oi)inii)n,  such 
ation  it  really 
t  onibvaoes  the 
'sident  of  that 
,n  the  members 
)in  in  clearinji, 
shameful  stains 
,  not  be  but  fair, 

and  against  its 
\\e  part  of  the 
he  truth  of  the 

,e  circulating  in 


Its  of  the  enemy, 

]  fire  from  three 

had  two  twelve- 

liders,  and  some 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


383 


carronadoH ;  the  ri}?ht,  closo  to  the  woods,  mounted  eight  pieces  of  cannon 
antl  earronndc's  of  different  ealibros.  A  flash  of  congrevc  rockets  accom- 
panied the  halls,  and  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour  the  fire  was  kept  up  witli 
uiiexatni>lcd  oelerity,  and  answered  in  so  brisk,  steady  and  well  directed 
a  manner,  that  it  now  slackened  in  a  perceptible  degree.  The  cannonade 
was,  however,  k(>pt  up  on  both  sides,  but  with  varied  intervals,  for  an 
hour,  during  which  scjven  of  the  enemy's  guns  were  dismounted,  and 
when  the  fire  ccase<l,  the  greater  part  of  his  artillery  was  unfit  for  service. 
At  one  o'clock  ho  abandoned  his  battery  near  the  woods ;  the  centre  one 
luid  that  near  the  road  continued  to  throw  a  few  balls  and  rockets  till 
three,  when  they  were  silenced. 

Soon  after,  major-general  Thomas,  of  the  second  division  of  state  militia, 
arrived  with  five  hundred  men,  who  encamped  behind  the  main  line  on 
r)ui)re'8  ])lantation,  and  three  days  after,  a  detachment  of  the  militia  of 
the  state  of  Kentucky,  amounting  to  two  thousand  two  hundred  and  fifty 
men,  under  major-general  Thomas  and  brigadier-general  Adair,  arrived 
nnd  encamped  below  the  city,  on  Prevost's  plantation.  Afterwards,  a 
)art  of  this  force,  under  general  Adair,  advanced  and  took  a  position,  a 
ittle  in  the  rear  of  Jackson's  line. 

The  dcplor.'ible  condition  of  a  great  part  of  the  militia  of  the  states  of 
Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  who  were  in  want  of  warm  clothing,  and  from 
the  nature  of  the  service,  occasionally  exposed  in  the  open  air,  the  winter 
being  extremely   severe,   excited    tHe   sensibility   of  the  legislature  of 
Louisiana,  and  on  the  motion  of  Louaillier,  an  appropriation  was  made 
of  six  thousand  dollars.    This  sum  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  a  committee, 
of  which  the  mover  was  an  efficient  member.    An  equal  sum  was  added, 
by  subscription  in  the  city ;  the  planters  of  the  German  Coast  sent  thirty- 
?ix  hundred  dollars,  and  those  of  Attakapas  transmitted  five  hundred. 
By  these  means,  with  other  aid,  a  sum  of  sixteen  thousand  dollars  was 
obtained,  as  an  addition  to  that  appropriated  by  the  legislature,  and  the 
whole  was  expended  in  the  purchase  of  blankets  and  woollen  cloths, 
which  were  distributed  among  the  ladies  of  New  Orleans,  to  be  made 
into  wearing  apparel :  and  within  one  week  twelve  hundred  blanket  coats, 
two  hundred  and  twenty-five  waistcoasts,  eleven  hundred  and  twenty-seven 
pairs  of  pantaloons,  and  eight  hundred  shirts,  were  completed  and  distrib- 
uted.   Specific  donations  of  several  boxes  of  hats  and   shoes,  and  a 
considerable  number  of  mattresses,  were  made  by  merchants  and  shop- 
keepers. 

A  number  of  debtors,  who  had  taken  the  benefit  of  the  acts  establishing 
the  prison  bounds,  were  anxious  to  join  in  the  defense  of  the  city,  but 
were  apprehensive  of  exposing  their  sureties.  On  this  being  represented 
to  the  legislature,  an  act  was  passed,  extending  the  prison  bounds,  until 
the  first  of  May  following,  so  as  to  include  Jackson's  line. 

From  deserters,  desultory  accounts  were  received,  of  a  considerable 
reinforcement  having  arrived,  under  the  orders  of  lieutenant-general 
Packenham  and  major-general  Lambert;  it  was  reported,  that  the  British 
army  now  consisted  of  fourteen  thousand  men.  Jackson  had  information 
that  for  several  days,  the  communication  between  the  army  and  fleet  had 
been  unusually  active,  and  that  a  general  attack  was  preparing — that  the 
enemy  was  deepening  Villere's  canal  and  extending  it,  in  order  to  bring 
hi?  boats  to  the  Mississippi. 
Early  on  the  morning  of  the  eighth,  signals,  to  produce  concert  in  the 


'^1 


m 

■>'■  I 

'  I'  n 
'  ft" 


i;1 


i    ■<M  ! 


f*^. 


■M^    Vf 


1    .%' . 


■vAii 

m . 

,  >!' 

-t  i 

'fi' 

.iv    , 

m : 

■ir^ 

384 


IIIBTORY  or  LOUISIANA. 


enemy's  movi'mcntH,  were  notice*!,  A  rocket  nscended  on  the  left,  near 
the  Kwanip,  and  soon  after,  another  on  the  right,  near  the  river;  and  u 
few  nnnntcH  after,  the  charge  was  hecan  with  such  rapidity  that  our 
soldiers  at  the  outposts,  with  diflieulty  fled  in. 

The  enemy's  batteries,  which  had  been  demolished  on  new  year's  day, 
had  been  repaired  during  the  night,  and  furnished  with  several  picct's  of 
heavy  artillery.  These  now  opened,  and  showers  of  balls  and  l)oml>8 
were  poured  on  our  line,  and  the  air  wos  lighted  with  eongrcve  nn  kcts. 
The  two  divisions  under  generals  Keane  and  uibbs  were  led  by  Packcnliam  : 
both  pressed  forward,  the  one  against  the  centre,  the  other  agniiiKt 
the  redoubt  on  the  levee.  A  thick  fog  enabled  them  to  appnuvch  within  a 
short  distance,  before  they  were  disc(»vered.     They  advanced,  with  a  firm, 

auick  and  steady  pace,  in  solid  columns,  with  a  front  of  sixty  ur  Htvcnty 
eep.  On  perceiving  them,  Jackson,  who  had  been  for  some  time  waiting 
their  appearance,  gave  a  signal,  on  which  our  men,  who  were  in  readincsn, 
gave  three  cheers,  and  instantly  the  whole  line  was  lighted  with  the  blaze 
of  their  fire.  A  burst  of  artillery  and  small  arms,  pouring  with  destructive 
aim  upon  the  British,  mowed  their  front  and  arrested  their  advance.  In 
the  musketrv,  there  was  not  a  moment  of  intermission,  us  one  party 
discharged  their  pieces,  another  succeeded :  alternately  loading  and  Hring, 
no  pause  could  oe  perceived — it  was  one  continued  volley.  Notwith- 
standing the  severity  of  the  fire,  some  British  soldiers  ])ressed  forward,  and 
succeeded  in  gaining  the  ditch  in  front  of  the  line.  At  this  mon)ent, 
Packenham  fell,  in  front  of  his  men,  mortally  wounded,  and  soon  after, 
Gibbs  and  Keane  were  borne  from  the  field,  dangerously  wounded. 
Lambert,  who  was  advancing,  at  a  small  distance  in  the  rear  with  the 
reserve,  met  the  columns  precipitately  retreating  and  in  great  confusion. 
His  efforts  to  rally  thenj  were  unavailing — they  reached  a  ditch,  at  the 
distance  of  four  hundred  yards  from  our  line,  where,  finding  a  momentary 
safety,  they  were  rallied  and  halted. 

They  shortly  after  returned  to  the  charge ;  but  Jackson's  batteries  had 
not  ceased  their  fire — their  constant  discharge  of  grape  and  cannister,  and 
volleys  of  musketry,  cut  down  the  enemy's  columns  as  fast  as  they  could 
be  formed ;  they  now  abandoned  the  contest  and  the  field  in  disorder, 
leaving  it  entirely  covered  with  the  dead  and  the  wounded. 

A  strong  detachment  which  formed  the  left  of  Keane's  command,  was 
sent  under  colonel  Rennie,  against  our  redoubt,  cm  the  right.  This  work 
was  in  an  unfinished  state.  Rennie,  urging  forward  with  stern  bravery 
reached  the  ditch.  His  advance  was  greatly  annoyed  by  Patterson's 
battery,  on  the  right  bank,  and  the  cannon  mounted  on  the  redoubt;  but 
he  passed  the  ditch,  and  leaping,  sword  in  hand,  on  the  wall,  called  to  his 
men  to  follow  him,  when  the  fatal  aim  of  a  rifleman  brought  him  down. 
Pressed  by  the  impetuosity  of  superior  numbers,  who  were  mounting  the 
wall  and  entering  at  the  embrasures,  the  men  in  the  redoubt  had  retired 
to  the  rear  of  the  line,  when  the  city  riflemen,  cool  and  self-possessed, 
opened  on  the  assailants,  and  at  every  discharge  brought  the  object  to  the 
ground.  The  followers  of  Rennie  abandoned  the  attempt,  in  which  he 
had  fallen  ;  they  retired,  galled  by  such  part  of  the  guns  in  the  line  as 
could  be  brought  upon  them  ;  they  sought  a  shelter  behind  the  levee,  but 
the  fire  of  Patterson's  battery,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river,  severely 
annoyed  them  on  their  retreat. 

The  efforts  of  the  enemy  to  carry  Jackson's  line  of  defense,  were 


If  defense,  were 


HISTOMY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


885 


seconded  by  an  attack,  whicli  was  intended  to  have  been  HinuiltancouH, 
on  tbe  opponite  Imnk.  Col.  Thornton,  lieforo  davbreuk,  had  crosHcd  the 
MiMHihiBippi  with  eight  hundred  men  :  but  he  Iianfly  efTei^ted  hiH  binding, 
when  the  day  broke,  and  he  haHtened  forward  againut  Morgans 
entrenchment. 

JackHon  had  forcHeen  an  attack  on  that  »uU)  of  the  river,  and  during  the 
previous  night,  he  had  sent  tw(»  hundred  of  the  militia  of  the  state  to 
uHHsist  in  onponing  it.  This  detachment  had  advanced  a  mile  down  the 
river,  and  Arnaud,  who  commanded  it,  supposing  that  the  general  was 
mistaken,  or  deeming  that  the  spirits  of  his  men  would  be  resuscitated  by 
repose  had  directed  them  to  lie  down  and  sleep.  Hearing  the  rattling 
noise  made  by  the  British,  who  were  approaching,  Arnaud  aroused  his 
sleeping  companions,  and  before  they  could  be  formed,  the  foe  was  so  near 
that  they  became  confused,  and  moved  off  in  the  direction  in  which  they 
had  come.  A  body  of  Kcntuckians,  who  had  reached  Morgan's  camp  at 
five  in  the  morning  had  been  sent  on  to  support  Arnaud :  they  nad 
proceeded  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  when  tney  met  his  men  hastily 
retreating  up  the  road. 

Tliese  two  detachments  ran  along  together,  and  formed  behind  a  saw- 
mill race,  skirted  with  a  quantity  of  plank  and  scantling,  which  afforded 
them  a  tolerable  shelter.  The  enemy  now  appeared  ;  his  approach  was 
resisted,  and  a  warm  and  spirited  opposition  made  for  awhile.  A  momen- 
tary check  was  given  him.  He  retired,  returned  and  again  received  a 
heavy  fire.  One  of  Morgan's  aids  now  arrived,  and  ordered  a  retreat. 
Confusion  ensued — order  could  not  be  restored,  and  the  whole  precip- 
itately fled  to  Morgan's  entrenchment,  when  they  were  instantly  formed, 
and  ordered  to  extend  themselves  in  line  to  the  swamp,  to  prevent  the 
entrenchment  bti  .g  turned. 

Thornton  halted,  at  the  distance  of  about  seven  hundred  yards,  and 
soon  after  advanced  to  the  attack,  in  two  divisions,  against  the  extreme 
right  and  centre  of  the  line,  now  defended  by  about  five  hundred  men. 
A  well  directed  discharge  of  the  artillery,  which  had  been  mounted  on  the 
works,  caused  his  right  division  to  oblique  and  unite  with  the  left,  and 
press  forward  to  the  point  occupied  bv  the  Kentucky  troops.  These  men 
finding  themselves  thus  exposed,  and  not  having  yet  recovered  from  the 
disorder  of  their  hasty  retreat,  now  gave  way,  and  soon  after  abandoned 
their  position.  The  Louisiana  militia  gave  a  few  fires  and  followed  the 
example.  The  officers  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  momentary  halt ;  but  a 
burst  of  congrevc  rockets  happening  to  set  fire  to  a  field  of  sugar  cane 
and  to  other  combustible  materials,  their  fears  were  again  excited — they 
hastily  moved  away,  and  could  not  be  rallied,  till,  at  the  distance  of  two 
miles  they  reached  a  small  race  and  were  formed  and  placed  in  an  attitude 
of  defense. 

The  loss  of  the  British  in  the  main  attack,  on  the  left  bank,  is  supposed 
to  have  been  between  twenty-five  hundred  and  three-thousand  killed — the 
number  of  wounded  was  much  greater.  The  loss  of  the  Americans  in 
killed  and  wounded  was  but  thirteen. 

General  Lambert,  on  whom  the  command  of  the  British  army  devolved 
on  the  fall  of  Packenham,  Gibbs  and  Keane,  now  solicited  permission  to 
send  an  unarmed  detachment  to  bury  the  dead  and  bring  off  the  wounded, 
lying  near  Jackson's  line.  This  was  allowed,  and  a  suspension  of  hogtil- 
ities  agreed  on  for  twenty-four  hours. 


(! 


i' 


l«-!| 


»•* 


I 

li: 


61 


386 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


A  considerable  naval  force  of  the  enemy  had  been  destined  to  co-operate  in 
the  late  attack  by  ascending  the  Mississippi.  They  succeeded  in  passing 
the  Balize,  and  made  prisoners  of  a  small  detachment  that  had  been 
stationed  there,  but  were  unable  to  pass  Fort  St.  Phillip,  at  Plaquemines. 

The  squadron,  which  consisted  of  two  bomb  vessels,  a  brig,  schooner 
and  sloop,  approached  the  fort,  on  the  ninth,  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
within  striking  distance,  and  soon  after  commenced  to  discharge  an 
immense  quantity  of  bombs  and  balls  against  the  fort.  '  A  severe  and  well 
directed  fire  from  its  water  battery  compelled  the  shipping  to  retreat  to 
the  distance  of  two  miles,  where  they  could  reach  the  tort  with  the  shells 
from  their  largest  mortars,  while  they  stood  beyond  the  reach  of  its 
artillery.  The  bombardment,  with  various  intervals,  was  continued  till 
the  seventeenth,  when  a  heavy  mortar  having  been  mounted  and  turned 
against  them,  they  retreated  on  the  morning  of  the  eighteenth. 

At  midnight,  between  the  eighteenth  and  nineteenth,  the  enemy  precip- 
itately abandoned  his  encampment  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  to 
return  to  his  shipping,  leaving  under  medical  attendance,  eighteen 
wounded,  including  two  officers,  fourteen  pieces  of  artillery  and  a  consid- 
erable quantity  of  shot.  Such  was  the  situation  of  the  ground  they 
abandoned,  and  that  through  which  they  retreated,  protected  by  swamps, 
canals,  redoubts  and  intrenchmcnts,  that  Jackson  could  not,  without 
encountering  a  risk,  which  policy  neither  required  or  authorized,  annoy 
him  much  on  his  retreat.    He  took  eight  prisoners  only. 

One  of  the  medical  men,  left  to  take  care  of  the  wounded,  handed  to 
Jackson  a  letter  from  Lambert,  imploring  protection  for  the  men  thus 
remaining  behind,  and  announcing  that  he  had  relinquished,  "for  the 
present,  all  further  operations  against  New  Orleans." 

"Whether,"  says  Jackson's  communication  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  of 
the  nineteenth,  "it  be  the  purposeof  the  enemy  to  abandon  the  expedition 
altogether,  or  to  renew  his  efforts  at  some  other  point,  I  shall  not  pretend 
to  decide  with  positiveness.  In  my  own  mind,  there  is  but  little  doubt 
that  his  last  exertions  have  been  made  in  this  quarter ;  at  any  rate  for  the 
present  season,  and  by  the  next,  if  he  shall  choose  to  revisit  us,  I  hope  we 
shall  be  fully  prepared  for  him.  In  this  belief,  I  am  strengthened  by  the 
prodigious  loss  he  sustained,  on  the  position  he  had  just  quitted  and  by 
the  failure  of  his  fleet  to  pass  Fort  St.  Phillip.  His  loss  since  the  debark- 
ation of  his  troops,  as  stated  by  all  the  prisoners  and  deserters,  and  as 
confirmed  by  many  additional  circumstances,  exceeds,  in  the  whole,  four 
thousand  men. 

Jackson  now  determined  to  withdraw  his  troops  from  the  position  they 
had  occupied  and  place  them  near  the  city,  wnence  they  might  easily 
be  advanced  whenever  it  might  be  necessary.  The  seventh  regiment 
of  infantry  was  left  to  protect  the  point  he  was  leaving,  and  further  in 
advance  on  Villere's  canal,  where  tne  enemy  landed,  he  posted  a  detach- 
ment of  Louisiana  and  Kentucky  militia. 

Having  made  these  arrangements,  he  brought  the  rest  of  his  army  to 
the  city,  on  the  twentieth. 

On  the  twenty-third,  a  solemn  service  of  thanksgiving  was  performed  in 
the  Cathedral — exactly  one  month  after  the  first  landing  of  tne  enemy  at 
Villere's  plantation. 

If  the  vigilance,  the  activity,  and  the  intrepidity  of  the  general  had  been 
conspicuous  during  the  whole  period  of  the  invasion,  his  prudence, 


1  the  position  they 

they  might  easily 

seventh  regiment 

ng,  and  further  in 

le  posted  a  detach- 

jst  of  his  army  to 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


387 


moderation  and  self-denial,  on  the  departure  of  the  enemy,  deserves  no 
less  commendation  and  admiration.  An  opportunity  was  then  presented 
to  him  of  acquiring  laurels  bv  a  pursuit,  wnich  few,  elated  as  he  must 
have  been  bv  success,  could  have  resisted.  But,  he  nobly  reflected  that 
those  who  fled  from  him  were  mercenaries — those  who  surrounded  his 
standard,  his  fellow-citizens,  almost  universally  fathers  of  families : — sound 
policy,  to  use  his  own  expressions,  neither  required  or  authorized  him  to 
expose  the  lives  of  his  companions  in  arms,  in  a  useless  conflict.  He 
thought  the  lives  of  ten  British  soldiers  would  not  reqjuite  the  loss  of  one 
of  his  men.  He  had  not  saved  New  Orleans  to  sacrifice  its  inhabitants. 
With  tears  of  g''atAi:.>o  thev  greeted  him  on  his  return,  in  the  strains 
which  Arisoto  adUierises  to  his  patron : 

Fu  il  vincer  sempre  mai  laudabil  cosa, 
Vincasi  e  per  fortuna  o  per  ingegno : 
Gli  e  ver,  che  la  vittoria  sanguinosa 
Spesso  far  suole  il  capitan  men  degno ; 
E  auella  eternamente  e  gloriosa, 
E  aei  divini  onori  arriva  al  segno, 
Quando,  servando  i  suoi  senz'alciiu  danno, 
Si  fa  che  gl'inimici  in  rotta  vanno. 

La  vostra,  sign6r  mio,  fu  degna  loda, 
Quando  al  leone,  in  mar  tanto  feroce, 
Ch'  avea  occupata  I'una  e  I'altra  prodo, 
Del  Po,  da  Francolfn  sin  alia  foce, 
Faceste  si,  che  anc6r  che  rugglr  I'oda, 
S'  io  vedro  voi,  non  temer6  la  voce. 
Come  vincer  si  de'  ne  dimostrate ; 
Gh'  uccideste  i  nemici,  e  noi  saivaste. 

Orlando  Fubioso,  xiv. 
Thus  paraphrased : 

Great  honor  every  victor  must  obtain, 
Let  fortune  give  success  or  conduct  gain : 
Yet  oft  a  battle,  won  with  blood,  will  yield 
Less  praise  to  him  who  boasts  the  conquered  field. 
But  ever  glorious  is  that  chieftain's  name — 
And  pure  and  sacred  is  his  martial  fame, 
Who,  while  the  forces  of  his  foes  o'erthrow^ 
Proclaim  his  might,  from  loss  preserves  his  own- 
Such  was  the  war  by  thee,  brave  Jackson,  wag'd, 
When  Britain  on  the  waves  had  fiercely  rag'd — 
Had  seiz'd  each  shore  that  to  the  Gulph  descends, 
And  to  our  Lakes  from  Pensacola  bends : 
Tho'  yet  afar,  her  lion's  roar  seem'd  near. 
But  present  thou,  what  beast  could  harbor  fear. 
Nobly  thou  taught's  us  victory  to  gain — 
By  thee  our  friends  were  sav'd,  our  foes  were  slain. 


■  ■■ »  ' 


m  ! 


iiliT^ :  ■:>)! 


i  M 


CHAPTER    XXXII, 


The  legislature  made  an  appropriation  of  two  thousand  dollars  for  the 
benefit  of  the  Charity  Hospital,  the  resources  of  which  had  been 
diminished  by  the  liberal  succor  it  had  yielded  to  the  sick  of  the  states 
of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee.  Provision  was  also  made  for  the  immediate 
relief  of  the  wounded  and  the  families  of  those  who  had  been  killed. 

Danger  had  now  evidently  subsided.  The  levy  en  masse  of  the  militia 
had  been  arriving  in  regiments  and  companies.  "  Everything,"  says 
liatour,  "  was  in  readiness  to  repel  the  enemy  on  whatever  point  he  might 
make  an  attack.  All  the  damaged  arms  had  been  repaired,  and  a  barge 
had  arrived  from  Pittsburg,  with  muskets,  cannon  and  balls.  Louisiana 
had  been  defended  and  saved  with  means  much  inferior  to  those  of  the 
enemy,  and  towards  the  end  of  January  she  was  in  a  condition  to  defy 
double  the  number  that  had  at  first  attacked  her.  Time  had  shown  how 
groundless  were  the  apprehensions  which  were  pretended  to  be  enter- 
tained from  the  disaffection  of  the  people,  and  had  evinced  the  wisdom 
of  the  legislature  in  rejecting  the  propositions  which  had  been  made  to 
suspend  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus.  They  adjourned  on  the  sixth  of 
February. 

On  the  twelfth,  the  British  possessed  themselves  of  Fort  Boyer,  at  the 
entrance  of  Mobile  Bay. 

By  a  communication  of  the  following  day,  from  admiral  Cochrane, 
Jackson  was  informed  that  the  admiral  had  just  received  a  bulletin  from 
Jamaica,  (a  copy  of  which  was  inclosed)  proclaiming  that  a  treaty  of 
peace  haa  been  signed  by  the  respective  plenipotentiaries  of  Gieat 
Britain  and  the  United  States,  at  Ghent,  on  the  twenty-fourth  of 
December.  The  dispatch  did  not  arrive  till  the  twenty-first,  by  the  way 
of  the  Balize,  but  the  intelligence  had  been  brought  to  the  citv  on  the 

S receding  day  by  one  of  Jackson's  aids,  who  had  returned  from  the 
ritish  fleet  with  a  flag  of  truce. 

In  announcing  this  event,  by  an  address  to  the  army  and  the  people  of 
Louisiana,  the  general  forewarned  them  from  being  thrown  into  security 
by  hopes  that  might  be  delusive ;  observing  it  was  by  holding  out  such, 
tfiat  an  artful  and  insidious  foe  too  often  seeks  to  accomplish  oWccts,  the 
utmost  exertion  of  his  strength  will  not  enable  him  to  effect.  He  added 
that  to  place  them  off  their  guard,  and  attack  them  by  surprise,  was  the 
natural  expedient  of  one,  who,  having  experienced  the  superiority  of  their 
arms,  hoped  to  overcome  them  by  stratagem. 

On  the  twentv-second,  the  gladsome  tidings  were  confirmed,  and  a 
gazette  of  Charleston  was  received,  announcing  the  ratification  of  the 
treaty  by  the  Prince  Regent. 

We  have  seen  that  on  the  first  account  of  the  arrival  of  part  of  the 
British  army  on  Villere's  plantation,  the  French  subjects  who  resided  in 
New  Orleans  and  its  environs,  animated  by  Tousard,  their  consul,  had 
flocked  round  Jackson's  standard,  "  determined  to  leave  it  with  the 
necessity  that  called  them  to  it,  and  not  till  then."  As  long  as  the  foe 
remained  in  the  state,  they  patiently  submitted  to  toil,  privation  and 
danger,  with  exemplary  fortitude  and  patience;  they  had  left  their 
families  in  penury  and  distress,  but  the  liberality  of  the  city  council  had 
ministered  to  their  wants ;  that  body  had  distributed  among  the  needy 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


389 


inhabitants  thirty-four  thousand  rations  of  bread,  and  thirteen  thousand 
of  meat.  But,  whether  the  means  of  the  corporation  were  exhausted,  or 
the  absence  of  danger  rendered  its  officers  less  attentive,  these  supplies 
did  not  flow  as  abundantly  as  at  first,  and,  pressed  by  the  anxiety  of 
coming  to  the  help  of  their  families,  and  no  longer  elated  by  the  hope  of 
gaining  laurels,  being  useful  to  the  country  they  lived  in,  or  excited  by 
their  antipathy  to  the  invaders,  they  grew  tired  of  a  service  which  they 
now  thought  perfectly  useless.  A  few  solicited  their  discharge  from  the 
officers  under  whom  they  were  immediately  placed ;  Jackson  was 
consulted,  and  insisted  on  their  being  retained.  On  this,  a  number  of 
them  demanded  from  Tousard  certificates  of  their  national  character, 
which  they  presented  to  the  general,  by  whom  they  were  countersigned, 
and  the  bearers  permitted  to  return  home.  The  example  was  followed 
l)y  so  many,  that  Jackson  was  induced  to  believe  that  Tousard  too  easily 
gratified  the  applicants  with  certificates,  and  considering  his  compliance 
with  his  duty,  as  evidence  of  his  adhesion  to  the  enemy,  ordered  him  out 
of  the  city. 

Yielding  to  the  advice  of  many  around  him,  who  were  constantly  filling 
his  ears  with  their  clamors  about  the  disloyalty,  disaffection  and 
treason  of  the  people  of  Louisiana,  and  particularly  the  state  officers  and 
the  people  of  French  origin,  Jackson,  on  the  last  day  of  February,  issued 
a  general  order,  commanding  all  French  subjects,  possessed  of  a  certificate 
of  their  national  character,  sub8cril)ed  by  the  consul  of  France,  and 
countersigned  by  the  Commanding-general,  to  retire  into  the  interior,  to  a 
distance  above  Baton  Rouge ;  a  measure,  which  was  stated  to  have  been 
rendered  indispensable  by  the  frequent  applications  for  discharges.  The 
names  were  directed  to  be  taken  of  all  persons  of  this  description  remaining 
in  the  city  after  the  expiration  of  three  days. 

Time  has  shown  this  to  have  been  a  most  unfortunate  step,  and  those 
by  whose  suggestions  it  was  taken,  soon  found  themselves  unable  to  avert 
from  the  general  the  consequences  to  which  it  exposed  him.    The  people 
against  whom  it  was  directed  were  loyal ;  many  of  them  had  bled,  all  had 
toiled  and  suffered  in  the  defense  of  the  state.    Need,  in  many  instances, 
improvidence  in  several,  had  induced  the  families  of  these  people  to  part 
with  the  furniture  of  their  houses  to  supply  those  immediate  wants  which 
the  absence  of  the   head  of  the  family  occasioned.    No  exception,  no 
distinction  was  made.    The  sympathetic  feeling  of  every  class  of  inhab- 
itants were  enlisted  in  favor  of  these  men ;  they  lacked  the  means  of 
sustaining  themselves  on  the  way,  and  must  have  been  compelled,  on 
their  arrival  at  Baton  Rouge,  then  a  very  insignificant  village,  to  throw 
themselves  on  the  charity  of  the  inhabitants.    Another  consideration 
rendered  the  departure  of  these  men,  an  evil  to  be  dreaded.    The  appre- 
hension of  the  return  of  the  enemy  was  represented,  as  having  had  much 
weight  with  Jacksoh  in  issuing  his  order.     Their  past  conduct  was  a  sure 
pledge,  that,  in  case  of  need,  their  services  would  again  be  re-offered ;  there 
were  among  them  a  number  of  experienced  artillerymen;   a  description 
of  soldiers,  which  was  not  easily  to  be  found  among  the  brave  who  had 
come  down  from  Kentucky,  or  Tennessee,  or  even  in  the  army  of  the 
United  States.    These  considerations  induced  several  respectable  citizens 
to  wait  on  Jackson,  for  the  purpose  of  endeavoring  to  induce  him  to 
reconsider  a  determination,  which  was  viewed  as  productive  of  flagrant 
injustice  and  injury  to  those  against  whom  it  was  directed,  without  any 


ji; 


|-J;g 


390 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


possible  advantage,  and  probably  very  detrimental,  to  those  for  whose 
benefit  it  was  intended. 

Eaton  has  informed  his  readers  that  "  Promptitude  and  decision 
constitutes  one  of  the  leading  traits  of  Jackson's  character."  Those  who 
called  on  the  general,  were  soon  convinced,  that  hasty  determinations 
are  seldom  patiently  re-examined,  or  willingly  changed ;  they  found  him 
inexorable.  The  recommendation  was  therefore  given  to  the  French 
exiles,  to  forbear  the  manifestation  of  any  positive  resistance,  but  to 
remain  quietly  at  home,  in  the  hope,  that  official  accounts  from  the  seat 
of  government,  changing  the  state  of  affairs,  should  soon  enable  Jackson 
to  withdraw  his  late  orders,  without  admitting  they  were  too  precipitately 
issued.  They  were  assured  that  the  laws  of  the  country  would  protect 
them,  and  punieh,  even  in  a  successful  general,  a  violation  of  the  rights 
of,  or  a  wanton  injury  to,  the  meanest  individual,  citizen  or  alien.  They 
were  referred  to  the  case  of  Wilkinson,  against  whom  an  independent  jury 
of  the  Mississippi  territory  had  given  a  verdict  in  favor  of  Adair,  who  had 
been  illegally  arrested  and  transported  during  the  winter  of  1806. 

The  mail  now  brought  northern  gazettes,  announcing  the  arrival  of  the 
treaty  at  Washington,  on  the  14th.  The  hope,  that  had  been  entertained, 
that  Jackson  would  now  allow  those  unfortunate  people  to  stay  with  their 
families,  was  disappointed ;  a  circumstance  which  induced  several  of 
their  countrymen,  who  had  become  citizens  of  the  United  States,  to 
imagine,  that  antipathy  to  the  French  population  influenced  the  general's 
determination.  It  has  justly  been  allowed,  that  those  who  are  ignorant 
of  each  other's  language,  often  lack  the  liberality  of  giving  the  best 
construction  to  each  others  acts ;  and  the  inhabitants  of  New  Orleans  had 
often  complained,  that  the  government  of  the  United  States  had  not  had 
the  indulgence,  which  the  king  of  Spain  had  always  extended  to  them, 
of  sending  superior  officers  to  preside  over  them,  who  spoke  their 
language.  Jackson  had  uniformly  kept  aloof  from  the  French  part  of  the 
population,  and  did  not  appear  to  treat  the  officers  of  the  state  govern- 
ment, with  the  attention  wnich  was  believed  to  be  due  them :  and  those 
who  were  considered,  as  his  most  confidential  friends,  were  believed  to  be 
in  opposition  to  the  officers  of  the  state. 

Louallier,  the  member  of  the  house  of  representatives  for  the  county 
of  Opelousas,  a  native  of  France,  had  been  an  efficient  member  of  the 
legislature,  and  had  been  remarked  for  his  constant  and  steady  efforts,  in 
bringing  forth  the  energies  of  the  state  for  its  defense,  and  in  providing 
and  distributing  assistance  for  its  needv  defenders.  He  had  been  hitherto 
extremely  useful  in  the  regulation  of  the  finances — we  have  seen  he  was 
one  of  those,  who  thought  the  legislature  should  remain  in  session,  while 
danger  hovered  over  the  state.  He  had  thought  it  better  to  open  the 
treasury,  and  induce  sailors  to  go  on  board  of  public  vessels,  by  ample 
bounties,  than  to  empower  the  commodore  to  send  out  press  gangs— he 
thought  that  the  state  should  not  outlaw  its  defenders,  by  suspending  the 
habeas  corpus — he  did  not  believe  in  the  cry  of  Jackson  and  Claiborne, 
of  disaffection,  sedition  and  treason.  He  thought  every  citizen  owed  to 
the  state  the  exertion  of  his  utmost  faculties,  during  the  pending  crisis; 
he  accordingly  enrolled  himself  in  one  of  the  companies  of  veterans, 
patroled  the  city  during  the  night,  and  sat,  during  the  day,  in  a  military 
council,  and  a  committee  of  succors.  Of  the  latter,  he  had  been  the  most 
efficient  member.  In  distributing  relief  to  the  indigent,  he  had  frequently 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


391 


se  for  whoee 

and  decision 
'    Those  who 
eterminations 
ey  found  him 
o'  the  French 
stance,  but  to 
from  the  seat 
nable  Jackson 
0  precipitately 
would  protect 
a  of  the  rights 
r  alien.    They 
dependent  jury 
\.dair,  who  had 
►f  1806. 

s  arrival  of  the 
en  entertained, 
stay  with  their 
ced  several  of 
lited  States,  to 
ed  the  general's 
10  are  ignorant 
riving  the  best 
lew  Orleans  had 
tes  had  not  had 
tended  to  them, 
ho  spoke  their 
snch  part  of  the 
le  state  govern- 
hem :  and  those 
re  believed  to  he 

for  the  county 
member  of  the 
riteady  etforts,  in 
nd  in  providing 
ad  been  hitherto 
lave  seen  he  was 
in  session,  while 
tter  to  open  the 
vessels,  by  ample 

press  gangs— he 

f  suspending  the 
.1  and  Claiborne, 
y  citizen  owed  to 
B  pending  crisis; 
lies  of  veterans, 
lay,  in  a  military 
[ad  been  the  most 

,e  had  frequently 


visited  in  person  the  mansions  of  those,  who  had  abandoned  their  families, 
buckled  a  knapsack  on  their  backs,  placed  a  musket  on  their  shoulders, 
and  followed  Jackson ;  and  he  had  witnessed  the  distresses  of  their 
families.  He  had  given  credit  to  the  admiral's  communication ;  being 
unable  or  unwilling  to  believe,  that  officer  entertained  so  unfavorable  an 
opinion  of  those  who  opposed  him,  as  to  conceive  the  idea,  that  they  could 
be  imposed  upon,  by  so  flimsy  a  means,  as  a  forged  newspaper.  He  had 
approved  the  caution  of  Jackson ;  but  the  confirmation  of  the  signature 
of  the  treaty,  in  a  Charleston  gazette,  had  sanctioned  the  belief  that  the 
admiral's  information  was  correct.  The  frequent  and  uncontradicted 
repetition  of  the  intelligence  in  letters  and  newspapers,  placed  it  beyond 
all  doubt.  When  he  heard,  that  the  treaty  was  before  the  senate,  he 
entertained  very  little  doubt  of  its  instant  ratification. 

A  report,  which  now  was  afloat,  that  those  who  surrounded  Jackson 
were  laboring  to  induce  him  to  arrest  some  individuals,  alluded  to  in  the 
general  orders  of  the  28th  of  February,  roused  his  indignation,  to  which 
(perhaps  more  honestly  than  prudently j  he  gave  vent  in  a  publication, 
of  which  the  following  is  a  translation,  in  the  Courier  de  la  Louisiane  of 
the  3d  of  March : 

COMMUNICATION. 

"  Mb.  Editor  : — To  remain  silent  on  the  last  general  orders,  directing 
all  the  Frenchmen,  who  now  reside  in  New  Orleans,  to  leave  it  within 
three  days,  and  to  keep  at  a  distance  of  120  miles  from  it,  would  be  an  act 
of  cowardice,  which  ought  not  to  be  expected  from  a  citizen  of  a  free 
country ;  and  when  every  one  laments  such  an  abuse  of  authority,  the 
press  ought  to  denounce  it  to  the  people." 

"  In  order  to  encourage  a  communication  between  both  countries,  the 
7th  and  8th  articles  of  the  treaty  of  cession  secure,  to  the  French  who  shall 
come  to  Louisiana,  certain  commercial  advantages,  which  they  are  to 
enjoy,  during  a  term  of  twelve  years,  which  are  not  yet  expired.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  time,  they  shall  be  treated  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
most  favored  nation.  A  peace  which  nothing  is  likely  to  disturb,  uniting 
both  nations,  the  French  have  until  this  moment  been  treated  in  the 
United  States  with  thu.  regard  which  a  great  people  deserves  and  requires, 
even  in  its  reverses,  and  with  that  good  will,  which  so  eminently  distin- 
guishes the  American  Government  in  its  relations  with  foreign  nations. 
In  such  circumstances,  what  can  be  the  motives  which  have  induced  the 
commander-in-chief  of  the  7th  district  to  issue  general  orders  of  so 
vexatious  a  nature  ?  When  the  foreigners  of  every  nation — when  the 
Spaniards,  and  even  the  English,  are  permitted  to  remain  unmolested 
among  us,  shall  the  French  alone  be  condemned  to  ostracism ;  because 
they  rendered  too  great  services?  Had  they  remained  idle  spectators  of 
the  last  events,  could  their  sentiments  towards  us  be  doubted,  then  we 
might  merely  be  surprised  at  the  course  now  followed  with  regard  to  them. 
But  now,  are  we  to  restrain  our  indignation,  when  we  remember  that  these 
very  Frenchmen,  who  are  now  exiled,  have  so  powerfully  contributed  to 
the  preservation  of  Louisiana?  Without  speaking  of  the  corps  who  so 
eminently  distinguished  themselves,  and  in  which  we  see  a  number  of 
Frenchmen  rank  either  as  officers  or  privates ;  how  can  we  forget,  that 
they  were  French  artillerists,  who  directed  and  served  a  part  of  those 
pieces  of  cannon,  which  so  greatly  annoyed  the  British  forces?    Can  any 


392 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


flatter  himself  that  such  important'  services  could  have  so  soon  been 
forgotten?  No,  they  are  engraved  in  everlasting  characters  on  the  hearts 
of  all  the  inhabitants  of  Louisiana,  and  they  shall  form  a  brilliant  part 
in  the  history  of  their  country ;  and  when  those  brave  men  ask  no  other 
reward,  but  being  permitted  peaceably  to  enjoy  among  us  the  rights 
secured  to  them  by  treaties  and  the  laws  of  America,  far  from  sharing  in 
the  sentiments  which  have  dictated  the  general  order,  we  avail  ourselves 
of  this  opportunity  to  give  them  a  public  testimoiiy  of  our  gratitude. 

"  Far  from  us  be  the  idea,  that  there  is  a  single  Frenchman  so  puBillan- 
imous  as  to  forsake  his  country  merely  to  please  the  military  commander 
of  this  district,  and  in  order  to  avoid  the  proscription  to  which  lie  hem 
chosen  to  condemn  them ;  we  may,  therefore,  expect  to  see  them  repair  to 
the  consul  of  their  nation,  there  to  renew  the  act  which  binds  them  to 
their  country — but  supposing  that,  yielding  to  a  sentiment  of  fear,  thev 
should  consent  to  cease  to  be  French  citizens,  would  they,  by  such  an 
abjuration,  become  American  citizens?  No,  certainly  they  would  not ; 
the  man  who  would  be  powerful  enough  to  denationalize  them,  would 
not  be  powerful  enough  to  give  them  a  country.  It  is  better,  therefore, 
for  a  man  to  remain  a  faithful  Frenchman,  than  to  suffer  himself  to  be 
scared  even  by  the  martial  law,  a  law  useless,  when  the  presence  of  the  foe 
and  honor  call  us  to  arms,  but  which  becomes  degrading,  when  their 
shameful  flight  suffers  us  to  enjoy  a  glorious  rest,  which  fear  and  terror 
ought  not  to  disturb. 

"  But  could  it  be  possible,  that  the  constitution  and  laws  of  our  country 
should  have  left  it  in  the  power  of  the  several  commanders  of  military 
districts,  to  dissolve  all  at  once,  the  ties  of  friendship,  which  unite  Americi 
to  the  nations  of  Europe?  Would  it  be  possible,  that  peace  or  war  could 
depend  upon  their  caprice,  and  the  friendship  or  enmity  they  might 
entertain  for  any  nation?  We  do  not  hesitate  in  declaring,  that  nothing 
of  the  kind  exists.  The  President  alone  has,  by  law,  the  right  to  adopt 
against  alien  enemies  such  measures  as  a  state  of  war  may  render  necessary, 
and  for  that  purpose  he  must  issue  a  proclamation ;  but  this  is  a  power 
he  cannot  delegate.  It  is  by  virtue  of  that  law,  and  a  proclamation,  that 
the  subjects  of  Great  Britain  were  removed  from  our  seaports  and 
seashores.  We  do  not  know  any  law,  authorizing  general  Jackson  to 
apply  to  alien  friends  a  measure  which  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
himself,  has  only  the  right  to  adopt  against  alien  enemies. 

"  Our  laws  protect  strangers,  who  come  to  settle  or  reside  among  us. 
To  the  sovereign  alone  belongs  the  right  of  depriving  them  of  that 
protection ;  and  all  those  who  know  how  to  appreciate  the  title  of  an 
American  citizen,  and  who  are  acquainted  with  their  prerogatives,  will 
easily  understand,  that,  bv  the  sovereign,  I  do,  by  no  means,  intend  to 
designate  a  Major-General,  or  any  other  militarv  commander,  to  whom 
I  willingly  grant  the  power  of  issuing  general  orders  like  the  one  in 
question,  but  to  whom  I  deny  that  of  having  them  executed. 

"If  the  last  general  order  has  no  object  but  td  inspire  us  with  a  salutary 
fear ;  if  it  is  only  destined  to  be  read ;  if  it  is  not  to  be  followed  by  any 
act  of  violence ;  if  it  is  only  to  be  obeyed  by  those  who  may  choose  to 
leave  the  city,  in  order  to  enjoy  the  pure  air  of  the  country,  we  shall 
forget  that  extraordinary  order ;  but  should  anything  else  happen,  we  are 
of  opinion  that  the  tribunals  will,  sooner  or  later,  do  justice  to  the  victims 
of  that  illegal  order. 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


393 


80  soon  been 
on  the  hearts 
brilliant  part 
1  ask  no  other 
us  the  rights 
am  sharing  in 
,vail  ourselves 
gratitude, 
an  so  pusillan- 
ity  commander 
which  he  has 
them  repair  to 
binds  them  to 
nt  of  fear,  they 
(y,  by  such  an 
ley  would  not ; 
;e  them,  would 
etter,  therefore, 
r  himself  to  be 
esence  of  the  foe 
ing,  when  their 
fear  and  terror 

s  of  our  country 
lers  of  military 
;h  unite  America 
ace  or  war  could 
lity  they  might 
ig,  that  nothing 

right  to  adopt 
•ender  necessary, 

this  is  a  power 
jclamation,  that 
ur  seaports  and 
lieral  Jackson  to 
he  United  States, 


"Every  alien  friend,  who  shall  continue  to  respect  the  laws  which  rule 
our  country,  shall  continue  to  be  entitled  to  their  protection.  Could  that 
general  order  be  applied  to  us,  we  should  calmly  wait  until  we  were  forced 
by  violence  to  execute  it,  well  convinced  of  the  firmness  of  the  magistrates, 
who  are  the  organs  of  the  laws  in  this  part  of  the  union,  and  the  guardians 
of  public  order. 

"Let  us  conclude  by  saying,  that  it  is  high  time  the  laws  should  resume 
their  empire ;  that  the  citizens  of  this  state  should  return  to  the  fu  1 
enjoyment  of  their  rights ;  that  in  acknowledging,  that  we  are  indebted 
to  general  Jackson  for  the  preservation  of  our  city,  and  the  defeat  of  the 
British,  we  do  not  feel  much  inclined,  through  gratitude,  to  sacrifice  any 
of  our  privileges,  and  less  than  any  other,  that  of  exi)rcssing  our  opinion 
about  the  acts  of  his  administration  ;  that  it  is  time  the  citizens  accused 
of  any  crime  should  be  rendered  to  their  natural  judges,  and  cease  to  be 
dealt  with  before  special  or  military  tribunals,  a  kind  of  institution  held 
in  abhorrence  even  in  absolute  governments ;  and  that  having  done 
enough  for  glory,  the  moment  of  moderation  has  arrived ;  and  finally, 
that  the  acts  of  authority  which  the  invasion  of  our  country,  and  our 
safety  may  have  rendered  necessary,  are,  since  the  evacuation  of  it  by  the 
enemy,  no  longer  compatible  with  our  dignity  and  our  oath  of  making 
the  constitution  respected." 

Man  bears  nothing  with  more  impatience,  than  the  exposure  cf  his 
errors,  and  the  contempt  of  his  authority.  Those  who  had  provoked 
Jackson's  violent  measure  against  the  French  subjects,  availed  themselves 
of  the  paroxysms  of  the  ire  which  the  publication  excited ;  they  threw 
fuel  into  the  fire,  and  blew  it  into  a  flame.  Thev  persuaded  him  Louallier 
had  been  guilty  of  an  offense,  punishable  with  death,  and  he  should  have 
him  tried  by  court  martial,  as  a  spy,  Yielding  to  this  suggestion,  and 
preparatory  to  such  a  trial,  he  orclered  the  publication  of  the  second 
section  of  the  rules  and  articles  of  war,  which  denounces  the  punishment 
of  death  against  spies,  and  directed  Louallier  to  be  arrested  and  confined. 
Eaton  is  mistaken  when  he  asserts  that  the  section  had  been  published 
before.  The  adjutant's  letter  to  Leclerc,  the  printer  of  the  Ami  des  Lnis, 
requesting  him  to  publish  it,  bears  date  of  the  fourth  of  March,  the  day 
after  Louallier's  publication  made  its  appearance.  The  section  was 
followed  by  a  notice  that  "  the  city  of  New  Orleans  and  its  environs,  being 
under  martial  law,  and  several  encampments  and  fortifications  within  its 
limits,  it  was  deemed  necessary  to  give  publicity  to  the  section,  for  the 
information  of  all  concerned J^ 

Great,  indeed,  must  have  been  Jackson's  excitement,  when  he  suffered 
himself  to  be  persuaded,  that  Louallier  could  successfully  be  prosecuted 
as  a  spy.  Eaton  informs  us  Louallier  was  prosecuted  as  one  oiving 
allegiance  to  the  United  States.  The  very  circumstance  of  his  owing  that 
allegiance,  prevented  his  being  liable  to  a  prosecution  as  a  spy.  He 
was  a  citizen  of  the  United  States  :  his  being  a  member  of  the  legislature 
was  evidence  of  this.  If  he,  therefore,  committed  any  act,  which  would 
constitute  an  alien  a  spy,  he  was  guilty  of  high  treason,  and  ought  to  have 
been  delivered  to  the  legitimate  magistrate,  to  be  prosecuted  as  a  traitor. 
The  second  section  of  the  act  of  congress,  for  establishing  rules  and 
articles  of  war,  is  in  the  following  words : 

"  Sec.  2.    In  time  of  war,  all  persons,  not  citizens  of,  or  owing  allegiance 
(o  the  United  States,  who  shall  be  found,  lurking  as  spies,  in  or  about  the 

62  ^ 


394 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


fortifications  or  encampments  of  the  armies  of  the  United  States,  or  any 
of  them,  shall  suffer  death,  according  to  the  laws  and  usages  of  nations, 
by  sentence  of  a  general  court  martial." 

It  is  certain  the  article  applies  only  to  aliens ;  persons  who  are  not 
citizens  of  the  United  States,  nor  owitjg  temporal  allegiance  to  them.  A 
spy  gives  aid  to  the  enemy  :  and  he,  who  owing  allegiance  (perpetual  or 
temporal)  to  the  United  States,  adheres  to  their  enemies ;  giving  them  aid 
or  comfort,  is  not  a  spy,  but  a  traitor. 

This  distinction  has  been  recognized  by  the  department  of  war  of  the 
United  States.  In  the  begiuning  of  the  last  war,  a  natural  born  citizen 
of  the  United  States,  who  before  the  declaration  of  war  had  removed  his 
domicil  into  Canada,  was  found  lurking  about  as  a  spy,  near  a  fortification 
of  the  United  States,  arrested,  tried  and  convicted  by  a  general  court 
martial,  and  condemned  to  death,  as  a  spy.  The  President  disapproved 
of  the  sentence,  on  the  ground  that  as  the  culprit  was  a  citizen  of  the 
United  States,  and  owed  allegiance  to  them,  he  could  not  be  a  spy ;  he 
was  accordingly,  by  order  of  the  secretary  of  war,  surrendered  to  the 
legitimate  magistrate,  to  be  dealt  with  according  to  law. 

Louallier  was  arrested  on  Sunday,  the  fifth  day  of  March,  at  noon,  near 
the  Exchange  Coffeehouse.  He  immediately  desired  Morel,  a  gentleman 
of  the  bar,  who  was  near  him,  to  adopt  legal  means  for  his  relief. 

Application  was  made  to  one  of  the  members  of  the  supreme  court, 
Martin,  who  was  being  prevented  by  the  imperfection  of  his  sight  to  be 
otherwise  useful,  had  enrolled  himself  in  one  of  the  companies  of  veterans, 
organized  for  the  maintenance  of  order  in  the  city.  That  court  had 
determined  in  the  preceding  year,  in  the  case  of  a  British  subject,  arrested 
by  the  marshal  for  the  purpose  of  being  sent  into  the  interior,  that  its 
jurisdiction  being  appellate  only,  it  could  not  issue  the  writ  of  habeas 
corpus.  Morel  was,  therefore,  informed  that  the  judge  did  not  conceive  he 
could  interfere ;  especially,  as  it  was  alleged  the  prisoner  was  arrested 
and  confined  for  trial,  before  a  court  martial,  under  the  authority  of  the 
United  States. 

Morel,  having  consulted  other  gentlemen  of  the  profession,  applied  to 
Hall,  the  district  judge  of  the  United  States,  for  a  writ  of  prohibition,  to 
stay  proceedings  against  his  client,  in  the  court  martial.  Hall  expressed 
a  doubt  of  his  authority  to  order  such  a  writ  at  chambers,  and  said  he 
would  take  some  time  to  deliberate.  Morel  withdrew,  but  soon  after 
returned  with  a  petition  for  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus,  on  which  the  judge 
gave  his  fiat,  after  having  received  Morel's  promise,  that  he  would  inform 
the  general  of  his  application  for  the  writ,  and  the  order  made  for 
issuing  it. 

On  receiving  Morel's  communication,  the  ebullition  of  Jackson's  anger 
was  such  that  reason  appeared  to  have  lost  its  control.  Those  who  had 
suggested  the  harsh  measures  against  the  French  citizens,  and  the  still 
more  harsh  one  against  Louallier,  imagined  the  moment  was  come  when 
their  enmity  towards  Hall  might  be  gratified.  We  have  seen  that  a 
number  of  individuals,  who  had  hitherto  sustained  a  fair  character,  were 
now  known  as  accomplices  of  the  Barataria  pirates.  Prosecutions  had 
been  commenced  against  some  of  them,  and  Hall  manifested  that  stern 
severity  of  character,  which  appals  guilt.  The  counsel  of  these  men  had 
conceived  the  idea  that  he  did  not  view  their  efforts  to  screen  their 
clients,  with  the  liberality  and  indulgence  they  deserved.     The  oppor- 


ates,  or  any 
I  of  nationw, 

ivho  are  not 
to  them.  A 
perpetual  or 
ing  them  aid 

)f  war  of  the 
born  citizen 
removed  his 
a  fortification 
general  court 
b  disapproved 
citizen  of  the 
I,  be  a  spy ;  he 
ndered  to  the 

,  at  noon,  near 
il,  a  gentleman 
relief. 

supreme  court, 
his  sight  to  be 
lies  of  veterans, 
hat  court  had 
lubject,  arrested 
iterior,  that  its 
)  writ  of  habeas 
not  conceive  he 
er  was  arrested 
luthority  of  the 

ion,  applied  to 

'  prohibition,  to 

Hall  expressed 

ers,  and  said  he 

but  soon  after 

hich  the  judge 

,e  would  inform 

order  made  for 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


395 


tunity  now  offered  of  humbling  this  worthy  magistrate,  was  not  suffered 
to  remain  unimproved ;  and  Jackson  was  assured  that  Hall,  like  Louallier, 
was  guilty  of  an  offense  punishable  with  death. 

The  general's  attention  was  drawn  to  the  seventh  section  of  the  rules 
and  articles  of  war,  which  denounces  the  last  punishment  against  persons 
aiding  or  abetting  mutiny ;  and  he  was  pressed  to  prosecute  the  judge 
before  a  court  martial.  As  a  preparatory  step,  with  that  promptitude  of 
decision,  which  Eaton  says  is  a  leading  trait  in  his  character,  he  signed 
an  instrument  at  once,  the  warrant  for  the  arrest,  and  the  mittimus  for  the 
imprisonment  of  Hall.  He  wrote  to  colonel  Arbuckle,  who  commanded 
at  the  barracks,  that  having  received  proof  that  Dominic  A.  Hall  had  been 
aiding,  abetting,  and  exciting  mutiny  in  his  camp,  he  desired  that  a  detach- 
ment might  be  ordered  forwith,  to  arrest  and  confine  him,  and  that  are])ort 
might  be  made  as  soon  as  he  was  arrested.  "You  will,"  as  it  is  said  in 
th«!  conclusion  of  this  paper,  "  be  vigilant ;  as  the  agents  of  our  enemy 
are  more  numerous  than  we  expected.  You  will  be  guarded  against 
escapes." 

The  prosecution  of  the  judge  was  intended  to  be  grounded  on  the 
seventh  section  of  the  articles  of  war,  which  is  in  these  words :  "  Any 
officer  or  soldier,  who  shall  begin,  cause,  excite  or  join  in,  any  mutiny  or 
sedition,  in  any  troop  or  company,  in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  or 
in  anv  post,  detachment  or  guard,  shall  suffer  death,  or  any  other 
punishment,  as  by  a  court  martial  shall  be  inflicted." 

Hall  was  not  an  officer,  in  the  sense  of  the  act  of  congress — he  was  not 
a  soldier,  in  the  ordinary  meaning  of  that  word ;  but,  according  to  the 
jurisprudence  of  headquarters,  the  proclamation  of  martial  law  had 
transformed  every  inhabitant  of  New  Orleans  into  a  soldier,  and  rendered 
him  punishable  under  the  articles  of  war. 

The  judge  was  accordingly  arrested  in  his  own  house,  at  nine  o'clock, 
and  confined  in  the  same  apartment  with  Louallier,  in  the  barracks. 

As  soon  as  this  was  reported  at  headquarters,  major  Chotard  was 
dispatched  to  demand  from  Claiborne,  the  clerk  of  the  district  court  of 
the  United  States,  the  surrender  of  Louallier's  petition,  on  the  back  of 
which  Hall  had  written  the  order  for  issuing  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus.  It 
has  been  seen  that  there  was  not  any  officer  of  the  state  government,  nor 
of  the  United  States,  out  of  the  army,  who  imagined  that  a  proclamation 
of  martial  law  gave  the  general  any  right,  nor  imposed  on  others  any 
obligation,  which  did  not  exist  before.  The  clerk  accordingly  answered 
that  there  was  a  rule  of  court,  which  forbade  him  to  part  with  any  original 
paper  lodged  in  his  office;  and  he  was  ignorant  of  any  right,  in  the 
commander  of  the  army,  to  interfere  with  the  records  of  the  court.  He, 
however,  was  after  much  solicitation,  prevailed  on  to  take  the  document 
in  his  pocket,  and  accompany  Chotara  to  headquarters. 

In  the  meanwhile,  an  express  from  the  department  of  war  had  arrived, 
with  the  intelligence  that  tne  President  of  the  United  States  had  ratified 
the  treaty,  and  an  exchange  of  the  ratifications  had  taken  place  at 
Washington,  on  the  17th  of  February,  the  preceding  month.  By  an 
accident,  which  was  not  accounted  for,  a  packet  had  been  put  into  the 
hands  of  the  messenger,  instead  of  the  one  contaiiiing  the  official  infor- 
mation of  the  exchange  of  the  ratifications.  But  the  man  was  bearer  of 
an  open  order  of  the  Postmaster,  to  all  his  deputies  on  the  road,  to 
expedite  him  with  the  utmost  celerity,  as  he  carried  information  of  the 


tA 


n 


m\ 


IirSTORY   OF   LOUISIANA. 


rrrrtit  prnrr.     Ho  doclared  he  had  handed  an  official  notice  of  this  event 
to  the  governor  of  the  state  of  Tennessee. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  clerk  at  head(iuarter8,  Jackson  asked  him  whether 
it  was  his  intention  to  issue  the  writ ;  he  replied  it  was  his  bounden  duty 
to  do  so,  and  he  most  assuredly  would.  He  was  threatened  with  an  arrest, 
but  persisted  in  his  asseveration  that  he  would  obey  the  judge's  order. 
He  had  handed  Louallier's  petition  to  Jackson,  ami,  before  he  retired, 
demanded  the  return  of  it;  this  was  peremptorily  refused,  and  the  paper 
was  withheld.  It  appears  the  date  of  the  fifth  of  March  had  been  ori<;i- 
nally  on  this  document,  and  that  being  Sunday,  Hall  hud  changed  it  to 
that' of  the  following  day,  the  Hixth.  The  idea  had  been  cherished,  that 
this  alteration  might  suoport  an  additional  article,  in  the  charges  against 
Hall.  It  is  not  extraordinary,  that  those  who  imagined  that,  as  Louallier 
might  be  tried  for  a  llhid,  in  a  court  martial.  Hall  might  (or  forgeri/.  Thus 
one  inconsistency  almost  universally  leads  to  another. 

Duplessis,  the  marshal  of  the  United  States,  had  volunteered  his  services 
as  an  aid  to  Jackson ;  a  little  after  midnight  lie  visited  headquarters.  The 
imprisonment  of  Hall,  and  the  accounts  from  Washington,  nad  brought  a 
great  concourse  of  people  near  the  general ;  who,  elated  by  the  success  of 
the  evening,  met  the  marshal  at  the  door,  and  announced  to  him,  hr  had 
shopped  the  JMhje.  Perceiving  that  Duplessis  did  not  show  his  exultation, 
he  inquired  whether  he  would  serve  Hall's  writ.  The  marshal  replied,  he 
had  ever  done  his  duty,  which  obliged  him  to  execute  all  writs  directed 
to  him  by  the  court,  whose  ministerial  officer  he  was,  and,  looking  sternly 
at  the  person  who  addressed  him,  added,  he  would  execute  the  court's  writ, 
on  any  man.  A  copy  of  the  proclamation  of  martial  law,  that  lay  on  the 
table,  was  pointed  to  him,  and  Jackson  said,  he  aho  would  do  his  duty. 

A  large  concourse  of  people  had  been  drawn  to  the  Exchange  Coffee- 
house, (luring  the  night,  by  the  passing  events,  which  were  not  there,  as 
at  headquarters,  a  subject  of  exultation  and  gratulation.  The  circumstances 
were  not  unlike  those  of  the  year  1806,  which  Livingston  describes  as  "so 
new  in  the  history  of  our  country,  that  they  will  not  easily  gain  belief,  at 
a  distance,  and  can  scarcely  be  realized  by  those  who  beheld  them.  A 
dictatorial  power,  assumed  by  the  commander  of  the  American  army— the 
military  arrest  of  citizens,  charged  with  u  civil  offense — the  violation  of 
the  sanctuary  of  justice.  An  attempt  to  overawe  by  denunciations,  those 
who  dared,  professionally,  to  assert  the  authority  of  the  laws — the 
unblushing  avowal  of  the  employment  of  military  force,  to  punish  a  civil 
offense,  and  the  hardy  menance  of  persevering  in  the  same  course,  were 
circumstances  that  rust  command  attention,  and  excite  the  corresponding 
sentiments  of  grief,  indignation  and  contempt." 

There  were  some  who  recommended,  that  application  should  be  made 
to  Claiborne,  to  put  himself  at  the  head  of  the  militia  of  the  state,  and 
to  Duplessis,  to  call  out  the  posxe  comitatiis  of  the  district,  to  support  the 
authority  of  the  judiciary ;  but  the  sentiment  of  those  prevailed,  who 
harangued  the  people  in  the  strains  of  Livingston's  address  to  his  fellow- 
citizens,  about  eight  years  before.  "  We  must  suffer  the  evils  to  which  we 
are  exposed.  Let  us,  however,  do  it  with  fortitude,  and  never  be  tempted 
to  any  act,  which  may  enlist  us,  on  the  side  of  those,  who  trample  on  our 
constitution,  sport  with  our  liberties,  and  violate  our  laws.  Let  us 
remember,  that  the  day  of  retribution  will  arrive,  and  is  not  far  distant, 
when  a  strict  account  will  be  taken,  as  well  of  the  wanton  abuses,  as  of 


f  this  event 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


397 


the  Bhanieful  denrliction  which  permits  them.  But,  let  us  strive  l)y  our 
zcnl  in  tlie  HUj)j>()rt  of  our  country,  by  our  submission  to  lawful  authority, 
by  our  opposition  to  every  foreign  or  domestic  foe,  that  there  is  no  pretext 
for  the  dictatorial  power  that  is  assumed  over  us." 

"  I  have  said  that  we  muni  mffcr.  Never  were  two  words  more  appli- 
cable to  our  situation :  it  is  one  the  most  dreadful  to  an  independent 
mind,  of  any  that  can  be  imagined — subject  to  the  uncontrolled  will  of 
a  single  man,  to  whom  the  hearsay  tales ot  slander  are  proofs;  and  who, 
on  his  own  evidence,  arraigns,  condemns  and  punishes,  the  accused ; 
dooms  him  to  imprisonment,  by  whom  the  tribunals  are  insulted.  What 
state  of  things  can  be  worse?  No  caution  can  protect  I  no  consciousness 
of  innocence  secure.  The  evidence  is  taken  in  private;  malicious, 
cowardly  informers,  skulk  around  the  ))roconsul's  office.  Their  tales  give 
food  to  ])re-existing  enmity,  and  avenge  their  own  quarrels  bv  secret 
{lonunciations  of  guilt.    TKc  objects  of  official  suspicion  are  C(mtincd." 

Repose  having  restored  calmness  to  Jackson's  mind,  and  the  intelligence 
of  pcarc  depriving  his  measures  of  the  only  ground  on  which  they  could 
l)e  justified — necessity — he  acted  on  the  suggestions  of  his  own  reflections, 
and  considering  the  Ikitish  as  no  longer  the  enemies  of  his  country,  he 
determined  on  an  attempt  to  anticipate,  as  much  as  him  lay,  the  blessings 
of  returning  peace.  With  this  object  in  view,  one  of  his  first  acts  on  the 
mth,  was  a  communication  to  Lambert,  which  Latour  has  preserved.  It 
is  in  the  following  words : 

"  I  have  just  received  intelligence  from  Washington,  which  leaves  little 
doubt,  in  my  mind,  that  the  treaty,  signed  at  Ghent,  between  the  United 
States  and  (ireat  Britain,  has  been  ratified  by  the  president  of  the  senate 
of  the  United  States.  But,  by  some  unaccountable  accident,  a  dispatch, 
on  another  subject,  has  been  substituted  for  the  one  intended  to  give  me 
official  notice  of  this  event.  The  one  I  have  received  is  accompanied  by 
an  order  from  the  postmaster  general,  desiring  his  deputies  to  forward  the 
express,  carrying  intelligence  of  the  recent  peace.  Of  this  order  I  enclose 
a  copy.  From  other  circumstances,  to  which  I  give  credit,  I  learn  that 
the  same  express  brought  official  notice  of  the  ratification  of  the  treaty, 
to  the  governor  of  Tennessee.  I  have  deemed  it  my  duty,  to  commu- 
nicate the  exact  state  of  these  circumstances,  without  loss  of  time,  that 
you  might  determine  whether  they  would  not  justify  you,  in  agreeing  to  a 
cessation  of  hostilities,  to  anticipate  the  happy  return  of  peace  between  our 
two  nations,  which  the  first  direct  intelligence  must  bring  to  us,  in  an 
official  form." 

Jackson  now  paused  to  deliberate  whether  these  circumstances  did  not 
require  him,  by  a  cessation  of  all  measures  of  violence,  to  allow  his 
fellow-citizens  in  New  Orleans,  to  anticipate  this  happy  return  of  peace, 
the  account  of  which  the  first  direct  intelligence  was  to  bring  to  him,  in 
an  official  form — the  untoward  arrival  of  an  orderly  sergeant,  with  a 
message  from  Arbuckle,  to  whom  the  custody  of  Hall  had  been  committed, 
prevented  Jackson  coming  to  that  conclusion  which  his  unprejudiced 
judgment  would  have  suggested.  The  prisoner  had  requested  that  a 
magistrate  might  be  permitted  to  have  access  to  him,  to  receive  an 
affidavit  which  he  wished  to  make,  in  order  to  resort  to  legal  measures 
for  his  release.  Arbuckle  desired  to  know  the  general's  pleasure  on  this 
application.  Naturally  impatient  of  an)'thing  like  control  or  restraint, 
the  idea  of  a  superior  power  to  be  employed  against  his  decisions,  threw 


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f!    m:    :\ 


1    !'|.;.  |!i| 


398 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


Jackson  into  emotions  of  rage.  Before  ihcy  hn<l  sufHoiently  suhHided  to 
allow  him  to  uvt  on  the  message,  some  of  his  ordinary  advisers  oume  in 
to  recommend  the  arrest  of  Hollander,  a  merchant  of  some  note.  What 
was  the  offense  <»f  this  man  has  never  l)een  known  ;  hut  Jackson's  tenipvr 
of  mind  was  favorable  to  the  views  of  his  visitors.  He  ordered  the  arrest 
of  the  merchant  and  forbade  the  access  of  the  magistrate  to  Hall;  the 
idea  of  allowing  his  fellow-citizens  to  anticipate  the  happy  return  of 
peace,  was  abandoned,  and  measures  were  directed  to  bo  taken  for  the 
trial  cif  Louallier. 

Seven  distinct  charges  were  exhibited  against  the  prisoner : 

1.  Mutiny.  The  specification  on  this  head  was  that  he  did  write,  and 
cause  to  be  published,  the  piece  in  the  Courier  de  la  iMuinixm',  of  the  .'id 
of  March,  1815. 

2.  Exciting  mutiny.    The  specification  was  the  same  as  the  preceding;, 

3.  (reneral  misconduct.    The  Bj)ecification  was  as  before. 

4.  Being  a  soy.  Tho  specification  was  that  the  prisoner  was  found 
lurking  about  tnc  fortitications  and  encampment  of  tnc  United  States,  in 
Kew  Orleans,  being  much  disaffected,  and  writing,  and  causing  to  bo 
published,  as  before. 

6.    Illegal  and  improper  conduct,  and  disobedience  to  orders. 

Specification  1st.  Violating  the  fifty-sixth  article  of  the  rules  and 
articles  of  war,  viz :  *'  Whoever  shall  relieve  the  enemy  with  money, 
victuals,  or  ammunition,  or  shall  knowingly  harbor  or  protect  an  enemy, 
shall  suffer  death,  or  such  other  punishment  as  shall  oe  ordered  by  the 
sentence  of  a  court  martial."  This  specification  concluded  with  an 
averment  that  the  prisoner  did  write  and  cause  to  be  published,  etc.,  as 
before. 

Specification  2d.  Violating  the  57th  article,  viz  :  "  Whosoever  shall  be 
convicted  of  corresponding  with,  or  giving  intelligence  to  the  enemy, 
either  directly  or  indirectly,  shall  suffer  death,  or  such  other  punishment 
as  shall  be  ordered  by  the  sentence  of  the  court  martial."  The  averment 
on  this  specification  was  the  same  as  the  preceding. 

6.  Writing  a  wilful  and  corrupt  libel. 

7.  Unsoldierlike  conduct,  and  contrary  to  the  proclamation  of  martial 
law.  The  specification  was  that  the  prisoner  did  write,  and  cause  to  be 
published,  the  piece,  etc. 

The  supreme  court  of  the  state  being  in  session,  application  was  made 
to  it  for  a  writ  of  haheaa  corpus  in  favor  of  Hollander.  The  two  judges 
present,  Derbigny  and  Martin,  severally  declared  they  should  not  think 
themselves  justified  in  rejecting  the  application,  on  account  of  any 
proclamation  of  martial  law,  if  they  were  convinced  they  had  authority  to 
issue  the  writ ;  and  expressed  their  readiness  to  hear  an  argument,  if  anv 
gentleman  of  the  bar  had  a  doubt  of  the  former  decision  of  the  tribunal, 
in  the  case  of  Laverty,  the  British  subject  arrested  by  the  marshal  during 
the  preceding  summer.  This  man  claimed  the  citizenship  of  the  United 
States,  and  wished  to  test  his  pretension  by  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus;  but 
the  court  declined  interfering,  being  of  opinion,  theirs  was  an  appellate 
jurisdiction  only  confined  to  civil  cases,  and  they  could  not  inquire  into 
the  legality  of  an  arrest,  on  criminal  or  political  grounds.  They  permitted 
the  case  to  be  argued ;  but,  before  the  argument  was  concluded  infor- 
mation was  received  that  Hollander  had  been  discharged  by  Jackson. 

Dick,  the  attorney  of  the  United  States,  made  application  to  Lewie,  one 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


899 


of  the  district  jiulffOH  of  tho  state,  who  wns  serving  ns  a  subaltorn  ofBcer, 
in  the  Orleans  ritle  company,  and  whose  conduct  during  tlio  invasion  had 
received  Jackson's  particular  connnendation.  Believing  that  his  duty  as 
u  military  man,  did  not  diminish  his  obligation,  as  a  judge,  to  protect  his 
fellow-citi/ens  fron»  illegal  arrest,  Lewis,  without  hesitation,  on  tho  first 
cull  of  Dick,  laid  down  his  rifle,  and  allowed  tho  writ. 

Information   «»f  this   having  been    carried  to  headquarters,  Jackson 
inimediately  ordered  the  arrest  of  Lewis  and  Dick. 

Arbuckle,  to  whom  Lewis'  writ,  in  favor  of  Hall,  was  directed,  refused  to 
Hurrender  his  prisoner,  <m  tho  ground  ho  was  committed  by  Jackson,  under 
the  authority  of  the  United  States. 
The  orders  for  tho  arrest  of  Lewis  and  Dick  were  countermanded. 
The  court  martial  for  the  trial  of  Louallier,  of  which  nmjor-genaral 
Oaines  was  president,  met  on  the  7th. 

The  prisoner's  counsel  confined  his  defense  to  a  plea,  to  tho  jurisdiction 
of  court ;  contending  that  he  was,  as  a  member  of  the  legislature,  exempt 
from  militia  service ;  that  tho  rules  and  articles  of  war^  were  expressly 
established  for  the  government  of  the  nrmij  of  tho  United  States,  and 
extended  to  the  niilitia  of  the  state ;  when  in  the  service  of  tho  United 
States ;  that  their  client  was  neither  of  tho  army  or  vnlitia,  although, 
during  tho  invasion,  ho  had  performed  military  duty  in  one  of  the 
volunteer  companies,  embodied  for  tho  maintenance  of  order  in  tho  city ; 
that  the  jtroria  mntion  of  martial  law,  made  no  one  a  soldier,  who  was  not 
HO  before ;  that  it  vested  no  right  in  the  general,  nor  imposed  on  any  one, 
anv  obligation,  which  did  not  exist  before. 

iThe  irritation  of  the  public  mind  manifested  itself,  in  the  evening,  by 
the  destruction  of  a  transparent  painting,  in  honor  of  Jackson,  whicn  the 
proprietor  of  tho  Exchange  Coffeehouse  displayed  in  the  largest  hall. 

A  general  order  on  the  8th,  announced  that,  although  the  commanding 
general  had  not  yet  received  official  information,  that  the  state  of  war 
hftd  ceased,  by  tho  ratification  of  tho  treaty,  he  had  persuasive  evidence 
of  the  fact,  and  credited  it,  at  the  risk  of  being  mislou  by  his  wishes,  and 
under  this  impression,  his  first  duty  was  to  discharge  from  actual  service, 
the  body  of  the  militia  of  the  state,  which  had  taken  the  field,  under  the 
order  for  the  levy  en  masse. 

The  French  subjects  had  remained  perfectly  quiet  at  home,  regardless 
of  the  order  of  tho  28th  of  February.  Louallier's  publication  had  opened 
the  eyes  of  the  community,  whose  sympathy  was  enlisted  in  favor  of  these 
defenders  of  the  country,  and  under  the  present  excitement  of  tho  public 
mind,  the  execution  of  a  sentence  of  exile  against  them,  would  have  been 
dangerous.  The  governor,  who,  in  Wilkinson's  time,  had  been  charged 
with  a  co-operation  in  his  illegal  measures,  or  at  least  with  a  dereliction 
of  duty,  appeared  now  disposed  to  act,  in  such  a  manner,  as  to  give  room 
for  a  similar  imputation ;  and  Eaton  tells  us,  "  he  had  been  heard  to 
declare,  in  words  of  mvsterious  import,  that  serious  difficulties  would  be 
shortly  witnessed  in  New  Orleans."  It  was  deemed  most  prudent,  at 
headquarters,  to  make  a  virtue  of  necessity.  With  a  view  of  enabling 
Jackson  to  do  so,  with  a  good  grace,  an  address  was  procured  from  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  principal  volunteer  corps  of  tho  militia  of  tho  city, 


soliciting  the  sus 
themselves   for  t 


jonsion  of  the  order  of  the  28th  of  February,  and  pledging 
le  future  good  conduct  of  the  French   subjects.    On 


M 


receiving  this  address,  a  general  order  was  issued,  stating  that,  time 


400 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


having  been  given  to  the  people,  to  consider  whether  they  would  avail 
themselves  of  their  degrading  exemption,  at  a  distance  from  the  camp,  or 
enrol  themselves  among  them  who  defended  the  state ;  and  the  delay 
being  expired,  the  order  would  have  been  strictly  enforced,  had  it  not 
been  for  the  application  and  guarantee  of  the  officers  and  men  of  the 
volunteer  companies.  The  execution  of  the  order  was  therefore  suspended,. 
till  the  general's  pleasure  was  further  signified. 

There  is  a  manifest  inconsistency  between  these  two  orders.  Had  the 
latter  been  penned  by  a  friend  of  Jackson's,  the  order  of  the  28t]i  of 
February  would  have  been  rescinded,  on  the  reason  assigned  in  the  fir!*t, 
viz :  the  persuashr.  evidence,  which  had  reached  headquarters,  tliat  tlie 
state  of  war  had  ceased.  There  would  have  been  much  more  dij>nity,  in 
this  admission  than  in  the  boast  that  the  subjects  of  a  friendly  nation, 
entitled  by  treaty  to  peculiar  privileges  in  Louisiana,  could  be  exiled  from 
New  Orleans  and  compelled  to  march  to  the  distance  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  miles,  in  time  of  peace,  on  the  mere  8ignifi.cation  of  any  man's 
^pleasure. 

A  number  of  officers  had  compelled  the  proprietor  of  the  Exeliangu 
Coffeehouse,  to  exhibit  a  new  transparent  painting,  and  to  illuminate  the 
hall  in  a  more  than  usual  manner.  They  attended  in  the  evening,  and 
stood  near  the  painting,  with  the  apparent  intention  of  indicating  a  deter- 
mination, to  resist  the  attempt  of  taking  down  the  painting.  It  was 
reported  a  number  of  soldiers  were  in  the  neighborhood,  ready  to  march 
to  the  coffeehouse,  at  the  first  call.  This  was  not  calculated  to  allay  the 
excitement  of  the  public  mind.  The  prostration  of  the  legitimate 
government;  the  imprisonment  of  the  district  judge  of  the  United  States, 
the  only  magistrate,  whose  interference  could  be  successfully  invoked,  on 
an  illegal  arrest,  under  color  of  the  authority  of  the  United  States,  the 
ascendancy  assumed  by  the  military,  appeared  to  have  dissolved  all  the 
bands  of  social  order  in  New  Orleans. 

It  is  not  easy  to  say,  to  what  extremity  matters  would  have  been  carried 
if  the  good  sense  of  the  most  influential  characters  in  the  city,  had  not 
induced  them  to  interfere.  They  represented,  to  those  who  were  disposed 
to  run  all  hazards,  that  a  few  days,  perhaps  a  few  hours,  would  bring  the 
official  account  of  the  exchange  of  the  ratifications  of  the  treaty ;  that 
Jackson's  da)'  of  reckoning  would  then  arrive ;  that  Hall,  with  the 
authority  (though  now  without  the  power)  of  checking  the  encroachments 
of  the  military,  possessed  the  authority,  and  would  soon  have  the  power 
to  punish  the  violators  of  the  law — presenting  the  idea  without  using  the 
eloquent  language  of  Workman,  in  1807 :  "  the  law  is  not  dead,  but 
sleepeth ;  the  constitution  is  eclipsed  indeed,  but  the  dark  bod'es  of 
hideous  and  ill-omened  form,  which  have  intercepted  its  light,  and  dejjrived 
us  of  its  genial  influence,  will  soon  pass  away,  and  we  shall  again  behold 
the  glorious  luminary,  shining  forth  in  all  its  original  splendor." 

On  the  9th,  the  court  martial  sustained  Louallier's  [)lea  to  their  juris- 
diction, as  to  all  the  charges  except  the  fourth ;  that  of  l)eing  a  spy- 
manifesting,  that  all  judicial  institutions  possess,  in  the  United  States,  an 
essential  purity  and  energy.  They  thougnt  the  rules  and  articles  of  war, 
were  expressly  established  by  the  congress,  for  the  government  of  the 
army,  and  were  not  binding  on  any  individual  out  of  it ;  that  neither  the 
President,  or  any  commander,  can,  by  a  proclamation  of  martial  law,  vest 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


401 


in  himself  right,  or  impose  on  others  any  obligation  that  did  not  exist 
before ;  nor  render  anything  lawful  or  unlawful,  that  was  otherwise  before. 
They  acquitted  Louallier  of  the  fourth  charge.  There  was  no  evidence 
before  them,  that  he  was  found  lurking  about  any  fortification  or 
encampment  of  the  army  of  the  United  States ;  none  of  his  disaffection ; 
and  his  conduct,  in  the  legislature,  had  evinced  that,  in  zeal  and 
patriotism,  he  did  not  yield  even  to  Jackson.  If  he  had  published  a  liliel, 
it  was  the  duty  of  the  attorney-general  of  the  state  to  indict  him,  and  the 
])rovince  of  the  grand  jury  to  present  him,  if  that  officer  neglected  his 
duty.  He  was  placed  before  them  as  a  person  owing  allegiance  to,  they 
knew  he  was  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  and  that  government  had  in 
the  beginning  of  the  war,  declared  that  a  spy  must  essentially  be  an  alien. 
Jackson  was  greatly  disappointed  at  the  ctmclusion  to  which  the  court 
martial  had  arrived ;  he,  however,  did  not  release  either  of  his  prisoners, 
and  on  the  tenth  issued  the  following  general  order : 

"The  commanding  general  disapproves  of  the  sentence  of  the  court 
martial,  of  which  major-general  Gaines  is  president,  on  the  several  charges 
and  specifications  exhibited  against  Mr.  Louallier ;  and  is  induced  by  the 
novelty  and  inportance  of  the  matters,  submitted  to  the  decision  of  that 
court,  to  assign  the  reasons  of  this  disapproval. 

"  The  charges  against  the  prisoner  were  mutiny,  exciting  mutiny,  general 
misconduct,  for  being  a  spy,  illegal  and  improper  conduct,  and 
disobedience  of  orders,  writing  a  wilful  and  corrupt  libel  against  the 
commanding  general,  un soldierly  conduct,  and  conduct  in  violation  of  a 
general  order ;  all  of  which  charges  are,  on  the  face  of  them,  proper  to  be 
inquired  into  by  a  court  martial.  The  defendant  pleaded  to  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  court,  and  founded  his  exceptions  on  matters  of  fact, 
which  exceptions,  as  to  all  the  charges  and  specifications  but  one,  the 
court  sustained,  without  inquiring  into  the  trutn  of  the  fsicts  (which  not 
otherwise  could  have  appeared  to  them),  upon  which  those  exceptions 
were  bottomed. 

"The  commanding  general  is  not  disposed,  however,  to  rest  his  objections 
upon  any  informality  in  the  mode  of  proceeding  adopted  by  the  court, 
but  presuming  that  the  court  really  believed  the  truth  of  the  facts  set 
forth  in  the  exceptions,  deems  it  his  duty  to  meet  the  doubts  as  he 
supposes  them  to  have  existed.  The  character  of  the  prisoner  (a  citizen 
not  enrolled  in  any  corps,  and  a  member  of  the  state  legislature,  though 
that  legislature  was  not  in  session)  probably,  in  the  opinion  of  the  court, 
placed  him  without  their  reach,  upon  the  several  charges  on  which  they 
declined  acting. 

"  The  enemy  having  invaded  the  country,  and  threatening  an  attack  on 
New  Orleans,  many  considerations,  growing  out  of  this  emergency,  and 
connected  with  the  defense  of  the  city,  rendered  the  adoption  of  the  most 
energetic  and  decisive  measures  necessary.  Martial  law,  as  the  most 
comprehensive  and  eftectual,  was  therefore  proclaimed  by  the  commanding 
general — a  state  of  things  which  made  it  the  duty  of  every  inhabitant, 
indiscriminately,  to  contribute  to  the  defense  of  his  countrj' — a  duty,  in 
I  the  opinion  of  the  commanding  general,  more  positive  and  more  urgent 
than  any  resulting  from  the  common  and  usual  transactions  of  private, 
or  even  public  life.  The  occasion  that  calls  it  forth,  involves  at  once,  the 
very  existence  of  the  government,  and  the  liberty,  property  and  lives  of 
I  the  citizens. 

S3 


Hf"  m 


I 

f'H' 


i. 


402 


HISTORY  OP   IX)UISIANA. 


"  Martial  law  being  established,  applies,  as  the  commanding  general 
believes,  to  all  persons  who  remain  within  the  sphere  of  its  operation ; 
and  claims  exclusive  jurisdiction  of  all  offenses,  which  aim  at  the  disor- 
ganization and  ruin  of  the  army  over  which  it  extends.  To  a  certain 
extent,  it  is  believed  to  make  everv  man  a  whHer,  to  defend  the  spot 
where  chance  or  choice  has  placed  him,  and  to  make  him  liable  for  any 
misconduct  calculated  to  weaken  its  defense. 

"  If  martial  law,  when  necessity  shall  have  justified  a  resort  to  it,  does 
not  operate  to  this  extent,  it  is  not  easy  to  perceive  the  reason  or  the 
utility  of  it.     If  a  man,  who  shall,  from  choice,  remain  within  the  limits 
of  its  operation,  and  whose  house  is  without  these  limits,  and  there  labor 
by  means  in  his  power  to  stir  up  sedition  and  mutiny  among  the  soldiery, 
inspire  them  with  distrust  towards  the  commanding  officer,  and  commu- 
nicate to  the  enemy  intelligence  of  the  disaffection  and  discontent,  which 
he  himself  has  created,  he  may  safely  avail  himself  of  what  he  may  please 
to  call  his  constitutional   rights    and    continue  his  dangerous  machi- 
nations with   impunity ;    the  commanding   general   believes  he  cannot 
easily  conceive,  how  a  man  thus  influenced  and  thus  acting,  might  render 
the  enemv  more  important  services,  and  do  his  country  more  injury,  than 
he  possibly  could,  by  entering  the  ranks  of  the  enemy,  and  aiding  him  in 
open  battle.     Wliy  is   martial  law  ever  declared?    Is  it  to  make  the 
enlisted  or  drafted  soldier  subject  to  it?    He  was  subject  to  it  before.    It 
is,  that  the  whole  resources  of  a  country,  or  of  that  district  over  which  it 
is  proclaimed,  may  be  successfully  applied  for  its  preservation.     Every 
man,  therefore,  within  the  limits  to  which  it  extends,  is  subject  to  its 
influence.     If  it  has  not  this  operation,  it  is  surely  a  perfect  nullity.   Apply 
this  view  of  the  subject  to  the  case  before  the  court — .and  how  is  it?    After 
the  adjournment  of  the  legislature,  of  which  the  defendant  claims  to  be  a 
member,  ho  remained  within  the  camp  of  the  American  army,  and  within 
the  limits,  which  are  declared  to  be  embraced  by  martial  law.     How  does 
he  there  deport  himself?    Instead  of  contributing  to  the  defense  of  his 
country ;  instead  of  seeking  to  promote  that  unanimity,  which  a  love  of 
country,  and  the  important  trust  which  had  been  reposed  in  him,  might 
have   led  us  to  expect,  we  behold  him  endeavoring  to  stir  up  discord, 
sedition,   mutiny — laboring  to  disorganize  and  destroy  an  army  which 
had  so  lately  defended  his  country,  and  might  so  soon  again  be  necessary 
for  its  defense.     Not  only  inviting  the  enemy  to  renew  his  attempt,  but 
contributing  his  utmost  to  enable  him  to  succeed,  if  he  should  obey  the 
invitation.     Is  there  no  power  to  restrain  the  efforts,  or  to  punish  the 
wickedness  of  such  a  man?    If  he  aids  and  comforts  the  enemy,  by 
conmiunicating  to  him  information  of  the  mutinous  and  seditious  spirit, 
of  the  distraction  and  confusion  which  he  himself  has  created — why  this 
is  treason,  and  he  cannot  be  punished  by  a  court  martial.     If  he  excites 
mutiny,  disobedience  to  orders,  and  rebellion  among  the  soldiery,  he  is 
not  attached  to  the  army,  and  cannot  be  restrained  I    Why,  is  he  not 
attached  to  the  army?    Why,  at  such  a  moment,  when  he  remains  within 
it,  is  he  not  subject  to  its  rules  and  regulations?     If  the  enemy  comes, 
may  he  fold  his  arms  and  walk  unconcernedly  along  the  lines,  or  remain 
inactive  in  his  room?    Can  he  not  be  called  upon  for  his  exertions?    May 
he  not  only  refuse  to  render  any  assistance  himself,  but  without  fear  or 
reproach,  do  all  in  his  power  to  render  ineffectual  the  exertions  of  others; 
of  that  army  which,  in  tne  most  threatening  crisis,  is  fighting  for  the  hberty 


ng  general 
operation ; 
t,  the  disor- 
'o  a  certain 
id  the  spot 
ble  for  any 

t  to  it,  does 
jason  or  the 
in  the  limits 
[  there  labor 
the  soldiery, 
and  commu- 
ntent,  which 
e  may  please 
jrous  machi- 
es  he  cannot 
might  render 
e  injury,  than 
aiding  him  in 
to  make  the 
it  before.    It 
over  which  it 
ation.    Every 
subject  to  its 
lullity.  Apply 
iw  is  it?    After 
claims  to  be  a 
ny,  and  within 
iw.    How  does 
defense  of  his 
hich  a  love  of 
in  him,  might 
tir  up  discord, 
n  army  which 
in  be  necessary 
is  attempt,  but 
ould  obey  tlie 
to  punish  the 
,he  enemy,  by 
seditious  spirit, 
[ited— why  this 
If  he  excites 
soldiery,  he  is 
Why,  is  he  not 
remains  within 
a  enemy  comes, 
flines,  or  remain 
xertions?    May 
without  fear  or 
rtions  of  others; 
ng  for  the  liberty 


HISTORY   OF  LOUISIANA. 


403 


and  safety  of  that  country,  whose  liberty  and  safety  he  professes  to  have 
so  much  at  heart?  May  he,  at  such  a  moment,  proclaim  to  the  enemy, 
that  we  are  dissatisfied  with  our  general,  tired  of  the  war,  determined  no 
longer  to  bear  the  restrictions  which  it  imposes ;  in  a  word,  disaffected 
and  disunited,  and  ready  to  yield  to  him  on  his  first  approach.  May  this 
man,  a  foreigner,  retaining  the  predilections  for  the  country  which  gave 
him  birth,  and  boasting  of  those  predilections ;  may  such  a  man,  under 
such  circumstances,  excite  sedition  and  mutiny,  division  and  disorgani- 
zation in  our  army ;  and  when  he  is  called  before  the  court  martial  to 
answer  for  his  crimes,  say — gentlemen,  you  have  no  right  to  take  cogni- 
zance of  the  offences  of  which  I  am  charged?  Decide  with  the  accused, 
no  army  can  be  safe,  no  general  can  command  ;  disaffection  and  disobe- 
dience, anarchy  and  confusion  must  take  place  of  order  and  subordination, 
defeat  and  shame,  of  victory  and  triumph.  But  the  commanding  general 
is  persuaded,  that  this  is  a  state  of  things  which  the  government  of  no 
country  can  or  does  tolerate.  The  constitution  of  the  United  States 
secures  to  the  citizen  the  most  valuable  privileges ;  yet,  the  same  consti- 
tution contemplates  the  necessity  of  suspending  the  exercise  of  the  same, 
in  order  to  secure  the  cqntinuance  of  all.  If  it  authorizes  the  suspension 
of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  in  certain  cases ;  it,  thereby,  implicitly  admits 
the  operation  of  martial  law,  when  in  the  event  of  rebellion  or  invasion 
public  safety  may  require  it.  To  whom  does  the  declaration  of  this  law 
belong?  To  the  guardian  of  the  public  safety ;  to  him  who  is  to  conduct 
the  operations  against  the  enemy,  whose  vigilance  is  to  descry  danger, 
and  whose  arms  are  to  repel  it?  He  is  the  only  authority  present  to 
witness  and  determine  the  emergency  which  makes  such  a  resort  necessary 
and  possessed  of  the  means  to  make  suitable  provisions  for  it.  For  the 
correctness  of  his  conduct,  under  the  circumstances  which  influenced  him, 
he  stands  responsible  to  his  government." 

The  court  martial  consoled  themselves  by  the  reflection,  that  their 
sentence,  though  disapproved  by  Jackson,  was  in  perfect  conformity  with 
decisions  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  and  of  the  supreme  court 
of  the  state  of  New  York,  in  similar  cases. 

In  August,  1812,  Elijah  Clark  was  condemned  to  be  hung  as  a  spy,  at 
BuflaU),  in  the  state  of  New  York,  by  sentence  of  a  court  martial.  "  It 
appeared  that  he  was  born  in  the  state  of  New  Jersey,  and  that  he 
continued  to  reside  in  the  United  States,  as  a  citizen  thereof,  until  within 
about  eight  months,  when  he  removed  to  Canada,  and  there  married ; 
that  his  wife  and  property  are  yet  in  Canada,  and  within  the  dominion 
and  allegiance  of  the  king  of  the  united  kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland.  For  these  reasons,  the  court  was  of  opinion,  that  (although  the 
said  Eliiah  Clark  was  a  native  born  citizen  of  the  United  States,  and  was 
yet  holden  under  the  allegiance,  which,  as  such  citizen,  he  owed  to  the 
United  States)  he  was  nevertheless  liable  to  be  tried  ancl  convicted,  as  a 
spy  in  the  United  States,  for  his  acts  of  a  spy,  committed  during  the 
continuance  of  such  temporary  allegiance  to  the  king  of  the  united 
kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  with  whom  the  United  States  were 
at  war." 

General  Hull  suspended  the  execution  till  the  pleasure  of  the  President 
of  the  United  States  was  known. 

On  the  second  of  October,  the  secretary  of  war  wrote  to  the  general, 
that  Clark,  "  being  considered  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  and  not 


4-^  ill 

i  -ft    i     ! 


P^'ii  ' 


404 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


liable  to  be  tried  by  a  court  martial  us  a  spy,  the  President  directed  that 
unless  he  should  be  arraigned  by  the  civil  court  for  treason,  or  a  minor 
crime,  under  the  laws  of  the  state  of  New  York,  he  must  be  discharged." 

One  Smith,  a  naturalized  citizen  of  the  United  States,  and  a  Scotchman 
by  birth,  Avas  arrested  during  the  last  war,  and  imprisoned  in  the  barracks 
{it  Sackett's  Harbor,  on  the  charge,  among  others,  of  his  being  a  spy.  On 
the  restoration  of  peace,  he  brought  his  action  of  false  impri.sonmont 
against  the  commanding  officer  of  the  garrison.  The  case  was  brought 
before  the  sui)reme  court,  where  it  was  argued,  on  the  part  of  the 
defendant,  that,  on  the  principle  of  natural  or  perpetual  allegiance,  he 
remained  a  British  subject,  he  was  a  spy,  and  coukl  be  treated  as  such ; 
and  at  all  events,  the  officer  who  detained  him  was  justifiable  in  doing 
so,  until  by  due  investigation  in  a  court  martial,  it  could  be  ascertained 
whether  he  was  a  citizen  or  an  alien.  For  the  plaintiff,  it  was  insisted 
that  a  naturalized  citizen  enjoys  all  the  rights  and  privileges  of  a  native 
born,  who  is  entitled,  in  every  possible  case,  to  protection  from  military 
power.  The  authority  of  Sir  Matthew  Hale  was  quoted,  that  even  in 
England,  martial  law  is  no  law,  but  something  indulged  as  a  law ;  and 
the  opinion  of  Lord  Loughborough  was  relied  on,  that  martial  law,  even 
as  described  by  Sir  Matthew  Hale,  does  not  exist  at  all.  The  court  said, 
"  the  defendant's  conduct  does  not  appear  harsh  or  offensive ;  but  it  is 
the  principle  invoked  that  renders  the  result  so  important.  None  of  the 
offenses,  charged  against  the  plaintiff,  were  cognizable  before  a  court 
martial,  except  that  which  relates  to  his  being  a  spy  :  and,  if  he  was  an 
American  citizen,  he  could  not  be  chargeable  with  such  an  offense.  He 
might  l)e  amenable  to  the  civil  authority  for  treason ;  but  could  not  be 
prosecuted,  under  iiuirtiaJ  law,  as  a  spy."  One  of  the  judges  dissented, 
on  the  grouii  1  that  the  officer  was  justifiable  in  detaining  the  plaintiff, 
till  it  was  ascertained  whether  he  Avas  a  citizen  ;  but  the  judge  expressly 
admitted,  that  if  he  was  a  citizen,  he  was  not  liable  to  be  tried  as  a  spy. 

It  is  evident,  that  by  the  expression,  martial  law,  in  the  last  part  of  the 
opinion  of  the  court,  reference  is  made  to  the  second  section  of^  the  act  of 
congress,  for  establishing  rules  and  articles  of  war,  for  the  government 
of  the  armies  of  the  United  States,  in  which  tho  punishment  of  death  is 
denounced  against  spies. 

Tlie  independent  stand,  taken  by  the  court  martial,  had  left  no  glimpse 
of  hope,  at  headquarters,  that  the  prosecution  of  Hall,  on  the  charge  of 
mutiny,  on  which  he  had  been  imprisoned,  could  be  attemi)ted  with  any 
prospect  of  success — the  futility  of  any  further  proceedings  against 
Louallier  was  evident — Jackson,  therefore,  put  an  end  to  Hall's  imprison- 
ment on  Saturday,  the  11th  of  March.  The  word  imprtHonment  is  used, 
because  Eaton  assures  his  readers,  that  ^^Judffe  Hall  wan  vnt  imprmned; 
it  was  merely  an  arr^^st."  Hall  had  been  taken  from  his  bedchamber,  on 
the  preceding  Sunday,  at  9  o'clock  in  the  evening,  by  a  detachment  of 
about  one  hundred  men,  dragged  through  the  streets,  and  confined  in  the 
same  apartment  with  Louallier,  in  the  barracks.  Three  days  after  it  had 
been  ofificially  announced  to  the  inhabitants  of  New  Orleans,  that  Jackson 
was  in  possession  of  })ersuasive  evidence,  that  a  state  of  peace  existed,  and 
the  militia  had  been  discharged,  the  door  of  Hall's  prison  was  thrown 
open,  but  not  for  his  release.  He  was  put  under  a  guard,  who  led  him 
several  miles  beyond  the  limits  of  the  city,  where  they  left  him,  with  a 


)r  a  minor 
ischarged." 
Scotchman 
16  barracks 

a  spy.  On 
prisonment 
iras  brought 
)art  of  the 
legiance,  he 
,ed  as  such ; 
ble  in  doing 

ascertained 
was  insisted 
1  of  a  native 
•om  military 
that  even  in 
3  a  law ;  and 
ial  law,  even 
le  court  said, 
ve;  but  it  is 
None  of  the 
sfore  a  court 
,  if  he  was  an 
offense.     He 
could  not  be 
ges  dissented, 

the  plaintiff, 
dge  expressly 

ried  as  a  spy. 

,st  part  of  the 

of  the  act  of 

|e  government 

int  of  death  is 


HISTORY  OP   LOUISIANA. 


405 


prohibition  to  return,  "  till  the  ratification  of  the  treaty  was  regularly 
announced,  or  the  British  shall  have  left  the  southern  coast." 

This  last,  and  useless  display  of  usurped  power,  astonished  the 
inhabitants.  They  thought,  that,  if  the  general  feared  the  return  of  the 
British,  the  safety  of  New  Orleans  would  be  better  insured,  by  his  recall 
of  the  militia,  than  by  the  banishment  of  the  legitimate  magistrate.  It 
was  the  last  expansion  of  light,  and  momentary  effulgence,  that  precedes 
the  extinguishment  of  a  taper. 

At  the  dawn  of  light,  on  Monday,  the  13th,  an  express  reached 
headquarters,  with  the  dispatch  which  had  accidentally  been  misplaced, 
in  the  office  of  the  secretary  of  war,  three  weeks  before.  The  cannon  soon 
announced  the  arrival  of  this  important  document,  and  Louallier  was 
indebted  for  his  liberation,  to  the  precaution,  which  Eaton  says,  the 
President  of  the  United  States  had  taken  to  direct  Jackson  to  issue  a 
proclamation  for  the  pardon  of  all  military  offenses. 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 

Hall's  return  to  the  city  was  greeted  by  the  acclarnations  of  the  inhab- 
itants. He  was  the  first  judge  of  the  United  States  they  had  received, 
and  they  had  admired  in  nim  the  distinguishing  characteristics  of  an 
American  magistrate — a  pure  heart,  clean  hands,  and  a  mind  susceptible 
of  no  fear,  but  that  of  God.  Plis  firmness  had,  eight  years  before,  arrested 
Wilkinson  in  his  despotic  measures.  He  was  now  looked  upon  to  show, 
that  if  he  had  been  unable  to  stop  Jackson's  arbitrary  steps,  he  would 
prevent  him  from  exulting  in  the  impunity  of  his  trespass. 

Dick  was  anxious  to  lose  no  time,  in  calling  the  attention  of  the  district 
court  of  the  United  States,  to  the  violent  proceedings,  during  the  week 
that  had  followed  the  arrival  of  the  first  messenger  of  peace ;  but  Hall 
insisted  on  a  few  days  being  exclusively  given  to  the  manifestation  of  the 
joyous  feelings,  which  the  termination  of  the  war  excited.  He  did  not 
yield  to  Dick's  wishes  till  the  21st.  The  affidavits  of  the  clerk  of  the 
district  court,  of  the  marshal  of  the  United  States,  of  the  attorney  of 
Louallier  and  of  the  commander  at  the  barracks,  were  then  laid  before  the 
court. 

The  case  they  presented,  was  this — that  Jackson,  desirous  to  punish  the 

author  of  a  publication,  which  he  called  a  false  and  corrupt  libel,  upwards 

of  six  weeks  after  the  departure  of  the  British,  had  yielded  to  the  advice 

of  those  who  recommended  that  the  publisher  should  be  prosecuted,  before 

I  a  court  martial,  as  a  spy,  and   had  him  arrested.      The  prisoner  sought 

legal  advice,  and  was  informed,  that  in  case  of  conviction,  sentence  of 

death  would  inevitably  be  passed  on  him — and  that  the  court  martial  by 

whom  he  was  to  be  tried,  Avas  without  jurisdiction.      He  implored  the 

interference  of  the  tribunal,  especially  charged  with  preventing  a  military 

court  from  stepping  out  of  the  bounds  of  its  legitimate  jurisdiction.     The 

judsie  took  the  proper  step,  to  have  the  complaint  legally  inquired  into. 

I  With  the  view  of  obstructing  the  course  of  justice,  and  depriving  his 

victim  of  the  protection  he  had  sought,  Jackson  had  the  judge  arrested 

and  imprisoned,  till  the  trial  was  over.     The  clerk  of  the  court  was 

I  compelled  to  bring  a  record  of  the  court,  to  headquarters,  where  it  was 


1[:' 


I  h 


406 


HISTORY  OP  LOUISIANA. 


taken  and  withheld  from  him.  He  and  the  marshal  were  threatened. 
Some  of  these  transactions  happened  after  accounts  of  the  cessation  of 
the  state  of  war  was  received.  The  proceedings  did  not  appear  to  have 
the  least  semblance  of  necessity,  or  even  utility. 

On  the  motion  of  the  attorney  of  the  United  States,  a  rule  to  show 
cause,  why  process  of  attachment  should  not  issue  against  Jackson,  was 
granted. 

On  the  return  day,  Reid,  one  of  the  general's  aids,  accompanied  him  to 
the  court  house,  and  presented  to  the  court  a  paper,  sworn  to  by  Jackson, 
as  his  answer  to  the  rule. 

In  the  preamble  of  this  document,  a  solemn  protest  was  made  against 
the  unconstitutionality  and  illegality  of  the  prosecution — the  authority 
of  the  attorney  of  the  United  States  to  institute  it,  was  denied,  as  well  as 
that  of  any  court  of  the  United  Stales,  to  punish  for  a  contempt.  It 
averred  that  no  criminal  prosecution  could  be  carried  on,  in  any  of  these 
courts,  except  upon  a  presentment  or  indictment,  or  for  an  offense  not 
created  by  a  statute — it  insisted  on  a  trial  by  jury ;  it  urged  that  the 
contempt  had  not  been  committed  in  presence  of  the  court,  that  the  writ 
of  habeas  corpus  was  not  returnable  into  court ;  and  that  the  authority  of 
the  judge,  who  issued  it,  was  confined  to  the  case  of  a  prisoner  under,  or 
by  color  of  the  authority  of  the  United  States. 

In  the  conclusion,  the  proclamation  of  martial  law  was  justified,  on  the 
report  which  the  general  had  received  of  the  disaffection  and  seditious 
disposition  of  the  French  part  of  the  population  of  Louisiana,  and  various 
extracts  were  given  from  letters  of  the  governor,  on  the  difficulties  he  had 
to  encounter,  the  opposition  he  met  with  from  the  legislature,  and  the 
little  dependence  there  was  for  success,  except  on  a  regular  force,  to  be 
sent  by  the  United  States.  The  interference  with  the  records  in  the  clerk's 
office,  was  justified  on  the  belief  the  defendant  entertained,  that  it  was 
within  his  authority.  The  proclamation  of  martial  law  was  held  to  have 
made  the  publisher  of  the  libel  a  soldier,  and  his  offense  cognizable  by  a 
court  martial ;  and  the  imprisonment  of  the  judge  was  said  to  have  been 
a  measure  of  necessity. 

The  attorney  of  the  United  States,  opposed  the  reading  of  this  paper. 
He  said  that,  in  no  case,  the  defendant  was  permitted  to  make  evidence 
for  himself,  and  justify  himself,  by  swearing  he  was  innocent ;  although, 
on  a  process  of  attachment,  the  defendant's  answers  to  interrogatories, 
put  by  the  officer  who  conducted  the  prosecution,  were  conclusive  evidence. 

In  the  present  stage  of  the  cause,  the  inquiry  was  confined  to  the 
sufficiency  of  the  facts  sworn  to — whether  they  did  not  constitute  an 
offense,  and  one  which  did  support  a  prosecution,  by  process  of  attachment. 
When  the  hearing  would  be  on  the  merits,  the  defendant  might  avail 
himself  of  his  answers  to  interrogatories  to  show  that  the  facts,  in  the 
affidavits,  on  which  the  rule  was  obtained,  were  not  true.  The  judge  took 
time  to  deliberate. 

On  the  next  day,  he  said  "  The  court  has  taken  time  to  consider 
the  propriety  of  admitting  the  answer,  offered  yesterday.  It  was  proper 
to  do  so;  because  it  is  the  first  proceeding,  of  any  importance, 
instituted  in  a  matter  like  the  present,  since  the  establishment  of  the 
court ;  and  because,  bv  the  constitution  of  the  court,  it  is  composed  of 
one  judge  only ;  and  it  so  happens,  that  one  of  the  charges  of  contempt, 
is  his  imprisonment,  and  the  consequent  obstruction  of  the  course  of 


law. 
The 
Jackl 

>vith  til 


'  .^iil 


ustified,  on  the 
and  seditious 
,na,  and  various 
iiculties  he  had 
slature,  and  the 
liar  force,  to  be 
is  in  the  clerk's 
ned,  that  it  was 
as  held  to  have 
cognizable  by  a 
id  to  have  been 

g  of  this  paper, 
'make  evidence 
cent;  although, 

interrogatories, 
elusive  evidence, 
confined  to  the 
ot  constitute  an 
5S  of  attachment, 
iant  might  avail 

the  facts,  in  the 
The  judge  took 

inie  to  consider 
It  was  proper 

ny  importance, 
Ilishment  of  the 

is  composed  ol 
ges  of  contempt, 

i  the  course  ot 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


407 


justice.  This  is  no  reason  why  the  proceedings  should  not  have  been 
instituted,  and  be  persevered  in  ;  but  it  is  a  good  one  for  much  delibera- 
tion. No  personal  consideration  ought,  for  a  moment,  to  allow  the 
abandonment  of  the  defense  of  the  laws,  the  support  of  the  dignity  of  the 
tribunal,  and  of  the  rights  of  the  citizen. 

"I  have  considered  the  case,  and  I  think  I  see  a  clear  course. 

"  On  a  rule  to  show  cause,  the  party  called  on  may  take  all  legal  grounds, 
to  show  that  the  attachment  ought  not  to  issue.  He  ma^  take  exceptions 
to  the  mode  of  proceedings,  and  prove,  from  the  affidavits  on  which  the 
rule  was  obtained,  that  the  facts  do  not  amount  to  a  contempt. 

"  If  the  court  be  convinced  that  the  attachment  may  legally  issue,  it 
goes  to  bring  the  party  into  court — the  interrogatories  are  propounded — 
he  may  object  to  any  of  them,  as  improper,  or  deny  the  facts  charged,  and 
purge  himself  of  the  contempt,  on  oath.  His  single  testimony  counteracts 
all  other  that  may  have  been  adduced. 

"  I  will  hear  any  of  the  exceptions  taken  in  the  answer,  or  any  question 
of  law  that  may  be  urged," 

Reid  now  expatiated  on  the  unconstitutionality  and  illegality  of  a  mode 
of  proceeding,  which  deprived  the  defendant  of  the  benefit  oi  a  trial  by 
a  jury,  and  on  the  protestations,  and  exceptions  in  the  preamble  of 
Jackson's  answer.  He  dwelt  on  the  necessity  there  was  for  the 
proclamation  of  martial  law,  and  attempted  the  justification  of  the  facts, 
stated  in  the  affidavit,  which  were  the  basis  of  the  prosecHions,  by 
martial  law. 

The  attorney  of  the  United  States  stated  his  conviction,  that  it  was  now 
too  late  to  speak  of  the  unconstitutionality  of  the  process  of  attachment — 
a  construction  and  interpretation  of  the  constitution,  contemporaneous 
with  that  instrument,  and  coeval  with  the  present  government,  had 
received  the  sanction  of  the  judiciary,  and  the  house  of  representatives  : — 
that  no  jury  was  called  in,  because  the  facts,  if  contested,  were  to  be 
settled  by  the  oath  of  the  defendant,  in  his  answers  to  interrogatories 
propounded  to  him,  in  behalf  of  the  United  States ;  it  being  the  duty  of 
their  attorney,  to  draw  forth,  by  these  interrogatories,  as  by  cross- 
examination,  in  the  audition  of  witnesses,  the  facts,  which  the  defendant 
had  an  interest  to  conceal.  After  his  conscience  was  thus  probed,  the 
evidence  resulting  from  his  answers,  counteracted  all  the  testimony 
adduced  against  him. 

The  attorney  urged,  that  he  was  willing  to  admit  that  the  arrest  of 
Louallier  was  not  made  under  any  authority  derived  from  the  United 
States,  but  it  was  his  duty  to  say,  it  took  place,  under  color  of  such  an 
authority ;  and  in  either  case,  it  was  the  duty  of  the  magistracy  of  the 
United  States,  to  inquire  into  the  legality  of  the  arrest.  He  added,  that 
with  regard  to  such  writs,  which  the  judges  were  authorized  to  issue,  at  their 
chambers,  it  had  never  been  doubted,  that  obedience  to  them  was  to  be 
enforced,  and  contempt  of  them  punished,  in  the  same  manner  as  if  the 
writ  had  been  issued  by  the  clerk. 

He  added  that,  when  the  case  should  be  before  the  court  on  the  merits, 
the  defendant  would  have  every  benefit  that  could  be  derived  from  martial 
law. 

The  rule  was  made  absolute. 

Jackson's  advisers  now  found  he  could  not  be  defended  on  the  merits, 
[with  the  slightest  hope  of  success,  as  the  attorney  of  the  United  States 


i«r<'>.'!i>> 


H 


408 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


would  probably  draw  from  him  by  interrogations,  the  admission,  that 
both  Louallier  and  the  judge  were  kept  in  prison,  long  after  persuasive 
evidence  had  been  received  at  headquarters,  of  the  cessation  of  the  state 
of  war.  They  therefore  recommended  to  him  not  to  answer  the  interrog- 
atories, which  would  authorize  the  insinuation  that  he  had  been  condemned 
unheard. 

It  appears  that  some  of  his  party,  at  this  period,  entertained  the  hope 
that  Hall  could  be  intimidatea,  and  prevented  from  proceeding  further. 
A  report  was  accordingly  circulated  that  a  mob  would  assemble  in  ami 
about  the  courthouse — that  the  pirates  of  Barataria,  to  whom  the  judge 
had  rendered  himself  obnoxious  before  the  war,  by  his  zeal  and  strictnesis, 
in  the  prosecution  that  had  been  instituted  against  several  of  their 
ringleaders,  would  improve  this  opportunity  of  humbling  him.  Accord- 
ingly, groups  of  them  took  their  stands,  in  different  parts  of  the  hall,  and 
gave  a  shout  when  Jackson  entered.  It  is  due  to  him  to  state,  that,  it  did 
not  appear  that  he  had  the  least  intimation  that  a  disturbance  was 
intenaed,  and  his  influence  was  honestly'exercised  to  prevent  disorder. 

On  his  being  called,  he  addressed  a  few  words  to  the  court,  expressive 
of  his  intention  not  to  avail  himself  of  the  faculty  he  had  to  answer 
interrogatories;  a  determination,  which  he  said  was  grounded  on  the 
court's  refusal  to  allow  his  answer  to  the  rule  being  read. 

The  court  informed  him,  every  indulgence  had  been  extended  to  him, 
which  the  law  authorized. 

The  attorney  of  the  United  States  now  rose,  and  said  that  his  task  was 
much  simplified  by  the  course  the  defendant  had  taken.  The  defendant 
stood  charged  with  having  obstructed  the  course  of  justice  and  prevented 
the  interference  of  the  court,  in  order  that  an  illegal  prosecution,  for  a 
capital  offense,  might  be  carried  on,  before  a  military  tribunal,  against  a 
citizen  absolutely  unconnected  with  the  army  or  militia-  His  protestations 
and  exceptions  had  already  been  disposed  of.  The  greatest  part  of  the 
paper,  which  he  had  produced  on  his  first  coming  into  court,  was  filled 
with  extracts  of  letters,  and  arguments,  by  which  his  issuing  a  proclamation 
of  martial  law,  was  intended  to  be  justified.  No  one  had  ever  seen  any 
degree  of  guilt  in  this  act.  It  was  very  proper,  in  the  beginning  of  an 
invasion,  for  the  commander  of  the  army  raised  to  oppose  it,  to  warn,  by 
a  solemn  appeal,  his  men  and  all  his  fellow-citizens  around  him,  that 
circumstances  required  the  exertion  of  the  faculties  of  all,  to  repel  the 
enemy  ;  and  that  the  martial  law  of  the  United  States,  i.  e.,  the  system  of 
rules  established  by  the  acts  of  congress  and  the  laws  and  usages  of 
nations,  with  regard  to  martial  matters,  would  be  strictly  enforced. 

The  words  of  Judge  Bay,  of  the  supreme  court  of  South  Carolina,  in 
Lamb's  case,  were  quoted  :  "If  by  martial  law  is  to  be  understooJ  that 
dreadful  system,  the  law  of  arms,  which  in  former  times  was  exercised  by 
the  King  of  England  and  his  lieutenants,  when  his  word  was  the  law,  and 
his  will  the  power,  by  which  it  was  exercised,  I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying 
that  such  a  monster  could  not  exist  in  this  land  of  liberty  and  freedom. 
The  political  atmosphere  of  America  would  destroy  it  in  embryo.  It  was 
against  such  a  tyrannical  monster  that  we  triumphed  in  our  revolutionary 
conflict.  Our  fathers  sealed  the  conquest  by  their  blood,  and  their 
posterity  .vill  never  permit  it  to  tarnish  our  soil  by  its  unhallowed  feet, 
or  harrow  up  the  feelings  of  our  gallant  sons,  by  its  ghastly  appearance. 
All  our  civil  institutions  forbid  it ;  and  the  manly  hearts  of  our  country- 


3nded  to  him,     . 


HISTORY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


409 


men  are  steeled  against  it.  Hut,  if  by  this  military  code  are  to  be  understood 
the  rules  and  regulations  for  the  government  of  our  men  in  arms,  when 
marshalled  in  defense  of  our  country's  rights  and  honor,  then  I  am  bound 
to  say,  there  is  nothing  unconstitutional  in  such  a  system." 

The  attorney  of  the  United  States  candidly  admitted,  that,  although 
the  acts  of  the  defendant  could  not  by  any  means,  be  justified  by  his 
}>roclamation ;  they  could  certainly  be  so,  by  ntH'cssity,  which  justifies 
any  act  it  commands — and  the  defendant  was  entitled  to  every  benefit 
under  the  plea  of  necessity  ;  and  on  the  part  of  the  United  States,  success 
in  the  prosecution  was  ncithei  expected  nor  wished,  if  that  necessity 
could  be  shown. 

To  show  that  no  necessity  existed  to  authorize  the  acts  of  violence 
complained  of,  the  attorney  stated,  that  the  defendant  had  admitted 
that  "most  of  the  acts  mentioned  in  the  rule  took  place,  after  the 
enemy  had  retired,  from  the  place  he  had  at  first  assumed — after  they 
had  met  with  a  signal  defeat — and,  after  an  unofficial  account  had  been 
received  of  the  signature  of  the  treaty."  This  had  been  verified  by  the 
nliidavit  of  the  defendant,  that  the  material  facts  contained  in  his  answer 
lie  believed  to  be  true — but  the  general  had  not  sworn  that  his  answer 
contained  the  whole  truth,  and  the  counsel  by  whom  the  document  was 
])rcpared,  had  carefully  suppressed  some  most  material  circumstances. 
The  charges,  which  were  the  basis  of  the  illegal  j)roceedings,  which  it  was 
the  bounden  duty  of  the  court  to  arrest,  were  exhibited,  after  several 
confirmations  of  th.  account  of  the  signature  of  the  treaty  were  received 
—after  the  ratification  of  that  treaty  by  the  Prince  Regent  had  been 
announced — after  it  was  known  that  the  treaty  had  arrived  at  Washington, 
and  the  senate  had  advised  its  ratification — after  the  President  had  ratified 
it,  and  the  mutual  exchange  of  the  ratifications.  It  was  admitted  that  the 
official  annunciation  of  all  these  circumstances  had  not  been  received  by 
the  defendant,  but  to  use  his  own  words,  in  an  official  document,  he  hacl 
persuasive  evidence  of  these  facts,  and  he  credited  them.  The  untoward 
accident,  which  had  prevented  his  receiving  the  dispatch  of  the  secretary 
of  war  containing  the  official  intelligence,  was  known  to  him.  He  even 
confessed  the  state  of  war  no  longer  existed — that  his  duty  forbad  him 
to  persist  in  measures,  which  the  return  of  peace  rendered  unnecessary 
and  illegal.  Under  this  impression,  he  proposed  a  suspension  of 
hostilities  to  Lambert — he  discharged  the  militia  of  the  state,  and 
consented  that  the  French  subjects,  residing  in  New  Orleans,  should  no 
longer  be  required  to  return  to  his  camp. 

In  the  conclusion  of  his  argument,  Dick  observed,  that  credulity  itself 
could  not  tadmit  the  proposition,  that  persuasive  evidence  that  the  war  had 
ceased,  and  belief  that  necessity  required  that  violent  measures  should  be 
persisted  in  to  prevent  the  exercise  of  the  judicial  power  of  the  legitimate 
tribunal,  could  exist  at  the  same  time,  in  tiie  defendant's  mind. 

The  general  made  a  last  effort  to  avert  the  judgment  of  the  court  against 
him,  by  an  as-^crvation,  he  had  imprisoned  Dominick  A.  Hall,  and  n»t  the 
judge :  his  attention  was  drawn  to  the  affidavit  of  the  marshal,  in  which 
he  swore  Jackson  told  him  "  I  have  shopped  the  jiuh/e.^^ 

The  court,  desirous  of  manifesting  moderation,  in  the  punishment  of 
the  defendant  for  the  want  of  it,  said  that,  in  consideration  of  the  services 
the  general  had  rendered  to  his  country,  imprisonment  should  make  no 

64 


1,.  . 


410 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


■t'^'. 


V^ 


mm 


%. 


part  of  the  sentence,  nnd  condemned  him  to  pay  a  fine  of  one  thousand 
dollars  and  costs,  only. 

A  cheek  was  immediately  filled  bv  Duncan,  signed  by  Jackson,  and 
handed  to  the  marshal,  who  accepted  it  in  discharge  of  the  fine  and  costH. 

On  Jackson's  coming  out  of  the  courthouse,  his  friends  procured  a  hack, 
in  which  he  entered,  and  they  dragged  it  to  the  Exchange  Coffeehouse, 
where  he  made  a  speech,  in  the  conclusion  of  which  he  observed  that, 
"  during  the  invasion,  he  had  exerted  every  faculty  in  support  of  the 
constitution  and  laws — on  that  day,  he  had  been  called  on  to  submit  to 
their  operation,  under  circumstances,  which  many  persons  might  have 
dcemou  sufficient  io  justify  resistance.  Considering  obedience  to  the  laws, 
even  when  we  think  them  unjuntly  applied,  as  the  first  duty  of  a  citizen, 
he  did  not  hesitate  to  comply  with  the  sentence  they  had  heard 
pronounced  ;"  and  he  entreated  the  people,  to  remember  the  example  he 
nad  given  them,  of  respectful  submission  to  the  administration  of  iusticc. 

A  few  days  after  he  published  in  the  Ami  des  Loi»,  the  answer  he  had 
offered  to  the  district  court,  preceded  by  an  exordium,  in  which  he 
complained  that  the  court  had  refused  to  hear  it.  He  added,  that  the 
judge  "  had  indulged  himself,  on  his  route  to  Bayou  Sara,  in  manifesting 
apprehensions  as  to  the  fate  of  the  country,  equally  disgraceful  to  himself, 
and  injurious  to  the  interest  and  safety  of  the  state,"  and  concluded : 
"  should  judge  Hall  deny  this  statement,  the  general  is  prepared  to  j)rove 
it,  fully  and  satisfactorily. 

The  gauntlet  did  not  long  remain  on  the  ground,  and  the  following 
piece  appeared  in  the  Loumana  Courier: 

"  It  is  stated  in  the  introductory  remarks  of  general  Jackson,  that  '  on 
the  judge's  route  to  Bavou  Sara,  he  manifested  apprehensions  as  to  the 
safety  of  the  country,  disgraceful  to  himself,  and  injurious  to  the  state.' 
Judge  Hall  knows  full  well,  how  easy  it  is  for  one,  with  the  influence  and 
patronage  of  general  Jackson,  to  procure  certificates  and  affidavits.  He 
knows  that  men,  usurping  authority,  have  their  delators  and  spies ;  and 
that,  in  the  sunshine  of  imperial  or  dictatorial  power,  swarms  of  miserable 
creatures  are  easily  generated,  from  the  surrounding  corruption,  and 
rapidly  changed  into  the  shape  of  buzzing  informers.  Notwithstanding 
which,  judge  Hall  declares,  that  on  his  route  to  Bayou  Sara,  he  uttered  no 
sentiment  disgraceful  to  himself,  or  injurious  to  the  state.  He  calls  upon 
general  Jackson,  to  furnish  that  full  and  satisfactory  evidence  of  his 
assertion,  which  he  says  he  is  enaVded  to  do." 

The  pledge  was  never  redeemed.  The  general's  silence  showed,  that 
those,  on  whose  reports  he  had  ventured  to  charge  Hall,  could  not  enable 
him  to  administer  proof  of  what  they  had  advanced.  The  accusation 
appeared  as  destitute  of  foundation,  as  the  charge  brought  against  the 
legislature,  of  having  entertained  the  idea  of  proposing  a  capitulation. 
Never  was  a  virtuous  community,  more  gratuitously  charged  with 
disaffection,  sedition  and  treason,  than  the  population  of  Louisiana.  Time 
has  shown,  that,  in  patriotism,  zeal  and  courage,  it  did  not  yield  to  that 
of  any  state  in  the  confederacy.  Before  danger  was  impending,  they 
canvassed  every  measure  that  was  proposed  to  them ;  they  investigated 
every  claim  on  their  services.  But,  as  soon  as  it  was  necessary  to  act, 
they  did  so,  promptly  and  effectually.  All  the  resources  of  the  state,  were 
put  at  the  disposal  of  Jackson — every  branch  of  government,  with  all  its 


HISTORY  OF   LOUISIANA. 


411 


might  seconded  him — the  people  submitted  to  every  privation,  every  duty, 
which  circumHtanceH  imposed. 

It  is  true,  the  general  assembly  did  not  join  Jackson  in  the  belief,  that 
the  suspension  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpnn,  was  a  »>roper  measure.  They 
knew,  l>f'tter  than  he,  the  population  of  their  country — they  did  not  err, 
when  they  concluded  it  could  be  trusted.  They  remembered  the  time 
of  Wilkinson,  and  experience  that  his  violent  measures  and  those  of 
Jackson,  after  danger  had  ceased  to  exist,  were  absolutely  ill  timed — 
productive  of  disorder  and  confusion,  and  unattended  by  any  advantage ; 
and  the  people,  as  soon  as  danger  was  over,  manifested  their  determination 
not  to  submit  to  oppression  or  unnecessary  hardships.  The  French 
subjects  h.id  shown,  they  were  not  afraid  of  the  enemy ;  they  showed  they 
(lid  not  fear  the  general.  Nothing  but  the  certainty,  that  the  day  of 
retribution  was  at  hand,  and  that  the  insult,  offered  to  the  court  of  the 
United  States,  was  about  to  be  avenged,  prevented  those  serious  difficulties, 
which  Claiborne,  as  Eaton  informs  us,  believed  would  soon  be  witnessed 
in  Now  Orleans. 

The  national  council  rendered  to  Louisiana,  that  justice,  which  she 
ought  to  have  received  at  the  headquarters  of  the  seventh  military  district. 
Congress  passed  a  resolution,  expressive  of  the  high  sense  they  enter- 
tained, of  the  patriotism,  zeal,  fidelity  and  courage,  with  which  the  people 
of  Louisiana  had  promptly  and  unanimously  8tep{)ed  forward,  under 
circumstances  of  imminent  danger,  from  a  powerful  invading  enemy,  in 
defense  of  all  the  individual,  social  and  political  rights  held  dear  to  man. 
A  like  sense  was  also  expressed  of  tne  generosity,  benevolence  and 
humanity  displayed  by  the  inhabitants  of  New  Orleans,  in  voluntarily 
affording  the  nest  accommodations  in  their  power,  and  giving  their  best 
attentions,  to  the  wounded,  not  only  of  the  army  of  the  United  States, 
but  also  to  the  wounded  prisoners  of  a  vanquished  foe. 

In  receiving  this  testimonial  of  the  approbation  of  the  legislature  of  the 
Union,  well  might  the  people  of  Louisiana  exclaim,  laus  laudari  a  tc.  It 
iwas  calculated  to  induce  them  to  disregard,  as  it  effectually  counteracted 
the  assertions  and  insinuations  of  Jackson's  advisers  and  panegyrists. 

If,  on  the  arrival  of  O'Reilly,  at  New  Orleans,  in  1769,  he  had  attended 
[to  the  maxim,  in  the  motto  of  his  coat  of  arms,  Fortitudine  et  prudentia^ 
he  lives  of  five  individuals,  in  whose  attachment  to  their  former  sovereign, 
e  should  have  seen  a  pledge  of  their  future  devotion  to  his  own,  would 
ave  been  spared.  If  Jackson  had  been  as  prudent  after  the  invasion,  as 
e  had  been  brave  during  its  continuance,  he  would  have  spared  to  himself 
nd  others,  very  disagreeable  consequences.  May  his  conduct  during  one 
riod,  be  a  pattern,  and,  during  the  other,  a  warning  to  future 
ommanders ! 

It  is  the  duty  of  history  to  record  the  virtues  and  errors  of  conspicuous 

dividuals.    In  free  governments,  dangerous  precedents  are  to  be  dreaded 

om  good  and  popular  characters  only.  Men  of  a  different  cast  can  never 

not"vield  to  that  Bttain  pufificient  sanction  for  their  measures,  to  make  their  acts  an  example 

imoending,  they  ■r  others.      Hence,  the  necessity  of  exposing  the  false  grounds  of  the 

r  .       _i:^„tofi  Bptions  of  the  former,  and  pointing  out  the  evil  consequences  to  which 

ey  lead. 

The  history  of  every  age,  and  every  country,  shows  that,  the  higher 
an  is  placed  in  authority,  the  greater  the  necessity  ol  his  bridling  his 
ssions,  lest  others  should  believe  anger  and  resentment  have  prompted 


one  thousand 

Jackson,  and 
fine  and  costs. 
'ocured  a  hack, 
e  Coffeehouse, 
observed  that, 
support  of  the 
n  to  submit  to 
ns  might  have 
mce  to  the  laws, 
ty  of  a  citizen, 
ey    had    heard 
Lhe  example  he 
■ation  of  justice. 

answer  be  had 
n,  in  which  he 
added,  that  the 
tt,  in  manifestini? 
aceful  to  himself, 

and  concluded: 
prepared  to  prove 

nd  the  following 

fackson,  that  'on 

Misions  as  to  the 

ous  to  the  state. 

the  influence  and 

id  affidavits.    He 


:8  and  spies; 


and 


rarms  of  miserable 

corruption,  and 

Notwithstanding 

;ara,  he  uttered  no 

Ite.    He  calls  upon 

evidence  of  nis 

lence  showed,  that 
could  not  enable 
The  accusation 
tought  against  the 
Ing  a  capitulation- 
Lly  charged  with 
>f  Louisiana.  Time 

they  investigated 

necessary  to  act, 

les  of  the  state,  were 

rnment,  with  all  its 


-  "♦;? 


h* 


4 

teii  *.■ 


412 


HISTORY  OF  rouisiANA. 


int'UHUn'S,  which  Mhouid  hiivo  had  no  other  motive  hut  puhlic  utility— andl 
that  a  toinpcr,  whi(;h  ran  hear  no  contradiction,  and  a  will  KpiiriiinK  tilll 
control,  aro  tho  characteriHticH  of  a  man   in  power.      It  teaches  us  howl 
importnnt  it  in,  he  hIiouUI  not  avlvvX  for  his  advinerH,  men  who  hiivol 
enhnted  theniHelves  in  tho  rank»  of  thoHu  who  oppose  the  measures  off 
government — men  having  private  intercHtu  to  HuhHcrve,  private  enniitits  tu 
gratify,  and  private  injuries  to  avenge — that  he  should  ahstain  iVom  nctinii 
nersonally,  m   cases,   which   present  great    latitude    for   the    inipropud 
nululgence  of   his  feelings;  and  leave  to  dispassionate    trihunals,   tli 
punishment  of  those  who  have  wounded  his  pride,  hy  setting  hisauth(»rit 
at  defiance  :  refraining  to  hecome  the  prosecutor  and  arhiter  of  his  dw 
grievanciH,  and  to  place  himself  in  situation,  in  which,  reason  having 
little  control,   he  nuiy  do  great  injustice :    and  suspicion  always,  iiiij 
censure  often,  attach  to  his  deternnnation. 

May  the  citizens  of  these  states  ever  find  in  the  annals  of  their  countrl 
reasons  to  cherish  and  venerate,  that  branch  of  government,  without  tl 
protection  of  which  it  is  in  vain  that  the  invader  is  repelled — the  henij 
niHuence  of  which,  num  feels  before  he  enters  the  portals  of  life — whij 
guards   the  rights   of  the  unborn  child — throws  its  broad  shield  nvt 
helpless  infancy — the  solicitude  of  which,  watches  over  man's  interost| 
whenever  disease  or  absence,  prevents  his  attention  to  them — 1(»  which  tl 
woodsman  confidently  conumts  his  humble  roof  and  its  inmates,  in  tl 
morning,  when  shouldering  his  axe,  he  whistles  his  way  to  the  foresl 
assured  it  will  guard  them  from  injury,  and  secure  to  him  the  produce  tj 
his  labor — from  which  the  poor  and  the  rich  are  sure  of  e<iual  justice 
which  neither  the  ardor  vivium,  pnwa  juhcntimn^  nor  the  mltHs  !n>'t(iiii 
tjfranni,  will  prevent  from  connng  to  the  relief  of  the  oppressed — \\h\(\ 
secures  the  enjoyment  of  every  domestic,  so(!ial  and   i»olitical  right,  ail 
does  not  abandon  man  after  he  has  passed  the  gates  of  death — leavinghij 
in  the  grave,  the  consoling  hope  that  the  judiciary  power  of  his  countij 
will  cause  him  to  hover  a  whde,  like  a  benefictnit  sliade  over  the  fainif 
he  reared — directing  the  disposition  of  the  funds  his  care  accuuiuluted ; 
their  support,  and  thus,  by  a  sort  of  magic,  allow  him  to  eoiiiinnc  to  /mcj 
trill,  after  he  has  ratHcd  to  hare  (in  c.ilstcua'. 


)f  their  (Miuntr 
out,  without  t 
iletl— the  l»eni 
8  of  lifi'— whi( 
oiul  shield  ov 
man's  intiTOKti 
in — to  whidit 
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REFERENCES. 

A  Pcirish  Church. 
B  Fort  St.  Charles. 
C  Fort  St.  John. 
D  Fort  St  Ferdinand 
£  Fort  Burgundy. 
F  Fort  St  Louis. 
G  Royai  Magazines. 
H  Royaf  Hospital. 
I  Barracks. 
L-  Government  Building 
M  Charity  Hospital. 


M  Wehrmann, ^  it^.  7/  Chartres  St.K.O. 


FRON 


TO  th: 


«t  4 


1816,  An 
general  pros 
noted  was  a 
of  capital  in 
million  dolla 
hither  with 
commerce  of 
the  number  ( 
ships  and  stc 
The  old  towi 
Ijecame  neccs 

The  long  t 
year.  Claibc 
State,  for  thii 
Villerc,  a  citi 
The  election 
years. 

^  1817.  In  J 
Senator,  but  c 
November  fol 
was  his  succei 

Judging  frc 
well  as  "  flusl 
Without  conc< 
this  and  suci 
interest — we  n 

Insolvent  d( 
their  property 
was  thereby  in 

Simple  theft 

55 


._4 


ANNALS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


■»l,rl™ 


m 


WBm 


I  j|!j  mil, 


I 


FROM   THE   CLOSE   OF    MARTIN'S    HISTORY, 

A.  D.  1815. 

TO  THE  COMMENCEMENT  OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR, 

A.  D.  1861. 


"  *     *     *    the  abstracts  and  brief  chronicles  of  the  time." 


1816.  An  era  of  commercial  and  agricultural  activity,  resulting  in 
general  prosperity,  ensued  upon  the  close  of  the  war.  Specially  to  be 
noted  was  a  marked  increase  in  the  area  of  sugar  production,  the  amount 
of  capital  invested  in  this  industry,  at  the  time,  being  estimated  at  forty 
million  dollars.  Many  planters  from  other  Southern  States,  who  had  come 
hither  with  their  slaves,  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  the  cane.  The 
commerce  of  New  Orleans  speedily  developed  and  extended ;  the  "  town, 
the  number  of  her  warehouses  rapidly  increasing,  her  port  crowded  with 
ships  and  steamboats,  and  her  building  lots  rising  to  an  enormous  value. 
The  old  town  was  no  longer  large  enough,  *  *  and  its  extension 
became  necessary."     [Bunner.] 

The  long  term  of  service  of  the  State's  first  governor  closed  with  this 
year.  Claiborne,  who  had  occupied  the  executive  chair,  territorial  and 
State,  for  thirteen  years,  was  succeeded  in  December  by  General  James 
Villerc,  a  citizen  standing  high,  deservedly,  in  the  opinion  of  all  claSvSes. 
The  election  was  by  the  General  Assembly,  and  so  continued  to  be  for 
years. 

1817.  In  January,  ex-Governor  Claiborne  was  elected  United  States 
Senator,  but  did  not  live  to  wear  his  senatorial  honors  long,  as  he  died  in 
November  following.  Henry  Johnson,  who  was  subsequently  governor, 
was  his  successor  in  the  senate. 

Judging  from  the  number  of  penal  laws  enacted,  these  were  wild  as 
well  as  "  flush  "  times  in  the  more  thickly  settled  portions  of  the  State. 
Without  concerning  ourselves  with  the  several  "  black  codes  "  enacted  in 
this  and  succeeding  years — having  for  us,  now-a-days,  but  a  curious 
interest — we  may  note  a  few  points  in  other  directions. 

Insolvent  dobtors  were  not  liable  to  imprisonment  if  they  surrendered 
their  property  to  their  creditors,  but  if  the  debtor  were  guilty  of  fraud,  he 
was  thereby  ineligible  to  any  office  of  honor  or  profit  in  the  State. 

Simple  theft  was  punishable  with  hard  labor. 

55 


i  t 


414 


AXXALS  OF   LOUISIANA. 


Death  was  tliepuni.shiiiont  tlccrecd  to  any  rohher  arrested  witli  arms  on 
liis  person,  and  to  anv  one  killinji  another  in  a  duel. 

And,  any  one  seeking  to  (•orrui)t  a  judf^e;  or,  who  ahouUl  obstruct  a 
]>ublie  liighvvay,  or  keep  a  house  of  ill-iiune,  or  become  accessory  after  the 
fact  to  any  of  these  offenses,  miglit  be  i)unished  with  fine  and  impris- 
onment, at  the  discretion  of  the  court. 

A  branch  of  the  Bank  of  the  United  States  was  established  in  New- 
Orleans  this  year. 

1818.  If  pros])erity  continued  to  increase,  there  was  still  a  dark 
and  darkening  side  to  the  picture.  Wild  times  were  these  in  Louisijinu, 
owing  in  great  measure  to  the  large  element  of  lawless  character 
in  the  immigration,  which  at  this  period  caused — according  to  Governor 
Villere — so  prodigious  an  increase  in  the  population.  The  governor  made 
the  matter  the  subject  of  a  special  message,  in  March  of  this  year,  calling 
the  legislature's  attention  to  "  the  disorders  and  crimes  of  which,  during 
nearly  all  last  month,  this  city  has  been  the  theatre ; "  and  strongly  inti- 
nuiting,  if  not  nakedly  asserting,  that  this  lawless  element  was  composed 
in  the  main  "  of  those  men  who,  lately,  under  the  false  pretext  of  serving 
the  cause  of  the  Spanish  patriots,  scoured  the  Gulf  oi  Mexico,  making 
its  waves  groan  under  the  direful  weight  of  their  vessels  fraught  with 
tlcpre<lations,  *  *  *  .^nd  of  foreigners,  whom  the  calamities,  the 
revolutions,  and  the  peace  of  Europe  compel  or  induce  to  emigrate." 

Withni  the  month  an  act  was  passed  and  approved,  establishing  the 
"Criminal  Court  of  the  City  of  New  Orleans." 

The  "  Louisiana  State  Bank,"  the  first  established  since  Louisiana  had 
become  a  State,  was  incorporated  this  year,  capital  two  million  dollars. 
The  State  took  stock  to  the  amount  of  five  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and 
received  a  bonus  of  one  hundred  thousand.  There  were  to  be  five  branches 
at  interior  points.  ' 

In  this  year  Avas  also  organized  the  "  First  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
Congregation  of  the  City  and  Parish  of  New  Orleans."  Not  a  few  of  the 
names  among  the  forty  odd  incorporators  have  become  prominently 
associated  with  the  city's  annals. 

"The  Medical  Society  of  New  Orleans"  organized. 

Frank's  Island,  near  the  Northeast  Pass,  mouth  of  the  Mississippi, 
was  ceded  to  the  United  States  for  the  site  of  a  lighthouse. 

New  Orleans  was  extended  by  pushing  the  upper  boundary  to  the 
lower  limits  of  the  Miss  Macarty  Plantation.  The  annexed  portion  was 
made  the  eighth  ward. 

The  law  relating  to  "  vagabonds  and  suspicious  persons,"  arriving  in 
the  State  from  foreign  countries,  was  made  still  more  stringent,  while  at 
the  same  time  very  humane  and  provident  legislation  was  enacted  for  "  the 
relief  and  protection  of  persons  brought  into  this  State  as  redemptioners," 
immigrants  under  contract  to  service,  or  labor,  for  the  payment  of  their 
passage  money. 

Further  stringent  enactments  were  added  to  the  Penal  Code  this  year. 
The  crime  of  murder  in  the  second  degree  was  expunged  from  the  criminal 
law,  and  that  of  manslaughter  substituted. 

Richard  Claiborne,  its  inventor,  was  granted  the  exclusive  right,  for 
fourteen  years,  of  navigating  or  propelling  boats  on  the  waters  of  the 
State  by  means  of  the  "  hinge,  or  duck-foot  paddle." 


ANNALS  OF   LOUISIANA. 


415 


arms  on 


1S19.  *'  The  citv  is  now  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  most  perfect  security," 
says  Gov.  Villere  in  his  annual  message,  6th  of  January.  The  Criminal 
Court  has  fully  realized  the  ends  for  which  it  was  instituted  :  ''  violators 
of  the  laws,  malefactors  of  every  description,  had  suffered  or  were  under- 
going, the  punishment  due  to  their  crimes" ;  and  while  society  could  thus 
congratulate  itself  on  the  supremacy  of  law,  all  the  pursuits  of  industry 
continued  to  flourish.  Somewhat  of  financial  embarrassment  there  was, 
owing  to  a  spirit  of  hazardous  commercial  speculation.  But  these  were 
features  common  throughout  the  country  at  the  time.  Prosperity,  broad, 
substantial  and  growing,  still  marked  undeniably  the  progress  of 
Louisiana.  Indeed,  these  were  halcyon  da3's  for  the  State,  according  even 
to  executive  testimony.  [See  Gayarre,  Vol.  IV.,  p.  ()36].  In  addition  to  the 
expanding  and  development  of  tier  rich  and  varied  resources,  and  growing 
trade  and  commerce,  to  disorders  and  violence  had  succeeded  (as  above 
noted)  the  reign  of  law,  while  even  "party  spirit,"  says  his  excellency, 
"had  almost  entirely  disappeared,  and  hardly  did  any  remembrance 
remain  of  those  dangerous  ciistinctions  which  had  been  created  by  idle 
prejudice  betweens  citizens  of  foreign  birth." 

In  the  legislation  of  this  year,  we  note :  all  regular  lodges  constituted 
l)j'  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  State  declared  bodies  corporate. 

The  Medical  Society  of  New  Orleans  authorized  to  raise  the  sum  of 
$15,000,  by  lottery,  for  the  purchase  of  a  library,  philosophical  appa- 
ratus, etc. 

Such  parts  of  the  ParthhiK  as  were  held  to  have  the  force  of  law  in  the 
State,  were  ordered  to  be  translated  and  published. 

The  Louisiana  Bank  authorized  to  liquidate  its  affairs  within  two  vears, 
from  March  12,  1820. 

An  annual  appropriation  of  $600  was  voted  each  parish  (except 
Orleans)  for  the  support  of  public  schools,  and  $8,(.XX3,  annually,  to  the 
College  of  New  Orleans.  The  Regents  of  the  latter  were  empowered  to 
raise,  by  lottery,  the  sum  of  $25,000,  in  aid  of  the  institution. 

Stabbing  or  shooting,  with  intent  to  commit  murder,  by  persons  l^'ing 
in  wait,  or  in  the  perpetration  of  arson,  rape  or  burglary,  was  made  pun- 
isliable  with  death. 

The  Board  of  Health  was  abolished,  and  the  governor  authorized  to 
make  proclamation  of  quarantine,  prescribe  regulations  thereof,  etc. 

The  "  Louisiana  State  Insurance  Company,"  capital  five  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  incorporated. 

Benj.  N.  B.  Latrobe  and  associates,  who  had  a  contract  with  the  city, 
wore  made  a  body  corporate,  under  the  name  and  style  of  the  "  New 
Orleans  Water  Company  " — to  continue  only  during  the  existence  of  its 
contract. 

The  most  important  work  projected  this  year,  which  may  be  classed 
under  the  head  of  internal  improvements,  was  that  designed  by  the 
"Orleans  Company,"  of  which  Bernard  Marigny,  P.  Delaroncle,  and  L.  B. 
Macarty,  were  leading  spirits.  It  was  proposed  to  dig  a  "basin  which 
shall  be  situated  on  the  spot  of  the  Marigny's  Canal,  and  shall  communi- 
cate with  the  river  Mississippi,  by  dams  or  any  other  means,  deemed  the 
best  for  that  purpose."  *  *  For  the  site  of  the  basin  ground  was  to  be 
purchased  of  Marigny,  "  on  the  spot  of"  his  canal ;  but  at  what  point  the 
proposed  canal  from  "this  basin  was  to  strike  the  river,  is  not  stated  in 
their  charter.     Conjecture  derives  but  little  aid  from  the  bare  statements 


SI 


■:■'!, 

L      '       '    ', 


:1I  ) 


416 


ANNALS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


that  "  u  solid  jind  suflicicnt  hrirlfijc"  was  to  hooroctod  whorotlu^ranal  and 

river  met,  so  that  tralfic  alonj?  tho  highway  l)y  tho  h'veo  should  not  he 

interrunti'd.     A  "  hridg»>  was  also  to  span  thi;  canal  "  in  front  of  Mortuiu 

street,  and  another  one  in  front  of  (i reatinen  street.  Of  course,  tolls  were  to 

be  inijiosed  ;  and  the  corporation  was  to  have  perpetual  succession.    But 

their  projects 

"  molted  into  iiir,  intn  thin  itir," 
luuving  "  uut  u  rack  buliiml." 

The  city  had  its  usual  yellow  fever  infliction  during  tho  summer  of  this 
year;  and  referring  to  this  annual  scourge,  Mr.  Guyarre  makes  a  «(r/»7' 
declaration  in  behalf  of  the  population  of  the  nnrieii  regime  After  savin<' 
that  a  great  portion  of  her  inhabitants  had  become  reconciled  to  its  ra\-^ 
ages,  from  the  freciuency  of  its  returns,  he  adds  :  "  There  were  even  some 
who  felt  friendly  to  tho  scourge,  as,  in  their  opinion,  it  checked  that  tide 
of  immigration  which,  otherwise,  would  have  speedily  rolled  its  waves 
over  the  old  population,  and  swept  away  all  those  landmarks  in 
legislation,  customs,  language  and  social  habits  to  which  they  were  fondly 
attached. 

"A  Hattering  unction "  from  a  grim  source,  surely ! 

1820.  These  were  still  days  of  pleasantness  and  peace,  of  increasing 
commerce  and  richly  renumerativo  husbandry.  The  financial  system  of 
the  c<mntry  having  emerged  from  its  embarrassments,  the  sinews  of  general 
industry  and  trade  were  again  in  full  and  active  play.  Gov.  Villere,  in 
his  January  message,  says  the  ])opulation  of  the  State  had  trebled.  Tho 
inhabitants  now  numbered  153,407,  of  whom  53,041  were  engaged  in  agri- 
culture, 6,251  in  commerce.  (),041  in  manufactures.  Tho  number  of  slaves 
amounted  to  (>9,0()0.  Bunner,  who  is  our  authority  for  these  figures,  says 
the  population  had  more  than  doubled  in  ten  years. 

Under  the  law  for  the  organization  of  the  militia,  passed  this  year,  the 
Louisiana  Legion  was  projected, 

Alexander  Milne  and  others  were  empowered  to  open  a  turnpike  road 
from  Lake  Pontchartrain  to  the  Mississippi,  the  first  section  to  run  in  as 
direct  a  line  as  practicable  from  the  margm  of  the  lake  to  the  Gentilly 
Road,  and  the  second  section  thence  by  the  most  practicable  route  to  the 
river.     The  franchises  to  continue  twenty-five  years. 

The  late  war  of  invasion  had  impressed  the  public  mind  with  the 
necessity  of  enlarged  and  improved  military  and  maritime  defense.  Gov. 
Villere  was  instructed  by  the  legislature  to  correspond  with  the  President 
of  the  United  States  on  the  subject,  and  to  urge  the  expediencv  of 
completing  the  fortifications  already  commenced  in  this  quarter  of  the 
Union.  His  Excellency  was  also  requested  to  correspond  with  the 
President  on  the  subject  of  running  off  and  making  the  western  and 
northern  boundary  line  of  the  State,  "  to-wit :  the  line  beginning  on  the 
Sabine  river,  atthe  thirty-second  degree  of  north  latitude,  thence  running 
north  to  the  northernmost  part  of  the  thirty-third  degree  of  latitude, 
thez:  c  along  the  same  parallel  of  latitude  to  the  Mississippi  river." 

Up  to  this  period,  the  General  Assembly  met  annually  on  the  first 
Monday  of  January.  At  this  year's  session  the  time  of  assembling  was 
changed  to  the  third  Monday  of  November  of  each  year,  commencing  with 
the  present,  and  the  day  for  the  convening  of  both  Houses  in  joint  session 
for  the  choosing  of  Electors  of  President  and  Vice  President  of  the  United 


ANNALS  OF   LOUISIANA. 


417 


States,  from  the  firHt  Monday  of  Novemhcr  [year  of  Prcsidental  election] 
to  the  lirHt  Monday  foUowing  the  meeting  of  the  (Jenoral  AsHcmhly.  The 
expense  and  trouble  of  a  special  aHscnihling  for  the  choosing  of  Electors 
wore  thus  obviated.  On  the  second  day  of  the  regular  session,  the  General 
Assembly  proceeds  to  the  election  of  governor.  The  election  of  a  chief 
magistrate,  foileral  or  .State,  was  not  in  those  days  submitted  directly  to 
the  pconle.  Salutary  conservative  checks  upon  universal  suffrage 
nrevaileu  un(iuestioneil.  As  yet,  the  demagogue  s  vox  popiili  vox  Dei,  was 
Imt  a  far  off  murmur. 

Trials  b^y  jury  were  granted  to  the  parish  courts  of  St.  Helena  and  Wash- 
iii<jtnn,  this  year. 

Clergymen  were  exempted  from  jury  duty  and  working  on  public  roads. 

It  was  enacted  that  no  petition  for  divorce  be  received  by  the  legislature 
unless  a  separation  of  bed  and  board  be  previously  obtained,  and  that  no 
one  obtaining  a  divorce  be  allowed  to  marry  again  till  the  expiration  of 
a  year. 

The  town  of  Franklin  made  the  seat  of  justice,  St.  Mary  parish. 

The  governor  authorized  to  receive  plans  and  estimates  for  the  erection 
of  a  penitentiary. 

Sickness  would  appear  to  have  prevailed  to  a  ccwisiderable  extent,  at 
this  period,  among  tnose  engaged  in  the  commerce  of  the  river,  the  chief 
sufferers  being  the  unacclimatized  from  the  west.  It  was  proposed  to 
establish  hospitals  for  the  relief  of  such  persons,  one  to  be  situated  at 
Bat(m  Rouge,  one  at  Covington,  and  one  at  some  point  on  Red  river,  and 
to  the  carrying  out  of  the  design,  the  governor  was  instructed  to  enter 
into  correspondence  with  the  Executives  of  the  Western  States  and  Terri- 
tories, inviting  their  co-operation  in  the  establishing  and  support  of  such 
uistitutions. 

Monroe,  Ouachita  parish,  incorporated. 

Persons  duly  qualified,  could  be  admitted  to  practice  by  the  Medical 
Board  of  the  Eastern  District.  Hitherto,  the  strange  ceremony  of  an 
examination  before  the  Mayor  and  two  aldermen  of  the  City  of  New 
Orleans,  was  required  by  law  of  the  State. 

Parish  judges  empowered  to  celebrate  marriages. 

The  Physico-Medical  Society,  of  New  Orleans,  incorporated.  Object — 
the  discussion  of  subjects  relating  to  medicine  and  natural  philosophy. 
Among  the  founders  was  Dr.  W.  N.  Mercer. 

One  W.  H.  Robertson  obtained  at  this  time  the  exclusive  privilege  of 
supplying  New  Orleans  with  live  fish.  They  were  brought  to  market  in 
"smacks,  smackers  and  carrs,"  and  the  monopolist  was  bound  to  have 
never  less  than  sixty  tons  of  such  craft  in  the  business. 

A  separate  retreat  for  the  insane  was  ordered  erected  in  connection  ^jith  ttr 
the  new  buildings  for  the  Charity  Hospital.  *^ 

The  law  empowering  the  Mayor  and  City  Council  of  New  Orleans  to 
fix  the  wages  for  day  laborers,  repealed. 

P.  Derbigny  and  associates  establish  a  steam  ferry  between  New  Orleans 
and  the  opposite  bank. 

From  this  time  forward,  all  proceedings  in  Courts  of  Probate,  and  the 
records  thereof,  were  to  be  kept  in  the  English  language. 

A  New  Orleans  recorder,  was  required  to  possess  real  estate  in  the  city 
to  the  amount  of  $3,000. 
Property  qualifications  were  also  required  of  the  Mayor  and  aldermen.    . 


111 


;    !ii' 


418 


ANNALS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


Thnnins  R.  IJoltcrtson  was  eU'ctod  Huccopsor  of  Clovornor  Vilh-n'.  attlie 
NovM'mlu'r  Hcsnion  of  tlic  legiHlature.  He  hud  hcfn  for  Hovcral  years  u 
rcpreHfiitutive  in  CongrcsH.  The  new  executive,  in  liiH  firHt  inVssiip' 
congratulated  the  State  upon  itn  condition  and  proHpeetn,  hut  complaiiuil 
of  the  (reneral  (iovernnient'H  failure  to  open  up  the  puhlie  doiiijiin  to 
Hettlenient,  an  had  heen  done  in  "  other  frontier  Stntew  of  the  Uuioji." 
Another  (jueHtion,  nmeh  agitated  at  the  time,  was  eoawt  defenHc.  This, 
as  well  as  the  admission  of  Missouri,  and  th(!  slavery  agitation,  in 
connection  tlierewith,  were  also  dwelt  upon  in  the  inaugural. 

18'21,  The  commerce  of  New  Orleans,  continuing  to  grow,  it  hpoanie 
necessary  to  <letine  clearly  the  limits  of  the  port.  Jt  was  declared  to 
extend  along  the  left  hank,  or  (^ity  front,  from  the  lower  limit  of  lining 
Declouet,  to  the  lower  limit  of  Rousseau's  plantation,  and  on  tin;  rigiit 
hank,  from  the  upper  limit  of  John  McDonogh's  plantation,  to  the  lower 
limit  of  the  Duverje  plantation. 

Ahout  this  time,  also,  further  evidence  of  the  aspiring  character  of  the 
city  were  shown  in  prohibiting  the  reconstruction  of  wooden  buildings 
within  certain  limits. 

In  connection,  it  i*  of  interest  to  note  that  the  city  government  was 
ennunvered  to  sell  its  landed  property,  [/.  r.,  land  within  its  corporate 
limits]  on  the  terms  of  perpetual  ground  rent.  Redemption  of  the  rent, 
by  payment  of  the  capital,  was  expressly  prohibited. 

Law-breakers,  and  evil-doers  generally,  in  city  and  suburbs,  having 
been  made  to  feel  that  society  would  ])rotect  itself  by  strict  and  swift 
enforcement  of  its  laws,  the  business  of  the  Criminal  Court  no  longer 
required  the  services  of  three  judges.  The  number  was  reduced  to  one; 
and  this  tribunal  was  made  the  Criminal  Court  of  the  First  District. 

A  "Code  of  Public  Health"  was  enacted  this  year.  It  provided  for  a 
Board  of  Health,  and  defined  at  much  length  the  duties  of  such  body  as 
to  quarantine,  hospitals,  indigent  sick,  [particularly  strangers,]  and  tlie 
sanitary  condition  of  the  metropolis  and  suburbs  generally.  The  enact- 
ment is  lengthy  and  elaborate,  divided  into  five  chapters,  embracing 
fifty-eight  articles.  Nominees  of  the  governor  and  five  aldermen,  consti- 
tuted the  Board.     No  salary. 

Subsequently,  the  City  Council  was  empowered  to  have  the  indigent 
sick,  found  in  boarding-houses,  or  aboard  any  water  craft,  conveyed  to  the 
Charity  Hospital. 

The  law  oi  libel  was  materially  amended. 

Hitherto,  the  ruling  was,  "  the  greater  the  truth,  the  greater  the  libel." 
It  was  now  enacted,  that  in  any  civil  suit  for  slander,  etc.,  the  defendant 
might  plead  the  truth  of  defamatory  words  or  publication, 

Furtner  efforts  to  extend  and  improve  the  public  school  system  were 
made  this  year.  The  parish  schools  were  withdrawn  from  the  superin- 
tendance  of  the  police  juries,  and  placed  in  control  of  five  trustees  in  each 
parish,  to  be  appointed  annually  uv  said  juries,  and  the  annual  appro- 
priation for  each  parish  was  raised  iVom  six  to  eight  hundred  dollars.  In 
addition  to  this  sum,  the  police  juries  might,  in  their  discretion,  levy  a 
tax  on  land  and  slaves  to  tne  amount  of  one  thousand  dollars,  for  i)ublic 
school  purposes.  Parishes  in  which  there  was  no  public  school  building 
and  which  had  received  no  appropriation  for  sucn  object,  were  entitled 
each  to  eight  hundred  dollars  from  the  State,  for  the  erection  of  public 


n'.  at  t  lie 
I  yours  ii  i 
tiu'ssajrc, 
iH>lain«'«l 
:)niain  to 
Unitin." 
ic.  This, 
iition,  in 

t  l)ccniiie 
elarcd  to 
of  lioiir^; 

thu  lower 

iter  of  the 
bviildin^'s 

mont  was 

corporate 

f  the  rent, 

h»,  having 
and  swift 
no  iont?('r 
ed  to  one ; 
strict, 
idod  for  ii 
h  body  as 
1  and  tlie 
'he  cnact- 
nibracinj!; 
len,  consti- 

indipent 
eyed  to  the 

the  libel." 
defendant 

:etcni  were 
^e  superin- 
X'S  in  each 
[iial  appro- 
bllars.  In 
lion,  levy  a 
for  public 
pi  building 
t^e  entitled 
of  public 


ANNALS   OF   I.Ol'IHFANA. 


419 


Kchoolhousos.  An  additional  sum  of  one  thounand  dollarH  want  voted  to 
the  Univttrsity  of  Orleans,  nuikin);;  the  annual  appropriation  five  thousand 
(iollars.  The  Uo^ents  of  the  University  were  replaced  by  a  Itoard  of 
Administrators,  appointed  by  the  governor.  Here  is  a  provision  worth 
resurrecting:  "the  trustees  shall  admit  in  the  school,  or  schools,  of  thoir 
respective  parishes,  eight  day  scholars,  taken  from  those  families  who  are 
iiidigKMit,  which  day  selxdars  shall  be  apportioned  in  thu  difl'erent  schools 
liv  the  said  trustees,  and  shall  receive  instruoti«»n  gratis,  and  be,  moreover, 
t'urniished  with  classical  books,  (juills  and  paper,  at  the  cost  of  said  school 
iir  schools."  It  is  evident  the  general  asseml)Iy  had  no  "  Connnittee  on 
Style,"  nor  as  yet  entertained  the  idea  of  "  I'ublic  Free  Schools."  Then, 
till),  this  ((uaint  phrase(dogy  of  "(dassical  books,"  taken  in  such  question- 
able connection  is  worth  noting,  while  ''quilU"  seem  the  echo  of  HOund 
from  out  the  remote  past. 

A  census  of  the  electors  of  the  State,  to  be  taken  by  the  assessors  of 
cich  parish,  was  ordered  tak(^n  this  year. 

How  to  deal  with  gambling  has  always  been  a  vexed  problem  with  the 
!iuth(»rities  of  New  Chileans.  Licensing  and  total  suppression  have  each 
ill  turn  been  tried,  but  with  results  in  either  case  equally  disheartening  to 
the  moralist.  The  legislatures  of  those  years  resorted  to  both  repressive 
iiiul  tolerant  enactments,  but  still,  ganA)ling,  like  the  "  problem  of  the 
existence  of  evil,"  continued  to  mock  solution.  The  law  of  1811,  which 
forbade  gambling  throughout  the  State,  under  severe  penalties,  was  so  far 
amended  in  1814,  as  to  permit  the  licensing  of  gaming  houses  in  New  Orleans 
iiud  with  the  inevitable  results.  So  rank  and  widespread  became  the 
ilenioralization,  notwithstanding  municipal  regulations,  that  the  prohib- 
itory statute,  with  all  its  pains  and  penalties,  was  re-enaeted  this  year  for 
the  benefit  of  the  city.  Municipal  control,  regulations,  inspection,  not 
merely  failed  to  repress  the  evil,  "  but  on  the  contrary,"  says  the  preamble 
of  the  act,  "  have  encouraged  this  most  alarming  vice  under  the  sanction 
of  law." 

The  first  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  the  Mechanic  Society,  of 
New  Orleans,  were  organized  and  incorporated.  Several  old  familiar 
names  figure  in  the  list  of  incorporators  of  both  bodies. 

Opelousas,  St.  Landry  Parish,  incorporated,  and  Franklin  made  the 
sent  of  justice  for  Washmgton  Parish. 

The  penal  code  of  this  period  dealt  vigorously  with  certain  crimes  and 
misdemeanors.  Wanton  or  malicious  killing  of  a  horse,  mule,  cow,  etc., 
or  even  of  a  dog,  was  punishable  by  a  fine  within  the  amount  of  two 
hundred  dollars,  or  by  imprisonment,  not  to  exceed  six  months,  with 
damages  to  the  amount  of  the  value  of  the  animal  and  costs  of  court. 
Mere  cruelty  to  such  animals  was  punished  proportionately. 

Embezzling,  or  any  other  unlawful  diverting  of  the  funds  of  a  bank 
by  the  president,  or  other  officer  of  such  institution,  was  punishable  by 
imprisonment  at  hard  labor  for  a  term  of  one  to  seven  years. 

Provision  was  made  at  this  session  of  the  General  Assembly  for  a 
codification  "of  criminal  laws  in  both  the  French  and  English  language?  " 

1822.  The  State  continued  on  her  prosperous  career,  blessed  also  with 
"domestic  tranquillity,"  wherever  throughout  her  borders  there  was 
organized  society.  The  lawless  element  had  been  put  down,  and,  as  we 
have  seen  in  the  reorganization  of  the  Criminal  Court  of  New  Orleans, 


t 
t' 

'ft 
■A 


■•M  !  il 


420 


ANNAL8  OF   I.OflBIANA. 


ptern  juBtice  could  reduce  her  forces  and  enioy  ncoiiipiirative  degree  df 
repoHe.  The  diHtrihutiou  of  the  public  hiiuiH  within  the  Htiite,  and  her 
nmritiine  defenne,  were  the  main  public  queHtionn. 

Ah  to  the  public  lands,  it  was  complained  that  the  Federal  K<*vernnuiit 
had  not  done  as  liberally  by  Louisiana  as  by  the  WcHtern  States;  and  in 
regard  to  nuiritime  defense,  the  governor  in  his  annual  message  deelnri^d  his 
inability  "to  perceive  the  wisdom  of  that  policy  which  had  sent  our  navnl 
force  to  Africa,  whilst  our  own  (;(>asts,  particularly  those  of  the  (iulf  ol' 
Mexico,  had  been  permitted  for  years  to  exhibit  scenes  of  blood  and 
ranine,  unequaled  in  atrocity  in  the  annals  of  the  world." 

The  "great  national  road*'  from  Nashville,  Tenn.,  to  Madisonville,  T.n. 
undertaken  by  the  general  government,  was,  so  far  as  it  extended  within 
her  territory,  the  ooject  of  much  care  on  the  i)art  of  the  State.  TliJH 
highway  ran  through  St.  Tammany  and  Washington  parishes,  and  was 
required  to  be  kept  in  repair  by  the  inhabitants  living  within  five  miles  of 
each  side  of  the  road.  ♦ 

Meantime,  the  senators  and  representatives  in  congress  were  formnlly 
invited  by  the  legislature  to  urge  upon  the  general  governnjent  the  i)ratti- 
cability  and  expediency  of  a  new  and  shorter  mail  route  between  Now 
Orleans  and  Washington  City  than  was  then  traversed.  The  committee 
of  the  legislature  to  whom  the  subject  was  referred,  sketched  a  route  by 
which  it  was  thought  the  time  between  the  two  cities  could  be  reduced  to 
twelve  days  !  How  marvellous  is  our  progress  in  annihilating  time  and 
space  !    I)o  we  appreciate? 

A  revision  of  tne  civil  code  was  ordered,  together  with  a  complete 
system  of  commercial  laws.  Edward  Livingston's  report  on  a  code  of 
criminal  law  was  accepted  by  the  legislature,  and  the  great  iurisconsiilt 
was  authorized  to  proceed  with  the  plan  of  codification  outlined  in  hi« 
report. 

The  authorized  translation  of  the  Partulas,  or  rather  of  such  portions 
as  had  the  force  of  law  in  the  State,  appearecl  this  vear. 

By  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  the  State  was  divided  into  three  con- 
gressional districts.  The  first  *  comprised  "  the  counties  of  Orleans, 
German  Coast,  Acadie,  and  Lafourche ;  the  second,  the  counties  of 
Iberville,  Pointe  Coupee,  and  Feliciana ;  the  counties  of  Attaknpas, 
Opelousas,  Rapides,  Natchitoches,  Ouachita,  and  Concordia,"  compoged 
the  third  congressional  district. 

Members  of  the  legislature  acting  as  Presidential  electors  were  prohib- 
ited from  receiving  any  compensation. 

The  Eighth  Judicial  District,  composed  of  the  Parishes  of  Washington, 
St.  Helena,  and  St.  Tammany,  established. 

Appropriations  to  the  amount  of  $7,000  were  made  for  the  improvement 
of  navigation  in  the  Pearl  and  Red  rivers.  And  in  connection,  it  should 
be  noted,  that  charters  were  all  but  annually  granted  to  companies  or 
individuals  for  the  improvement  of  the  interior  water-courses. 

New  Orleans  was  authorized  by  legislative  act  to  create  a  public  fund 
or  stock  to  the  amount  of  $300,000. 

The  sum  to  be  raised  was  to  be  expended  exclusively  in  "  paving  and 
watering  the  city." 

'Bnnner  erroneously  supposes — so  asserts,  indeed — that  this  great  national  road  wa« 
constructed  in  part,  at  least,  by  the  State.  She  simply  provided  fur  keeping  it  in  repitir 
within  her  borders. 


ANNALS  OP   LOUISIANA. 


481 


Tho  "  liOuiHiiinii  Bank  "  wuh  further  allowed  to  March,  1823,  to  coiTiplote 
itK  liquidation. 

An  appropriation  of  $1(XX)  waH  nmdo  for  tho  purchaHo  and  distrihu- 
lion  of  ^'  'uiino  vaccine  mutter  throughout  the  State. 

By  act  of  the  IcgiHlature,  a  renidence  of  une  y«;ar  on  the  part  of  a 
lianKru|)t  wuh  na  longer  reiiuircd  to  entitle  him  to  the  henefit  of  tho 

ill8<»lV('Ilt  luWS  of  tlic  ^^*  itc. 

Th'' v«)lunt«'er  pjimpuiiii'H  of  New  Orleans  were  formed  into  one  corps, 
under  llif  title  of  (he  Louisiana  Legion,  and  nuidc  the  first  brigad(>  of  the 
State  niihnj)  It  was  compopsfid  of  infantry,  cavalry,  artillery  and  ritiemen, 
luul  admitte(i  to  l»o  tme  of  the  tUia^f  bodies  of  volunteer  scddiery  of  tho 
country. 

It  is  noteworthy  that  fmos  incurred  hy  the  militia  were  collcctil'lf  hy 
IJR' Sheriff  of  each  parish.  Militining  in  those  days  seems  to  have  been 
something  more  than  mere  playing  at  soldier. 

The  apportionment  of  this  year  gave  to  the  House  of  Ueprcscntativea 
forty-six  members.  The  "  county  of  Orleune  "  elected  nine,  and  the 
county  of  Feliciana,  ten. 

The  parish  of  Terrebonne  created  out  of  the  county  of  Lafourche. 

A  large  number  of  the  leading  ladies  of  New  Orleans — American  and 
French — united  in  establishing  the  "Female  Charity  Society,"  [chartered  J 
for  the  purpose  of  relieving  the  sick  and  destitute  of  the  city. 

The  raising  of  money  by  a  lottery  was  a  popular  expedient  in  those 
(lays.  The  legislature  was  no  niggard  in  granting  the  privilege  to  its  own 
constituents,  but  required  lottery  agencies  from  other  States  to  pay  an 
annual  license  tax  of  $50,000. 

A  lottery  was  authorized  to  raise  funds  for  the  improvement  of  B«you 
Lafourche;  and  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  New  Orleans  had 
recourse  to  the  same  expedient  to  relieve  itself  of  a  debt  of  $.'10,000. 

This  vear,  the  parish  of  Orleans  was  incorporated.  In  the  language  of  the 
legislative  act :  "That  the  free  white  inhabitants  of  the  parish  of  St. 
Louis,  of  Orleans,  bu,  and  are  hereby  formed  an<l  constituted  a  body,  civil 
iind  politic,  styled,  'The  inhabitants  of  the  parish  of  Orleans.'  " 

18:^3,  This  year  is  memorable  for  the  extraordinary  cold  weather  which 
set  in  about  the  middle  of  February. 

To  unusually  warm  weather,  there  succeeded  on  February  16,  a  frost  of 
juch  severity,  that, "  the  river  at  New  Orleans,  was  partially  frozen  over,  and 
people  skated  on  the  marshes."  *  •  "  Several  watermen  perished  with 
cold  in  their  boats,  also  negroes  in  their  cabins,  and  animals  were  found 
dead  in  the  woods."    All  the  orange  trees  are  said  to  have  perished. 

The  disposal  of  the  government  lands  was  again  a  prominent  topic  in 
Gov.  Robertson's  message. 

It  being  understood  that  the  garrison  of  regulars  at  Baton  Rouge 
were  to  be  removed  from  the  State,  the  General  Assembly  requested  the 
congressional  delegation  "  to  be  unceasingly  urgent  with  the  Executive 
of  the  United  States,  in  remonstrating  and  protesting  against "  the  meas- 
ure. The  governor,  too,  in  official  correspondence  with  the  President, 
pressed  the  need  for  the  presence  of  troops  within  the  State.  The  great 
importance  of  the  coast  defense  was  likewise  urged  both  by  the  legislature 
and  governor. 

The  old  problem  of  the  gambling  evil  came  again  before  the  legislature, 


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422 


ANNALS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


and  once  more  tlicre  was  a  change  of  front.  Six  gaming  houses  wero 
allowed  to  be  licens^ed  in  New  Orleans  and  suburbs,  on  payment,  each,  of 
a  State  tax  of  .$5,(X)().  The  Charity  Hospital  and  College  of  New  Orleans 
were  to  be  the  l)eneficiaries. 

The  parish  of  Lafayette  formed  from  the  county  of  Attakapas. 

"The  New  Orleans  Steam  Ferry  Company  "  was  relieved  of  the 
obligation  of  using  steam,  and  were  permitted  instead  to  employ  horw- 
power.  Tedious,  and  rather  hazardous  navigation,  and  which,  now-a- 
days,  would  attract  an  immense  throng  of  spectators. 

The  town  of  Donaldson  [laid  off  by  Wm.  Donaldson]  was  incor- 
porated. 

The  charter  of  the  Bank  of  Orleans,  wliich  would  expire  in  1826,  wan 
extended  to  1847,  the  bank  paying  the  State  a  bonus  of  $25,(K)0. 

Commissions  for  the  survey  of  rivers  and  bayous,  for  established  or 
projected  roads  and  canals,  were  appointed  by  the  legislature. 

1S24.  Perhaps  the  most  noticeable  event  of  this  year,  was  the  creation 
of  the  Bank  of  Louisiana,  with  a  capital  of  |4,(XXi,000,  the  State  boinj; 
shareholder  to  the  extent  of  one-half.  Agriculture,  commerce  and  trade 
generally,  yielded  rich  returns,  and  further  stimulated  a  questionai)lo 
sjjirit  of  commercial  adventure.  Capital  was  in  demand,  and  the  Bank 
of  Louisiana  was  ready  to  discount. 

Sound,  conservative  financiering  could  not  sanction  the  creation  of  such 
an  institution,  at  least  under  the  circumstances  of  the  day ;  much  less 
decree  its  chartered  existence  to  the  year  1870. 

The  continued  failure  of  the  general  government  to  pursue  the  same 
policy  with  regard  to  the  i)ublic  lands  of  Louisiana,  as  it  had  done  and 
was  now  doing  in  other  States,  was  once  more  brought  to  the  attention  of 
the  legisiiuure,  by  the  governor  in  his  annual  message. 

The  Revised  Civil  Code,  and  the  new  Code  of  Practice,  in  connection 
therewith,  were  promulgated  this  year.  An  act  of  the  legislature  appro- 
I)riates  compensation  to  "three  jurisconsults,"  for  their  services  in 
]iroparing  these  Codes,  and  the  Criminal  Code.  But  history  recognizes 
Edward  Livingston's  as  the  master  mind  in  this  work  of  codification. 

"  Louisiana,"  says  Bunner,  "  is  also  indebted  for  her  Penal  Cod  ;  to  the 
learning  and  persevering  industry  of  this  gentleman.  After  having  nearly 
completed  this  arduous  work,  it  was  destroyed  by  fire,  but  the  next  day 
he  was  seen  again  at  his  labors,  and  by  untiring  application  he  completed 
his  task  in  an  incredibly  short  space  of  time."  The  legislature  extended 
the  time  to  January,  1826.* 

The  Alexandria  Library  Society  incorporated. 

County  of  Feliciana  formed  into  the  parishes  of  East  and  West 
Feliciana. 

About  the  usual  number  of  lotteries  were  sanctioned  this  year. 

The  Hibernian  Society,  of  New  Orleans,  incorporated — its  revenues  to 


•Banner  makes  the  impression  that  the  "Penal  (or  Criminal)  Code,"  projected  bv 
Livingston,  was  finally  adopted.  Neither  the  Commcfrcial  Code  nor  the  Criminal  wero  ever 
enacttul.  The  latter  encountered  increasing  opposition,  and  with  its  adjnnct,  the  Code  of 
Criminal  Procedure  and  Prison  Discipline,  it  was  laid  to  rest.  Notable  among  the  means 
of  defeat  were  Judge  Seth  Lewis'  masterly  expositions,  vindicating  the  prevailing  common  law 
system,  and  showing  the  evils  of  change."  The  first  argument,  sixty-five  pages,  was  publislied 
in  1825;  and  the  second,  one  hundred  and  forty-two  pages,  on  a  renewal  of  the  codifying 
attempt,  in  1831. 


East  and  West 


ANNALS  OP  LOUISIANA. 


428 


be  applied  exclusively  to  charitable  purposes.  Among  the  incorporators 
were  G.  W.  White,  N.  J.  Dick,  T.  Mellon,  H.  K.  Gordon,  J.  Dumoulin,etc. 

A  Free  Library  Society  was  formed  in  New  Orleans,  under  the  auspices 
of  Ex-Governor  Robertson,  J.  A.  Maybin,  Alfred  Hennen,  Beverly  Chew, 
Tlieo.  Clapp,etc.,  "  forthe  purpose  of  extending  knowledge  and  promoting 
virtue  among  the  inhabitants  of  that  city."  As  it  was  understood  that 
the  philanthropic  Judah  Touro  would  provide  a  suitable  building,  in  the 
act  of  incorporation,  the  name  of  it  was  changed  to  the  "  Touro  Free 
Library  of  New  Orleans." 

Vermillionville,  Lafayette  parish,  laid  off  by  Jean  Mouton,  Sr. 

(lovernor  Robertson  did  not  remain  in  office  to  the  close  of  his  term. 
Having  been  tendered,  by  President  Monroe,  the  position  of  Judge  of  the 
U.  S.  i)istrict  Court,  for  the  District  of  Louisiana,  he  resigned  a  few 
weeks  before  its  expiration ;  and  President  Thibodaux,  of  the  senate, 
liecame  acting  governor.  Henry  Johnson,  the  new  governor,  was  inaug- 
urated in  December.  He  had  been  United  States  Senator  for  a  number 
of  years.  "  In  his  inaugural  address,"  says  Gayarre,  "  he  recommended 
to  the  heterogeneous  population  of  Ijouisiana,  the  observance  of  a  spirit 
of  concord  and  good  will,  which  could  hardly  be  supposed  to  jjrevail, 
without  interruption,  among  the  discordant  elements  which  composed  it." 

1825.  The  illustrious  Lafayette  honored  New  Orleans  with  a  visit 
early  in  this  year,  to  the  delight,  as  was  apparent,  of  all  classes  of  its 
'heterogeneous  population."  He  landed  on  the  battle-field  of  Chalmette, 
and,  as  witnesses  testify,  was  conducted  in  triumph  to  the  city.  The  State 
voted  the  handsome  sum  of  $15,(X)0,  to  give  to  its  distinguished  guest  such 
a  reception  as  would  "be  worthy  of  the  patriotic  warrior  whom  the 
American  people  delight  to  honor." 

A  law  was  enacted  prohibiting  aliens  from  holding  any  office,  civil  or 
military,  within  the  State. 

The  bridging  of  Red  river  at  Alexandria  authorized. 

The  "  City  C'ourt  of  New  Orleans  "  organized,  composed  of  one  presiding 
aiul  four  associate  judges.  It  absorbed  the  t)fhces  of  Justices  of  Peace,  but 
in  the  act  creating  the  court,  the  Mayor,  Recorder  and  Aldermen,  were 
autliorized  to  exercise  such  functions. 

Tlie  opening  of  a  public  road  from  Vidalia  to  Harrisonburgh  ordered. 

The  "  College  of  Louisiana,"  a  State  institution,  to  be  established  at 
Jackson,  East  Feliciana,  was  authorizcid  by  acts  approved  February  18,  this 
year.  It  was  to  be  supported  by  the  public  school  funds  of  East  and  West 
Feliciana,  and  by  the  annual  appropriation  of  $5,000,  heretofore  voted  the 
College  of  Orleans.  The  latter  was  left  to  depend  upon  a  certain 
proportion  of  the  tax  derived  from  the  gambling  houses  of  New  Orleans. 

A  company  was  incorporated  for  the  opening  of  a  turnpike  road, 
"beginning  at  Canal  street,  in  the  City  of  New  Orleans,  below  the  line  of 
Rampart  street,  and  proceeding  in  a  dire(!t  line,  as  near  as  practicable, 
;ieross  the  head  waters  of  the  Bayou  St.  John,  until  it  strikes  the  Missis- 
sippi, above  the  city."  The  franchises  were  to  be  held  through  fifty  years 
from  the  opening  of  the  road.  John  Hagan,  Richard  Clague,  David 
Unpihartand  Stephen  Henderson,  were  among  the  incorporators. 

The  act  of  1821,  with  its  elaborate  Code  of  Public  Health,  was  repealed 
this  year,  and  the  rights  and  duties  of  a  Board  of  Health  conferred  upon 
the  City  Council  of  New  Orleans.  Quarantine  and  gambling  appeared 
to  be  insoluble  problems  with  the  General  Assembly. 


fl 


424 


ANNALS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


The   Louisiana  State   Bank   authorized  to   discontinue  its  branches 
excepting  that  at  St.  Martinsville. 

A  memorial  to  Congress  was  adopted  by  the  legislature,  urging  the 
construction  of  a  canal  direct  from  Lake  Pontchartain  to  the  Mississippi 
river. 

The  "  Mississippi  Marine  and  Fire  Insurance  Company,"  capital 
$300,000,  established  in  New  Orleans.  Bank  of  Louisiana  was  authorized 
to  hold  stock  to  the  amount  of  $50,000. 

A  law  of  this  year  declared  every  individual  convicted  of  bribery, 
perjury,  forgery  or  other  high  crimes,  ineligible  to  office  of  trust  and 
profit,  and  incapable  of  exercising  the  rights  of  suffrage. 

Parish  of  Jefllerson  formed  from  parish  of  Orleans. 

The  General  Assembly,  by  resolution,  requested  of  the  general  govern- 
ment the  cession  of  a  lot  of  ground  in  New  Orleans,  within  the  area 
bounded  by  Common,  Canal,  Tchoupitoulas  and  Magazine  streets,  as  the 
site  of  a  banking  house  and  exchange  for  the  Bank  of  Louisiana,  on 
condition  that  a  portion  of  the  building  be  appropriated  to  the  Post 
Office. 

President  Monroe's  term  of  office,  now  nearing  its  close,  the  same  body 
adopted  joint  resolutions,  expressing  in  earnest  language  Louisiana's 
warm  appreciation  of  his  ofnciial  and  personal  character,  as  well  as 
grateful  recollection  of  his  services  in  securing  the  State  to  the  Union. 

By  act  approved  February  of  this  year,  the  seat  of  government  was  to 
be  transferred  from  New  Orleans  to  Donaldsonville,  from  and  after  the 
first  of  December,  1825. 

1826.  The  slavery  agitation  was  a  growing  and  irritant  issue. 
Governor  Johnson  devotes  a  portion  of  his  January  message  to  this 
subject,  in  laying  before  the  legislature  officially  communicated  decla- 
rations of  this  character. 

Disorders  and  depredations  on  the  frontier,  along  the  Sabine,  owing 
in  part  to  "  our  proximity  to  the  province  of  Texas,  and  the  peculiar 
situation  of  that  country,"  were  also  dwelt  upon,  and  earnestly  pressed 
upon  the  attention  of  legislators. 

The  legislature  politely  non-concurred  in  the  Ohio  resolution  regarding 
emancipation  of  slaves ;  but  concurred  in  the  amendment  to  the  consti- 
tution of  the  United  States,  proposed  by  Georgia,  respecting  the  impor- 
tation of  slaves.  The  amendment  provided :  "  That  no  part  of  the 
constitution  of  the  United  States  ought  to  be  construed,  or  shall  be 
construed,  to  authorize  the  importation,  or  ingress,  of  any  person  of  color 
into  any  one  of  the  United  States,  contrary  to  the  laws  of  such  State." 

At  the  same  session,  an  act  was  passed  prohibiting,  after  the  first  day 
of  June,  of  this  year,  the  bringing  of  any  slave  into  the  State  merely  for 
the  purpose  of  sale.  Immigrants  and  bona  fide  citizens  might  introduce 
slaves  for  their  own  service,  but  could  not  sell  or  exchange  them  within 
two  years  after  their  introduction.  According  to  the  apportionment  of 
this  year,  under  the  fourth  constitutional  census,  the  House  of  Represen- 
tatives consisted  of —  members  .The  countv  of  Orleans  was  entitled  to  ten 
representatives,  of  which  the  parish  and  city  of  Orleans  had  seven,  and 
the  parishes  of  Plaquemines,  St.  Bernard  and  Jefferson,  one  each.  The 
county  of  the  German  Coast,  comprising  the  parishes  of  St.  Charles  and 
St.  John  Baptist,  had  two ;  and  the  county  of  Feliciana,  embracing  the 


ANNALS   OF   LOUISIANA. 


425 


iiarishes  of  East  and  West  Feliciana,  East  Baton  Rouge,  Washington,  St. 
Helena  and  St.  Tammany,  sent  ten  members,  thus  ranking  with  the 
county  of  Orleans  in  the  matter  of  representation. 

The  closing  of  Bayou  Manchac  was  authorized,  and  a  Board  of  Internal 
Improvements  created,  consisting  of  five  unsalaried  members — elected 
annually — with  the  governor  as  ex-officio  president. 

Gentlemen  of  the  long  robe,  or  rather  the  unworthy  among  them,  were 
tlie  objects  of  decidedly  minatory  attention  on  the  part  of  the  legislature 
this  session.  It  was  enacted  that  an  attorney  neglecting  or  refusing — 
without  any  legal  ground — to  pay  to  his  client  money  collected  on  the 
latter's  account,  should,  upon  conviction,  have  his  license  cancelled,  and 
his  name  stricken  from  the  roll ;  and  that  no  lawyer  be  entitled  to  relief 
under  the  insolvent  debtor  laws  for  any  sum  collected  in  the  capacity 
aforesaid. 

The  New  Orleans  Steam  Tow-Boat,  and  the  Balize  Steamboat 
Companies,  were  organized.  The  latter  was  also  a  tow-boat  enterprise, 
running  on  the  Mississippi. 

The  board  of  trustees  of  the  College  of  Louisiana,  at  Jackson,  were 
invested  with  police  authority  over  the  town  in  the  interest  of  the 
scholastic  discipline  and  good  morals. 

Two  primary  schools  and  one  central  were  established  in  New  Orleans, 
and  the  College  of  Orleans  discontinued.  The  State  support  of  the  latter 
was  now  voted  to  the  schools ;  and  an  unlimited  issue  of  gambling  licenses 
by  the  State  Treasurer  was  decreed  in  order  to  raise  a  fund  for  the 
support  [in  part]  of  the  Charity  Hospital,  Orphan  Asylums,  the  College 
of  Louisiana  and  these  newly  foundea  city  schools.  The  latter  were  under 
the  management  of  a  Board  of  Regents,  who  organized  the  plan  of  educa- 
tion and  system  of  administration,  or  delegated  the  necessary  authority 
to  a  director  elected  by  them.  Reading,  writing  and  arithmetic,  with  the 
elements  of  French  and  English  grammar,  were  taught  in  the  primary 
schools.  The  Central  was  entrusted  to  Professors  of  French,  English  and 
Latin  languages,  mathematics,  literature,  etc. 

It  was  provided  that  at  least  fifty  children  of  the  poorer  classes  should 
be  admitted  "  in  each  of  those  schools  "  free  of  charge,  but  would  not  be 
received  if  under  seven  or  over  fourteen  years  of  age. 

Another  source  of  revenue  for  the  schools  was  the  tax  on  the  two 
theatres  of  the  city,  which  amounted  to  $3,000 — fifteen  hundred  dollars 
for  each  license.  Mr.  Caldwell,  the  pioneer  of  theatrical  entertainments 
in  the  American  quarter,  was  the  proprietor  of  the  theatre  in  fauxbourg 
St.  Mary — as  this  quarter  was  then  officially  known — the  building  being 
the  recently  demolished  Armory  Hall.  The  other  was  the  old  Orleans 
Theatre,  then  under  the  management  of  Mr.  Davis.  In  the  imposition  of 
the  license  tax,  the  law-makers  solemnly  declare  that  the  object  is  not 
alone  an  increase  of  the  school  fund,  but  "  at  the  same  time  to  encourage 
two  public  establishments,  alike  useful  and  ornamental,  in  this  city." 

Few  Louisianians  need  to  be  told  what  coco  or  nut  grass  is.  Mjuiy  and 
many  a  broad  field  have  our  planters  been  forced  to  abandon  to  the 
indestructible  pest.  One  Francisco  Mow  represented  to  the  legislature 
that  he  "  had  discovered  an  effectual  means  of  destroying  the  plant  known 
by  the  name  of  grass  nut,"  [coco  Amer.]  and  asked  that  an  act  be  passed 
authorizing  him  to  charge  certain  sums  for  the  use  of  his  metnod  of 
destruction.    The  legislature  appointed  a  commission  to  report  upon  the 


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426 


ANNALS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


alleged  "  effectual  means,"  as  well  as  Mow's  claims  as  the  discoverer. 
Two  years  were  allowed  the  commissioners  within  which  to  report. 
Whether  they  reported  or  not,  we  are  unable  to  say,  but  bon  gre^  vml  nre 
Mow,  coco  flourishes. 

Even  before  this  early  period,  mechanical  invention  had  done  much  to 
advance  the  interests  of  the  cotton  })roducer.  Whitney  had  given  him  the 
gin,  but  a  good  press  was  as  yet  a  desideratum.  L.  A.  Verniville  was  the 
inventor  of  the  "  Lafayette  Cotton  Press,"  of  those  days,  which  would 
seem  to  have  possessed  some  good  points,  for  the  legislature  protected 
him  in  its  exclusive  manufacture  and  sales  for  the  period  of  ten  years. 

An  urgent  and  very  important  move  in  the  effort  to  preserve  valuable 
archives  of  the  State  was  undertaken  this  j'ear,  under  official  auspices. 
A  great  number  of  ancient  titles  to  land,  running  from  the  year  1702  to 
the  year  1771,  and  other  documents  affecting  the  rights  of  property  in 
Louisiana,  were  "  kept  barely  in  files  in  the  office  of  Philip  Pedesclaux, 
notary  for  New  Orleans,  exposed  to  decay,"  and  much  in  need  of  intelli- 
gent arrangement  and  classification.  Felix  Percy  was  authorized,  by  act 
of  the  legislature,  to  undertake  the  needed  measures.  The  documents 
were  to  be  arranged  chronologically  and  alphabeticallv,  numbered  and 
placed  on  a  general  index,  and  then  put  away  in  cedar  boxes. 

The  Parish  Judge  of  East  Baton  Rouge  was  required  to  do  the  same  by 
any  similar  documents  that  might  be  found  in  his  office. 

The  remuneration  of  this  labor  was  at  the  munificent  rate  of  one  cent 
for  each  page  arranged,  numbered  and  put  in  the  index. 

1827.  Louisiana  was  becoming  restive  under  the  continued  indifference 
of  the  general  government  to  her  oft  repeated  demand  for  an  impartial 
adjustment  of  the  public  lands  question.  She  asked  simply  that  the 
government  make  such  disposition  of  them  in  this  State  as  had  been  had 
in  the  older  States.  Until  such  disposal  of  the  government  lands  was  had, 
Louisiana  could  make  but  slow  advances  in  the  development  of  those 
rich  and  varied  resources  with  which  nature  had  so  bounteously  endowed 
her.  The  grievance  was  once  again  brought  to  the  legislature's  attention 
by  the  governor.  A  memorial  was  adopted  and  forwarded  to  the  Louisi- 
ana representatives  and  senators  for  presentation  in  both  houses  of 
Congress. 

An  act,  in  which  members  could  be  equally  unanimous — and  infinitely 
more  pleasing  in  its  character — was  the  grateful  and  gracefully  expressed 
tribute  to  the  memory  of  President  Jefferson.  The  official  record  is  before 
us,  but  we  adopt  Mr.  Gayarre's  clear  and  concise  statement : 

The  legislature,  being  officially  informed  by  the  governor  of  the  death 
of  Thomas  Jefferson,  and  of  his  having  left  to  his  family  no  other  inher- 
itance than  that  of  his  illustrious  name,  voted  the  sum  of  ten  thousand 
dollars  to  his  heirs,which  was  delicately  tendered  as  "a  tribute  of  gratitude" 
from  the  State,  to  the  representatives  of  the  man  by  whom  "  she  had  been 
acquired  to  the  union,"  and  to  whom  she  was  indebted  for  the  "  blessings 
of  civil  and  political  liberty." 

A  significant  amelioration  in  the  Penal  Code  was  made  at  this  session ; 
white  persons  were  no  more  to  be  sentenced  to  the  pillory.  The  act 
refers  only  to  the  pillory ;  nor  is  there,  in  the  enactments  of  this  session, 
any  mention  made  of  the  whipping  post.  Maintaining  [or  supposing] 
the  abolition  of  both  punishments  at  the  same  time,  Bunner,  writing 


B  of  one  cent 


ANNALS   OP  LOUISIANA. 


427 


more  than  forty  years  back,  observes :  "  It  had,  indeed,  been  a  matter  of 
wonder,  that  in  such  a  state  of  society,  where  part  of  the  ponuhition  was 
free  and  part  in  a  state  of  slavery,  a  punishment  of  this  kincl,  common  to 
both,  should  ever  have  been  in  wrce.'  THis  is  pertinent,  perhai)s.  But, 
Louisiana  corrected  the  vicious  anomaly  over  half  a  century  ago,  while 
the  whipping-post  and  pillory  abide  to  this  day  in  some  parts  of  the 
country,  where,  if  slavery  no  longer  prevails,  caste  asserts  itself,  ex 
nm'xxitate  rei. 

Facile  dissolution  of  the  marriage  tie  was  regarded  with  but  little  favor 
by  society,  however  complaisant  may  have  been  the  action  of  the  General 
Assembly  in  some  instances.  But,  even  with  this  admission,  legislation 
on  this  question,  had,  on  the  whole,  been  conservative ;  the  total  number 
of  divorces  granted  from  the  session  of  the  first  State  legislature  to  the 
present,  not  being  quite  two  score  ;  not,  indeed,  three  for  each  year.  Yet, 
at  this  session,  divorces  were  made  more  difficult  of  attainment.  It  was 
enacted  that  divorce  should  not  be  allowed,  except  for  infidelity  in  either 
husband  or  wife,  ill-treatment,  condemnation  to  ignominious  punishment, 
or  desertion  for  a  period  of  five  years.  In  case  of  divorce  for  adultery, 
the  guilty  party  could  not  marry  his  [or  her]  partner  in  guilt,  under 
penalty  of  being  prosecuted  for  bigamy.  Alimony  was  allowed  the  wife 
obtaining  a  divorce.  District  Courts  throughout  the  State,  and  the 
Parish  Courts  of  New  Orleans,  were  invested  with  exclusive  original  juris- 
diction in  divorce  cases,  parties  being  allowed  right  of  appeal. 

The  Civil  Code  abolished  certain  impediments  to  marriage,  on  account 
of  affinity,  which  existed  under  the  Spanish  law.  To  remove  all  doubt 
and  prevent  litigation,  the  legislature  declared  valid  all  marriages  between 
brothers-in-law  and  sisters-in-law,  contracted  previous  to  the  promulgation 
of  the  Code. 

Slaves,  under  thirty  years,  might  be  emancipated  in  certain  cases. 

The  "  New  Orleans  Steam  Ferry,"  between  the  city  and  opposite  bank, 
organized. 

The  Grand  Lodge  was  authorized  to  raise  by  lottery  the  sum  of  $35,000, 
for  the  erection  of  a  Masonic  hall  in  New  Orleans. 

A  lotterv  was  also  permitted  for  internal  improvements  in  lower  portion 
[left  bank]  of  Iberville  parish. 

The  legislature  invited  the  hero  of  New  Orleans  to  participate  in  the 
celebration  of  the  Eighth  of  January,  the  ensuing  year. 

A  survey  and  map  of  Red  river  raft,  ordered  by  the  general  government, 
and  just  completed,  copies  were  presented  to  the  State  by  the  officers 
engaged  thereon,  Captain  Burch  and  Lieutenant  Lee. 

Cotton  and  raw  sugar,  of  home  production,  were  exempted  from  auction 
duties  when  so  disposed  of. 

The  Barataria  and  Lafourche  Canal  Company,  formed  for  the  purpose 
of  building  a  canal  from  the  Mississippi  to  Bayou  Lafourche. 

Ten  weighers  of  cotton  and  two  of  hay,  for  New  Orleans,  authorized  to 
l)e  appointed  by  the  governor.  A  Registrar  of  Convej'^ances  was  also 
appointed. 

The  public  school  system  was  further  amended.  The  annual  appro- 
priation for  each  parish  [Orleans  excepted]  was  at  the  rate  of  two  dollars 
and  five-eighths  for  every  voter,  no  parish  to  receive  a  greater  sum  than 
^1,350,  nor  less  than  $800.  Parish  administrators  were  to  be  ap})ointed 
l)y  the  several  police  juries,  school  ward  trustees  by  the  administrators, 


'  1  -n 


428 


ANNALS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


and  duly  qualified  teacherH  by  the  latter,  after  examination.  Pay  of  the 
teacher  was  made  dependent  upon  voucher  of  the  trustees,  that  he  had 
complied  with  the  conditions  imposed  for  the  management  of  his  school  • 
among  these,  that  he  had  not  refused  admittance  to  the  jirescribed 
number  of  indigent  children.  Any  one  declining — unless  duly  excused 
— to  serve  as  administrator,  was  liable  to  a  fine  of  from  twenty-five  to 
fifty  dollars.  But  administrators  and  treasurers  of  their  boards  wore 
exempt  from  jury  duty,  and  from  militia  duty  in  time  of  peace. 

The  old  expedient  of  a  lottery  is  again  resorted  to.  The  College  of 
Louisiana  was  allowed  to  raise  $40,00(),  for  buildings,  library,  etc.,  and 
the  Regents  of  the  New  Orleans  schools  a  like  sum  for  the  erection  of  a 
central  and  primary  schoolhouses.  The  number  of  pupils  to  be  received 
gratis  in  each  of  these  city  schools  was  limited  to  one  hundred.  Thcho 
are  the  more  important  points  in  the  laws  of  this  year. 

Some  important  legislation  passed  this  year  respecting  the  State's 
interests  in  the  Bank  of  Louisiana.  Our  limits  forbid  more  than  a 
reference.     See  Act  and  Resolution,  approved  March  4,  1827. 

The  boldest — and  most  questionable — financing  scheme  yet  devised 
was  legislated  into  existence  at  this  session.  As  it  was  remarked — the 
merchants  had  their  banks,  and  the  i)lanters  thought  they  ought  to  have 
one  also.  So  a  charter  was  obtained  incorporating,  "The  President, 
Directors  <fe  Co.  of  the  Consolidated  Association  of  the  Planters  of 
Louisiana,"  capital  $2,000,000,  [eventually  $2,500,000]  and  exempt  from 
all  taxes.  The  Association  was  authorized,  to  deal  in  all  kinds  of  movable 
and  immovable  property,  take  mortgages,  discount,  etc.,  to  the  extent  of 
double  its  capital,  while  this  itiself  was  based  on  stock  secured  by 
mortgage  on  real  estate  to  the  extent  of  each  holder's  subscription.  A 
loan  of  two  million  dollars  was  permitted  on  the  issue  of  bonds,  and  the 
borrowers  and  lenders  of  the  Association,  with  sincere  reciprocal  felici- 
tations, went  swimmingly  down  a  "bright  and  shining  river  "to . 

Well,  let  us  not  anticipate.  Such  alluring,  but  delusive,  banking  wrought 
the  ruin  of  not  a  few  fine  estates  ;  and  the  end  is  not  yet.  A  grim  spectre 
of  the  "  Association  "  now  haunts  our  courts  and  legislative  halls. 

The  pay  of  the  recorder  of  New  Orleans  was  raised  to  $1000  this  year, 
being  double  that  previously  paid. 

New  Orleans  at  this  time  consisted,  as  to  municipal  divisions,  of  eight 
wards,  "  The  first,  beginning  at  the  levee,  where  it  is  intersected  by  the 
piece  of  ground  reserved  for  the  prolongation  of  the  Canal  Carondolet, 
thence  running  along  the  intended  canal  until  it  intersects  the  lower  line 
of  the  commons  of  the  city ;  thence  along  the  lower  limits  of  said 
commons  until  it  shall  intersect  the  middle  of  St.  Louis  street,  thence  up 
the  middle  of  St.  Louis  street  to  the  levee ;  thence  along  the  levee  to  the 
place  of  beginning."  So  much  for  the  local  antiquarian  reader.  The 
eighth  ward  was  circumscribed  [in  part]  by  the  upper  boundary  of  the 
city,  which  was  advanced  in  1818  to  the  lower  limits  of  the  Macarty 
Plantation.  The  land  thus  annexed  was  constituted  the  eighth.  The 
first  and  sixth  wards  elected  two  aldermen  each,  the  others  but  one  each. 

The  now  well  known  malady,  dengue,  or  as  it  was  written  in  those 
days,  denguet,  made  its  appearance.  Tt  was  understood  to  have  been 
introduced  in  New  Orleans  oy  ref''.2ce.-  from  Mexico,  at  the  period  of  her 
revolt. 


ANNALS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


429 


1828.  The  most  interesting  event  of  this  year  was  the  visit  of  General 
Jackson,  in  compliance  with  the  request  of  the  legislature,  to  be  present 
at  the  celebration  of  the  anniversary  of  the  victory  of  January  8,  181'). 
Liberal  provision  had  been  made  for  his  reception  and  entertainment, 
and  both  were  such  as  must  have  deeply  stirred  the  heart  of  the  old 
soldier,  while  they  were  no  less  worthy  of  the  fervid  and  generous  people 
whom  he  had  signally  served. 

Free  persons  of  color  from  the  North  and  from  abroad  were  not  desir- 
able accessions  to  the  population.  The  wisdom  of  excluding  such  being 
evident,  the  legislature  passed  a  bill  "  more  effectually  to  prohibit  free 
negroes  and  persons  of  color  from  entering  into  this  State,"  but  Gov. 
Johnson  vetoed  it  on  the  ground  of  its  being  opposed  to  certain  provisions 
of  the  federal  constitution.  The  presence  of  free  persons  of  color  among 
the  crews  of  foreign  commercial  marine  in  Southern  ports  had  been  and 
continued  to  be  a  troublous  question  in  State  and  federal,  and  federal 
international  relations. 

In  his  last  annual  message  the  governor  again  brings  up  the  question 
of  the  public  lands ;  and  the  legislature,  by  unanimous  resolve,  declared 
the  policy  of  the  government  to  have  "retarded  and  repressed"  the 
progress  of  the  State.  Her  senators  and  representatives  were  urged  to 
press  upon  the  general  government  the  justice  and  necessity  of  an  early 
adjustment. 

They  were  also  requested  again  to  bring  before  the  government  the 
scheme  of  a  canal  from  Lake  Pontchartrain  to  the  Mississippi. 

Administrators  of  parish  schools  were  now  required  to  make  reports  to 
the  grand  juries. 
The  prohibition  upon  the  introduction  of  slaves  for  sale  was  removed. 
A  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court  still  recognizing  the  old  doctrine,  and 
the  new  Civil  Code  not  having  expressly  abrogated  it,  the  legislature 
declared  widows,  and  unmarried  women  of  age,  competent  to  bind  them- 
selves as  sureties  and  endorsers — just  as  men  might  enjoy  the  Sfimo 
seldom  envied  privilege. 

Pensions  granted  by  the  State  to  persons  wounded  in  her  defense  were 
made  payable  five  years  longer. 

A  digest  of  the  laws  of  the  State  was  authorized,  and  Moreau  Lislet 
commissioned  to  undertake  the  same. 

The  capitiil  of  the  Planters'  Consolidated  Association  was  increased  to 
two  million  five  hundred  thousand  dollars,  the  guarantee  subscriptions 
to  three  millions,  and  the  faith  of  the  State  pledged  for  the  payment  of 
the  borrowed  capital  as  well  as  the  interest  thereon.  Duration  of  the 
charter  was  extended  to  1843.  In  return,  the  State  received  [nominally] 
stock  to  the  amount  of  one  million  dollars,  but  could,  at  no  time,  be 
allowed  a  credit  exceeding  $250,000,  and  upon  this  interest  had  to  be 
paid.  And  planters  and  speculators  went  on  rearing  chateaux  en  Espaym. 
Among  other  enactments,  arson  was  made  punishable  with  death,  and 
attempted  arson  with  imprisonment  from  ten  to  fifteen  years.  Pickpockets 
were  incarcerated  for  terms  running  from  two  months  to  two  years,  as 
well  as  made  liable  to  a  fine  of  five  hundred  dollars. 

A  Real  Estate  Association,  with  a  capital  of  $300,000,  was  formed  in 
New  Orleans,  for  the  erection  of  buildings  and  making  other  improvements. 
There  were  likewise  organized,  the  Mariner's  Church  Society,  Law  Society, 
a 


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V  .a  U 


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430 


ANNALS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


Society  of  Israelites,  the  Company  of  Architects,  and  the  New  Orleans 
Jockey  Club. 

With  the  close  of  the  year,  Pierre  Derbigny  succeeded  Governor  Johnson 
in  office.    We  quote  from  Gayarre  : 

'*  Governor  Derbigny  had  previously  occupied  conspicuous  positions  in 
the  State,  such  as  Judge  ot  the  Supreme  Court,  and  he  had  also  been 
Secretary  of  State.  His  administration  was  short,  for  he  was  killed  on 
the  7th  of  October,  1829,  by  being  thrown  out  of  his  carriage.  The  consti- 
tution devolved  the  office  on  the  President  of  the  Senate  until  a  governor 
should  be  elected  by  the  people  and  duly  c^ualified.  A.  Beauvais  and  J. 
Dupre,  successfully  officiated  in  that  capacity,  from  the  governor's  death 
until  the  31st  of  January,  1831,  when  A.  B.  Roman  was  sworn  into 
office." 

1S29.    A  census  of  the  voters  was  ordered. 

Land  !  Land  !  the  acquisition  of,  and  title  to,  seem  to  have  been  among 
the  most  absorbing  questions  of  the  day.  While  the  State,  through  her 
legislature,  executive  and  congressional  delegation,  was  insisting  upon  an 
ecjuitable  disposal  of  the  public  lands  within  her  limits,  the  governor 
himself  was  in  correspondence  with  the  authorities  of  Cuba,  "in  order  to 
obtain  the  deliverv  of  the  titles  and  other  papers  relative  to  lands  and 
other  property  in  Louisiana,  which  may  be  deposited  in  the  Havana." 

District  Courts  were  empowered  to  emancipate  minors  above  the  age 
of  nineteen,  upon  certain  prescribed  conditions. 

The  great  legist,  Edward  Livingston,  was  elected  United  States  Senator. 

It  is  noteworthy,  that  even  in  this  early  period  in  the,  political  career 
of  the  United  States,  Louisiana  had  pointed  out  the  vice  in  our  scheme 
of  a  federal  executive,  and  proposed  the  only  remedy  suggested  even 
to  this  day.  The  General  Assembly  adopted  a  resolution — inviting 
concurrence  of  the  other  States — that  the  constitution  be  so  amended  as 
to  make  the  term  of  the  President  and  Vice  President  six  years,  and  that 
the  President  be  ineligible  afterwards. 

Also  deserving  of  attention  is  the  legislation  regarding  the  introduction 
of  slaves.  Its  main  aim  was  the  exclusion  of  slaves  of  a  worthless  or 
vicious  character,  brought  hither  for  sale  or  hire,  from  the  other  Southern 
States.  It  was  made  unlawful  to  introduce  a  slave  child  of  ten  years,  or 
under,  separate  from  its  mother ;  and  any  one  selling  such  child  [separate 
from  its  mother]  was  liable  to  a  fine  of  one  to  two  thousand  dollars,  with 
imprisonment  from  six  months  to  one  year,  and  forfeiture  of  the  slave 
so  sold. 

As  to  the  slave  marts  and  the  public  sale  of  slaves,  the  City  Council  of 
New  Orleans  was  required  to  make  such  regulations  as  were  meet  and 
proper,  being  expressly  enjoined  from  permitting  the  exposition  of  slaves 
in  the  public  and  most  frequented  quarters.  Copies  of  the  act  were  trans- 
mitted, by  resolution  of  the  General  Assembly,  to  the  governors  of 
Mississippi  and  Alabama,  and  publication  made  in  the  newspapers  of 
Maryland,  Virginia,  Kentucky,  Tennessee  and  Missouri. 

A  law  was  enacted  providing  for  a  complete  levee  system  throughout 
the  State,  and  the  maintenance  of  the  same.  It  is  elaborate  in  its 
provisions,  amounting  to  no  fewer  than  fifty-six  sections.  In  connection, 
mention  may  be  made  of  the  resolutions  ot  the  legislature  calling  upon 
the  general  government  to  undertake  the  improvement  of  the  Louisiana 


ANNALS  OF   LOUISIANA. 


431 


reach  of  the  Mississippi,  its  tributaries,  outlets  and  passes,  and  tlic  bnyou 
St.  John,  with  the  suggestion  that  General  Bernard  be  detailed  to  malce  a 
sketch  of  a  general  system  of  improvements. 

Covington  made  the  seat  of  justice  of  8t.  Tammany  parish. 

Malicious  destruction  of  the  public  works  of  a  corporation,  carrying  of 
concealed  weapons,  infliction  of  a  wound,  with  intent  to  kill,  or  the  pro- 
curing of  the  escape  of  a  criminal  condemned  for  a  capital  crime,  were 
punishable  with  imprisonment  at  hard  labor  of  from  one  to  ten  years. 

Owners  were  required  to  make  oath  that  the  lists  of  their  taxable  prop- 
erty given  to  the  assessors  were  "Yull  and  true."  The  attorney-general 
and  district  attorneys  were  charged  with  cnfor*  ing  the  requirement, 
and  bringing  it  to  the  attention  of  the  grand  juries.  Here  is  a  lesson 
of  the  past  for  these  days  of  fraudulent  assessments. 

The  New  Orleans  Gas  Light  Company  was  incorporated — charter  to  run 
twenty-five  years. 

1830.  Donaldsonville  was  now  the  seat  of  government,  and  the  second 
session  of  the  tenth  legislature  was  "  begun  and  held  "  on  Monday, 
January  4.  Among  its  first  acts — if  not  the  first — was  the  incorporation 
of  our  now  venerable  Pontchartrain  Railroad  Company.  The  enterprise 
was,  we  believe,  the  fifth  of  the  kind  in  the  United  States.  The  list  of 
incorporators  included  names  then,  or  subsequently,  prominent  in  the 
city's  progress — Ex-Gov.  Claiborne,  Saml.  J.  Peters,  Edmund  Forstall, 
George  Eustis,  John  L.  Lewis,  and  others.  All,  save  one,  are  but  mem- 
ories. General  Lewis  still  moves  among  us,  a  fine  type  of  the  old-time 
Louisiana  gentleman — his 

"  •    •    Age  Rfl  a  lusty  winter, 
Frosty,  but  kindly." 

About  this  period,  says  Bunner,  several  persons  were  detected  travelling 
about  the  country  and  endeavoring  to  excite  the  blacks  to  insurrection  ; 
and  the  populace  would  have  punished  them  very  summarily  had  they 
been  permitted.  The  legislature,  thereupon,  passed  a  law,  making  it 
death  for  any  one  to  excite  the  slaves  against  the  whites,  either  by  writings, 
sermons,  speeches  made  at  the  bar  or  in  the  theatre,  or  to  bring  into  the 
State  any  pamphlets  having  that  tendency  and  for  that  object.  Teaching 
slaves  to  read  was  also  forbidden. 

Anv  slave,  selling  liquor  without  permission  of  his  master,  was  punished 
by  whipping,  and  any  white  man  buying  liquor  of  a  slave  was  liable  to 
a  fine. 

Provision  was  made  for  running  the  line  marking  the  boundary  between 
Louisiana  and  the  Territory  of  Arkansas,  agreeable  to  Act  of  Congress, 
approved  May  19,  1828. 

An  act  of  the  legislature  provided  that  a  governor  should  be  voted  for 
in  the  general  election  of  July,  and  that  one  of  the  persons  so  voted  for, 
be  afterwards  chosen  as  governor,  for  the  constitutional  term  of  four  years. 

The  great  rafts,  which  forbid  navigation  of  the  Atchafalaya  up  to  this 
time,  were  now  being  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  general  government. 

Two  thousand  dollars  were  appropriated  for  opening  bayou  des  Glaises 
to  navigation. 

The  agent  engaged  to  distribute  vaccine  matter  throughout  the  State, 
was  voted  an  annual  compensation  of  five  hundred  dollars. 

Another  step  towards  the  abolition  of  imprisonment  for  debt;  an 


1 


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'*■■  \  il 


1^^ 


432 


ANNALS  OF   LOUISIANA. 


iiiBolvent  debtor  might,  after  serving  tiis  term  of  impriHonmont,  take  tho 
benefit  of  the  insolvent  laws  as  to  a  fine  anci  costs,  for  which  ho  hud  bt'cn 
sentenced  and  committed,  until  they  were  i)aid. 

The  famous  liOuisiana  Legion  was  voted  twenty-five  hundred  duliar^ 
from  the  State  Treasury,  to  provide  uniforms,  etc.,  for  such  inemberH  as 
could  but  ill-afford  the  expense. 

Stringent  laws  were  enacted,  excluding  free  persons  of  color  from  the 
State,  requiring  even  the  departure,  within  sixty  days,  of  free  negroes 
and  mulattoes,  who  had  arrived  since  the  year  1825.  Those  wlio  luvd 
settled  in  the  State  between  the  years  1812  and  1825  were  required  to 
register  their  names  with  the  parish  judges,  and  such  free  persons  of  color 
amenable  to  this  law  as  were  property  owners,  were  allowed  one  year  for 
the  disposal  of  their  estates. 

Every  provision  of  the  law  makes  it  evident  that  it  was  a  time  for 
vigilance.  Fine  and  imprisonment  were  decreed  for  any  white  person — 
for  any  free  person  of  color,  severe  measures  of  incarceration  and  fine, 
with  banishment  to  follow — who  bv  writing,  printing  or  sneaking,  disturb 
the  public  peace  or  security  "  in  relation  to  the  slaves  of  tne  people  oftliih 
State,  or  [tend]  to  diminish  that  respect  which  is  commanded  to  the  free 
people  of  color  for  the  whites,  *  •  *  or  to  destroy  that  line  of 
distinction  which  the  law  has  established  between  the  several  classes  of 
this  community."  All  which  was  a  necessity  of  the  situation.  The 
dominant  race  in  a  mixed  community  is  now  and  then  forced  to  assert, 
yviih  more  or  less  emphasis,  its  supremacy.  Especially  is  a  sharp  lesson 
salutary  for  the  aspiring  mongrel. 

A  company  was  formed  in  New  Orleans  Tor  the  refining  of  sugar,  under 
the  W.  A.  Archbald  patent  rights ;  also  were  incorporated  the  first  German 
Protestant  Church,  tne  "  Mississippi  Fire  Company,"  and  the  "  Volunteer 
Fire  Engine  Company,  No.  1,"  same  city. 

Franklin,  St.  Mary  parish,  and  Thibodauxville,  Lafourche  Interior, 
declared  incorporated  towns. 

Louisiana  was  not  in  accord  with  other  Southern  States  on  the  tariff  of 
1828.  Declining  to  concur  in  the  resolutions  of  Mississippi,  the  legislature 
declared  it  did  not  perceive  the  unconstitutionality  or  impolicy  of  the 
measure,  or  that  the  State  had  suffered  any  injury  therefrom.  In  this 
great  tariff  issue  Louisiana  ranged  herself  on  the  side  of  Vermont. 
Tempora  mutnntur,  etc. 

The  severity  of  the  winter,  which  set  in  early  in  December,  and  lasted 
through  February,  destroyed  the  orange  trees. 

The  population  of  Louisiana  now  amounted  to  215,275,  having  increased 
two-fifths  in  the  last  ten  years. 

1831.  New  Orleans  was  again  made  the  soat  of  government.  The  first 
session  of  the  tenth  legislature  was  begun  in  Donaldson ville  on  Monday, 
January  3,  was  adjourned,  and  resumed  in  the  city  on  the  8th  of  January. 
On  the  31st,  A.  B.  Roman  was  inaugurated  as  governor.  The  new  executive 
had  much  experience  in  public  affairs,  having  been  Speaker  of  the  House 
of  Representatives,  and  previously  a  District  Judge. 

The  law  of  1829,  respecting  the  introduction  of  slaves,  was  relieved  of 
some  of  its  restrictive  features.  The  prohibition,  however,  was  made 
absolute  as  to  slaves  from  Alabama,  Mississippi,  Florida  and  Arkansas. 

The  edict  of  last  year,  with  regard  to  free  persons  of  color  and  residence, 


irche  Interior, 


ANNAI.S  i^r   LOUIfTANA. 


i33 


wan  nlj»o  (lonrivod  of  itf*  hurHhc8t  !>    ture.     E    pulsion  was  resorved  »•   'v 
for  the  wortnlesH  phunent. 

Maunocl  Whit«!,  JoHeiih  linllandv,  Persifer  h^mith  an  '  otherH,  this  year 
organized  the  Orleanw  Fire  (Jompany. 

Natural  fathers,  or  mothers,  were  empowered  to  legit  uite  thei  natural 
children,  provided  the  parents  could  have  lawfully  coi,  racted  i  .arriago, 
and  that  there  did  not  exist  on  the  legitimating  parent  ^ide,  ''aM-endants 
or  legitimate  descendants."  The  act  revived  law  seventh,  title  fifteenth, 
of  the  fourth  Partidns,  repealed  in  the  Civil  Code. 

Monroe,  Ouachita  parish,  ceased  to  he  an  incorporated  town. 

Pierre  Ahadie  was  another  discoverer  of  '*  an  efficient  method  of 
destroying  the  plant  known  hy  the  name  of  nut  grass,  [coco  Amer.] " 

He,  too,  sought  the  intervention  of  the  legislature  for  the  protection  of 
his  property  rights  in  his  "  discovery,"  and  as  in  the  case  of  Miro,  had  his 
legislative  commission  to  examine  and  report.  So  far  as  reports  may  bo 
looked  for,  both  these  discoveries  would  appear  to  have  fallen  stillborn. 
It  may  be,  though,  that  pigeon-holing  was  not  unknown  even  in  this  early 
period. 

Gambling  houses  were  prohibited  outside  of  New  Orleans. 

Six  hundred  copies  of  Mr.  Gayarre's  "  Historical  Essay  on  Louisiana," 
were  purchased  by  the  State  for  distribution  to  the  several  parishes,  under 
the  supervision  and  in  the  discretion  of  their  respective  Boards  of  School 
Administrators. 

An  annual  appropriation  of  five  thousand  dollars  each,  for  four  years, 
was  voted  to  Franklin  College,  St.  Landrjr  parish,  Jefferson  College,  St. 
James,  and  College  of  Louisiana,  East  Feliciana.  Other  State  support  of 
the  latter  was  not  affected  by  this  appropriation. 

The  sum  of  twenty  thousand  dollars  was  allowed  for  the  arming  and 
equipping  of  the  volunteer  military. 

Charters  were  granted  to  the  New  Orleans  Canal  and  Banking  Company, 
capital,  four  million  dollars ;  the  City  Bank,  capital,  two  millions ; 
the  College  of  Jefferson,  the  West  Feliciana  Railroad  Company,  and  the 
Xdw  Orleans  Hotel  Company. 

Mr.  Livingston  having  resigned,  Geo.  A.  Waggaman  was  elected  United 
States  Senator. 

A  tremendous  storm  setting  in  fVom  the  east,  afterward  shifting  to  the 
south,  and  continuing  from  the  16th  to  the  17th  of  August,  drove  back 
the  waters  of  the  Gulf  into  the  lakes  and  bayous,  so  as  to  flood  New 
Orleans  and  the  whole  country  bordering  the  sea.  The  water,  indeed, 
was  so  high  that  many  vessels  weri^  driven  on  to  the  levee.  The  damage 
to  the  town  exceeded  a  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  the  loss  of  the 
planters  was  till  more  severe.     [Bunner.] 

The  condition  of  the  passes  of  the  Mississippi  was  now  a  subject  of 
grave  consideration.  The  legislature  affirmed  that  the  difficulties  in  the 
way  of  entrance  were  daily  increasing,  and  demanded  the  immediate 
interposition  of  the  general  government  for  their  removal. 

1832.  The  subject  was  again  brought  up  in  the  legislature  this  year, 
and  the  plan  o^  Mr.  Buisson  for  the  Fort  St.  Philip  Ship  Canal,  was 
warmly  approved.  He  submitted  a  chart  of  the  mouths  of  the  river  with 
the  adjacent  coast,  and  proposed  to  dig  a  canal,  six  miles  and  a  half 
long,  commencing  a  few  miles  below  the  fort,  and  entering  the  sea  about 


II  i 


484 


ANNAL8   OF   LOUISIANA. 


four  miloH  Houth  of  Hroton  ImIuikI.  (Joverninont  undertook  the  work  ,1 
fiiW  ycurw  later,  Imt  the  nehi'inc  "  wuh  fouinl  to  ho  iinpructicuMo,  i\h  it  [tlu.' 
(MiniilJ  HIUhI  with  froHli  nccuinulutiouH  of  »mu\  nearly  m  fuHt  uh  it  wuh 
«lu|?  out,  and  waH  ucoordiiiglv  abandoned." 

In  connection  with  the  Hchenie  junt  noticed  should  ho  chronicled  tin 
"  Lake  Bor^ne   Navigation    Company,"  as   it  waw  corporately    HtyUd 
CoiuniiHni»»nerH  wen;  appointed  to  prociire  nurvey»,  plans  and  cHtimatcH  tnr 
a  cnnal  nix   a-ct  deep,  from  Bayou  Mazart,  which  <lel)oucheH  from  [or 
einhouchcM  int«>|  Lake  Kor^ne,  to  Home  part  of    New   OrleanH,   or  it« 
sul)url)H.     As   Hoon  as   these  preliminary  Hteps  ha«l  been   Hutinfactorilv 
taken,  the  connuissioners — who  were  really  the  soul  and  body  of  thV 
movement — were  to  commence  the  work.     There  were  to  he  Imyinji  nt 
lands,  with  or  without  consent  of  owners;  much  dij^ging  and  bridjriiin 
and  hasining,  buoys  and  beacons  at  the  bar,  and  a  lighthouse  at  tliu 
entrance  to  Bayou  Mazart.    And,  it  all  went  out  in  darkness. 

Another  large  banking  establishment,  with,  of  course,  the  credit  of  the 
State  pledged  for  its  borrowed  millions  !  "  The  Union  Bank  of  liOuiHiana,' 
capital  eight  million  dollars.  The  State  gave  its  bonds,  and  the 
suuscribers  to  the  bank  stock  gave  mortgages  on  real  estate,  im|)rove(l  or 
unimproved,  and  slaves.  How  recklessly  they  borrowed  and  endorsed  in 
those  years. 

Other  incorporated  enterprises  this  year  were  the  Amite  Navigation 
Company,  Levee  Steam  Cotton  Press,  and  the  Western  Marine  and  Fire 
Insurance  C'omi)any. 

Jackson,  Etist  Feliciana,  and  Covington,  St.  Tammany,  were  incor- 
porated. 

Office  of  State  Civil  Engineer  created. 

The  old  Charity  Hospital  was  purchased  from  the  city  for  a  statehouso. 
It  was  situated  in  the  square  bounded  by  Canal,  Phillipa,  Common  and 
Carondelet  streets. 

Extensive  powers  wore  given  the  municipal  council  for  the  laying  out 
of  new  streets,  improvements  of  public  places,  etc.,  in  New  Orleans,  its 
suburbs  and  banlieues.  ' 

Parishes  of  Carndl  and  Livingston  establishe(L 

Fifty  thousand  dollars  were  appropriated  for  the  erection  of  a  peniten- 
tiary at  Baton  Rouge. 

Aiore  legislative  dealing  in  gambling.  Any  one  could  now  open  a 
gambling  hell  in  New  Orleans,  who  could  pay  the  annual  tax  of  seven 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  This  revenue  and  the  tax  on  the  two 
theatres,  [now  raised  to  four  thousand  dollars  each]  were  devoted  to 
asylums.  Charity  Hospital  and  schools  of  New  Orleans. 

This  year  the  Asiatic  cholera,  after  extending  its  ravages  over  Asia  and 
a  pdrt  of  Europe,  made  its  appearance  in  Canada,  whither  it  was  supposed 
to  have  been  brought  by  an  English  vessel.  Passing  through  the  States 
to  the  north  and  west,  says  Bunner,  it  at  length  reached  Louisiana ;  and 
in  New  Orleans  alone,  not  less  than  five  thousand  persons  fell  victimn. 
The  yellow  fever  was  raging  at  the  time.  Many  unfortunates  wcro 
supposed  to  have  been  buried  alive ;  while  others,  thus  suffering  under  <]uite 
different  illnesses,  were  treated  for  cholera,  and  killed  by  the  violence  of 
the  remedies.  The  blacks  had  been  spared  by  the  yellow  fever,  but  the 
cholera  almost  exterminated  them.  There  were  plantations  in  the 
environs  of  New  Orleans  which  lost  from  seventy  to  eighty  slaves  in  two 


were  incor- 


ANNAI.n  OP   LOtTIfllAMA. 


435 


or  thrcR  (liiVH.     And,  addrt  our  chroniolur,  tluHlirtouso  uppcarud  iigaiii  tho 
tollowiiiK  ytMir,  but  with  greatly  diiuiniHlied  violeneu. 

ISSS.  A  eouHUw  of  the  voterH  wuh  taken,  and  a  State  Agricultural 
Society  estahliwhed.  The  latter  waH  anuthur  «>f  thowe  Mpoeulativc,  tinanuing 
conoernH,  in  which  LouiHiana  has  been  ho  fecund. 

Nor  was  the  year  without  its  usual  fungus  growtli  of  hanks.  Now  <!aino 
into  Udng  the  Citizens  Bank,  with  a  capital  of  twelve  million  dollars, 
the  ('oniinercial,  which  was  to  expend  |1(X),()U()  annually  in  the 
construction  of  water  works,  and  the  Mechanics  and  Traders,  with  a 
capital  of  two  million  dollars.  The  acts  incorporating  thest;  hanking 
institutions  are  among  the  most  suggestive  readings  that  Itave  ever  fallen 
in  the  way  of  this  writer.  The  performancea  have  sadly  fallen  short  of 
the  hope  inspiring  programmes. 

J.  H.  Caldwell  obtained  an  "exclusive  privilege  [25  years]  for  intro- 
ducing and  vending  gas  lights  in  New  Orleans  ana  its  faubourgH,  and 
particularly  the  faubourgs  of  St.  Mary  and  Marigny." 

The  College  of  Jerterson  was  voted  twenty  thousand  dollars,  annual 
instahnents  of  five  thousand. 

Old  St.  I'atrick's  and  the  first  Congregational  (.hurch  wore  incorporated, 
also  the  Orleans  Cotton  Press,  the  Lyeeuni,  the  New  Orleans  Steam  Ferry 
(!(>.,  Bayou  Biuuf  and  lied  River  !*{avigation  Co.,  the  Louisiana  SugaV 
Refining  Co.,  the  Louisiana  Steam  Tow-boat  Co.,  and  the  New  Orleans 
t!onimercial  Library. 

liafayette,  now  the  favorite  Garden  District  of  New  Orleans,  was  raised 
to  the  dignity  and  responsibilities  of  a  town. 

A  Board  of  Public  Works  was  created,  with  a  fund  for  improvement  of 
navigable  waters  and  highways. 

The  Secretary  of  State  had  shouldered  upon  him  the  office  of  Superin- 
tendent of  Public  Schools,  with  an  allowance  for  **only  reasonable 
expenses,"  and  provision  was  made  for  a  State  Library. 

Charters  was  granted  to  the  New  Orleans  and  CarroUton  Railroad,  the 
Clinton  and  Port  Hudson,  for  two  in  Rapides  parish,  and  the  governor 
was  instructed  to  take  one  hundred  shares  in  tne  West  Feliciana.  But 
this  year  lotteries  were  abolished. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  years  in  our  annals,  and  a  few  more 
words  are  needed  to  complete  the  annalist's  sketch. 

The  exports  of  New  Orleans  were  estimated  at  this  time  to  be  about 
thirty-seven  million  dollars,  twenty  millions  of  which  were  the  produce 
of  Louisiana  alone.  Sugar  was  a  large  element  in  the  productive  industry 
of  the  State,  and  the  continued  prosperity  of  this  industry  depended  in 
no  small  measure  upon  the  tariff  policy  of  J;he  general  government.  In 
regard  to  this  subject,  we  quote  tne  following :  "  The  first  blow  to  the 
agricultural  industry  of  Louisiana  was  from  the  new  tariff,  providing  for 
a  gradual  reduction  of  duties  on  foreign  goods  to  20  per  cent.,  taking  off 
every  two  years  one-tenth  of  all  there  was  above  that,  as  fixed  by  the 
former  tariff.  The  minimum  was  to  be  reached  on  the  first  of  July,  1842. 
The  effect  of  this  change  would  be  to  diminish  the  price  of  foreign  sugars, 
and,  consequently,  that  of  the  domestic  article.  The  first  few  years  but 
little  alteration  took  place,  and  the  sugar  trade  was  in  a  highly  flourishing 
condition.  On  the  strength  of  the  tariff  of  1816,  fixing  the  duty  on 
bnported  sugars  at  three  cents,  the  culture  had  been  greatly  extended, 


'^ 


■i 


lii  J 

■ 

i,  V 


436 


ANNALS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


and  the  crop  had  increased  since  1828  from  fifteen  thousand  to  forty-five 
thousand  hogsheads.  At  that  time  there  were  more  than  three  hundred 
sugar  plantations,  with  a  capital  of  thirty-four  million  dollars,  twenty-one 
thousand  men,  twelve  thousand  head  of  working  cattle,  and  steam 
engines  equal  to  sixteen  hundred  and  fifty  horse  power,  being  employed 
in  this  branch  of  industry;  and  from  this  time  to  1830,  nearly  four 
hundred  new  establishments  were  formed,  with  a  capital  of  six  millions, 
making  the  whole  number  of  sugar  plantations  no  less  than  seven  hundred, 
with  a  capital  of  forty  millions.  Louisiana  already  furnished  half  the 
sugar  consumed  in  the  country,  and  bade  fair  to  supply  the  rest.  The 
sugar  planters  were  at  this  time  looked  upon  as  the  most  prosperous  class 
in  society.  They  had  two  banks,  which  liberally  supplied  them  with 
funds ;  and  a  third,  called  the  Citizens'  Bank,  with  a  capital  of  twelve 
million  dollars,  was  now  started.  The  plan  of  this  institution  was  to 
advance  to  any  planter,  on  a  mortgage  of  his  lands,  slaves  and  cattle,  one- 
half  of  their  estimated  value  in  specie,  at  six  per  cent,  for  twenty  years, 
he  being  obliged  to  pay  back  eacn  year  one-twentieth  of  the  sum  lent. 

The  abundance  of  paper  money  gave  rise  also  to  other  speculating 
companies,  and  among  them  four  new  railroad  companies.  In  short, 
there  were  chartered  this  year  corporate  institutions  with  an  aggregate 
capital  ai  nounting  to  the  enormous  sum  of  eighteen  million  nine  hundred 
and  eigh  y-four  thousand  dollars.  Never  had  the  legislative  assembly 
been  so  extravagantly  liberal.  In  this  stock-jobbing  system,  real  estate 
was  inflated  to  an  exorbitant  nominal  value.  During  the  past  year  a 
banking  corporation  had  paid  half  a  million  dollars  for  a  piece  of  land 
which  might  have  been  bought  for  fifty  or  sixty  thousand  but  a  short  time 
before.  Towns  were  laid  out  in  the  environs  of  New  Orleans ;  and  the 
purchasers  of  lots  no  sooner  began  to  realize  large  profits  by  their  sale, 
than  they  rose  to  twice,  ten  times,  nay,  a  hundred  times  their  actual  value. 

Money  difficulties  came  on  apace  at  this  time,  and  15, 18,  and  24  per 
cent,  was  demanded  on  good  paper.  Bankruptcies  *  *  began  to  take 
place,  *  *  and  to  remedy,  or  rather  increase  the  evil,  there  was  a  loud 
call  for  more  banks.     *     •     [Bunner.] 

1834.  After  the  reckless  chartering  of  the  late  years,  it  is  somewhat 
reassuring  to  know  that  the  aggregate  capital  of  the  institutions  incor- 
porated this  year  amounted  to  but  one  million  six  hundred  and  twenty 
thousand  dollars.    Among  these  institutions  were  the  following : 

The  Company  of  Architects  of  the  8th  District  of  New  Orleans ;  a  build- 
ing association  for  the  district  named,  among  whose  directors  were  Pierre 
Soule  and  Th.  Pilie ;  the  Pontchartrain  Steamboat  Company,  a  leading 
spirit  of  which  was  Wm.  Bagley ;  the  Commercial  Insurance  Company; 
the  Atlantic  Marine  &  Fire  Insurance  Company ;  the  St.  Bernard  Rail- 
road Company,  which  was  to  construct  a  road  from  the  Mississippi  to 
some  point  on  Bayou  Terre-Aux-Boeufs  in  St.  Bernard  Parish;  the 
Planters'  Sugar  Refining  Company,  an  association  of  sugar  planters  of 
the  parishes  cf  St.  James,  Ascension,  Assumption,  and  Lafourche  Interior, 
for  the  purpose  set  forth  in  corporate  title ;  and  the  New  Orleans  Improve- 
ment Company,  whose  efforts  were  restricted  to  the  section  bounded  by 
Levee,  Canal,  Kampart  and  Esplanade  streets. 

The  port  limits  of  the  city  were  again  extended  to  the  lower  line  of 


ANNALS  OP  LOUISIANA. 


437 


o  forty-five 
36  hundred 
twenty-one 
and  steam 
g  employed 
nearly  four 
ix  millions, 
'en  hundred, 
led  half  the 
3  rest.  The 
jperous  class 
them  with 
al  of  twelve 
tion  was  to 
id  cattle,  one- 
,wenty  years, 
sum  lent, 
r  speculating 
}8.  In  short, 
an  aggregate 
line  hundred 
Live  assembly 
m,  real  estate 
B  past  year  a 
piece  of  land 
ut  a  short  time 
sans;  and  the 
by  their  sale, 
ir  actual  value. 
*  * 

^,  and  24  per 

began  to  take 

lere  was  a  loud 

is  somewhat 

[itutions  incor- 

|d  and  twenty 

wing: 
(•leans;  abuild- 

)rs  were  Pierre 
iny,  a  leading 
ice  Company; 
Bernard  Rail- 
Mississippi  to 
Parish;  the 
j,r  planters  of 
^urche  Interior, 
[leans  Improve- 
In  bounded  hy 

lower  line  of 


the  parish  of  Jeflforson,  and  three  miles  down  the  left  bank,  "  from  the 
centre  of  the  square  of  the  city." 

A  Chamber  of  Commerce  was  organized,  and  the  "  Presbyterian  Church 
and  Congregation  for  the  city  and  parish  of  New  Orleans  "  incorporated  ; 
among  the  incorporators  being  Sanil.  H.  Harper,  Chas.  Gardiner,  Alfred 
Hennen,  J.  S.  Walton,  and  J.  A.  Maybin. 

Audubon  received  from  his  native  State  the  paltry  recognition  of  the 
purchase  of  one  copy  of  his  great  work,  "  The  Birds  of  America." 

Jurisdiction  over  the  island  of  Petites  Coquilles,  opposite  western 
branch  of  Pearl  river;  over  Gordon's  Island,  near  South  Pass  of  the 
Mississippi ;  and  over  Wagner's  Island,  Southwest  Pass,  was  ceded  to  the 
United  States,  as  sites  for  the  erection  and  maintenance  of  lighthouses ; 
and  over  Grand-Terre  for  the  erection  of  a  fort.  In  the  act  ceding  juris- 
diction over  these  sites,  Louisiana  asserts  her  sovereignty  and  right  of 
eminent  domain  by  the  usual  proviso  of  reversion,  execution  of  State 
process,  etc.  If  no  better  than  a  county,  or  at  best  a  province,  how  could 
she  thus  vaunt  herself?  and  the  "national  government "  accepted  without 
protest ! 

The  most  important  legislation  of  the  year  was  the  **  Act  relative  to 
Steamboats."    Explosions,  collisions  and  sinkings  had  been  so  frequent, 
and  had  resulted  in  such  appalling  loss  of  life  and  great  destruction  of 
property,  that  public  opinion  demanded  legislative  interference  in  the  run- 
ning and  general  management  of  river  steam  craft,  provided  inspection 
as  to  condition,  etc.    The  Louisiana  law  required  all  captains  and  own- 
ers of  steamboats  to  have  their  boilers  examined  by  an  engineer  appointed 
by  the   State,  under  penalty  of  fine  .and  imprisonment,  besides  being 
responsible  for  all  losses  or  damage  to  the  goods  aboard,  and  in  case  of  the 
loss  of  life,  to  the  punishment  provided  for  manslaughter.     The  engineer 
was  punishable  for  giving  a  fidse  certificate ;  the  amount  and  storage  of 
gunpowder  as  freight  had  prominent  attention,  and  rules  were  prescribed 
to  be  observed  by  boats  when  passing  each  other  on  rivers  and  streams. 
Copies  of  the  law,  in  French  and  English,  were  required  to  be  posted  in 
conspicuous  places  on  board  every  boat.     It  is  on  record  that  from  1816 
to  1838,  two   hundred  and  thirty  steamboats  were   lost,  of  which  one 
hundred  and  thirty-seven  were  destroyed  by  explosions,  occasioning  a 
loss  of  nearly  seventeen  hundred  lives.      In  the  explosion  of  the  Ben 
Sherrod,  one  hundred  and  thirty  persons  were  blown  up ;  and  in  that  of 
the  Monmouth,  three  hundred.  Both  occurred  on  the  Mississippi  in  1837. 
This  year,  says  our  chronicler,  Bunner,  was  marked  by  a  horrible 
discovery.     One  of  those  interpositions  of  Providence,  which  often  brings 
to  light  crimes  perpetrated  in  darkness,  disclosed  the  dreadful  atrocities 
committed   by   a  woman  who  had  hitherto  been  admitted  to  the  first 
society  of  New  Orleans.     Her  name  was  Lalaurie.    The  house  taking  fire, 
while  efforts  were  making  to  extinguish  it,  a  rumor  was  spread  that  some 
slaves  were  confined  in  an  outhouse  which  was  locked  up.     Mr.  Canonge, 
judge  of  the  Criminal  Court,  applied  to  her  for  the  key,  which  s;)d  refused. 
He,  with  some  other  gentlemen  broke  into  the  building,  and  discovered 
in  different  parts  of  it,  seven  slaves  chained  in  various  ways,  and  all 
bearing  marks  of  the  most  horrible  treatment.    One  of  them  declared 
that  he  had  been  confined  for  five  months,  with  no  other  sustenance  than 
a  handful  of  meal  a  day. 
*       *        *        As  soon  as  she  found  that  her  barbarity  was  on  the 

66 


t;  •  I 


111 


.:i: 


[  i 

I:       ! 

1'      I 


438 


ANNALS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


point  of  being  discovered,  she  contrived  to  make  her  escape,  and,  strange 
to  tell,  by  the  aid  of  some  of  her  own  slaves,  who  conveyed  her  to  a 
carriage,  while  the  crowd  was  occupied  at  the  other  end  of  the  house. 
Had  she  remained,  her  life  probably  would  have  been  taken,  for  the 
fury  of  the  people  knew  no  bounds ;  they  broke  into  the  house,  destroyed 
every  article  of  furniture,  and  would  have  even  torn  down  the  house  itself 
had  they  not  been  restrained  bv  the  authorities.  *  *  Further 
evidences  of  her  cruelty  were  discovered  the  next  day,  when  more  than 
one  body  was  dug  up  in  the  yard.    The  guilty  woman  reached  a  northern 

Eort  in  safety,  and  embarked  for  France  under  an  assumed  name,  the 
usband  and  youngest  child  had  joined  her,  and  some  suspicion  being 
excited  among  the  passengers,  they  questioned  the  child,  and  ascertained 
who  she  was.  No  one  spoke  to  her  during  the  rest  of  the  voyage.  Arriving 
in  France,  she  was  soon  discovered  and  universallv  shunned ;  on  one 
occasion  being  driven  out  of  the  theatre.  If  she  is  still  living,  speculates 
the  chronicler,  she  has  probably  been  obliged  to  seek  a  deeper  retirement 
to  conceal  her  guilt. 

1835.  E.  D.  White,  who  had  served  several  years  in  Congress,  succeeded 
Governor  Roman.  The  new  executive,  in  his  inaugural,  touched  upon 
the  tariff  compromise  measures,  so  far  as  they  affected  the  State's  agricul- 
tural interest,  and  the  still  unsettled  land  question. 

The  twelfth  legislature  proved  itself  equal  to  the  seemingly  required 
standard  of  prodigality,  in  the  chartering  of  banks,  etc.,  and  j^ledging  the 
credit  of  the  State.  Among  the  earliest  of  its  measures  was  the  incorpo- 
rating of  the  New  Orleans  and  Nashville  Railroad  Company,  whose 
proposed  enterprise  is  yet  to  be  accomplished.  The  city  had  also  charters 
for  two  Insurance  Companies,  the  Medical  Society,  the  Firemen's  Chari- 
table Association,  the  Louisiana  Cotton  Seed  Oil  Factory,  for  the  building 
of  the  Exchange,  and  for  a  grand  speculating  concern,  called  "  The  New 
Orleans  Draining  Company " — witn  a  capital  of  one  million  dollars — 
which  was  to  drain,  clear  and  open  out  for  settlement  all  the  swamps 
between  the  city,  its  suburbs  and  Old  Ponchartrain ;  the  State  and 
municipality  both  to  be  shareholders. 

The  legislature  likewise  generously  voted  to  make  the  State  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Barataria  &  Lafourche  Canal  Company,  to  the  extent  of 
five  hundred  shares,  and  commendably  granted  appropriations  for 
improving  several  rivers. 

Springfield,  Livingston  parish,  was  made  the  seat  of  justice,  and 
Washington,  St.  Landry,  incorporated. 

The  banks  chartered  were:  the  New  Orleans  Gaslight  and  Banking 
Company,  capital  $6,000,000;  Exchange  Bank,  capital  $2,000,000; 
Carrollton  Railroad  Bank,  capital  $3,000,000,  and  the  Atchafalaya 
Railroad,  capital  $2,000,000. 

While  the  banker  was  thus  being  made  a  "chartered  libertine," 
gambling  of  the  non-respectable  kind  was  receiving  its  cmip  de  grace.  A 
law  was  enacted  at  this  same  session  imposing  a  fine  of  from  five  to  ten 
thousand  dollars,  with  imprisonment  for  not  less  than  one  nor  morethcan 
five  years,  upon  the  keepers  of  gambling  hells.  Still  the  fraternity  throve ; 
they  only  hid  their  heads. 

1836.  So  far  as  their  external  relations  were  concerned,  Louisianians 
were  moved  mainly  by  the  struggles  of  the  Texans  for  independence. 


strange 
her  to  a 
e  house. 
,  for  the 
iestroyed 
use  itself 

Further 
lore  than 
northern 
name,  the 
ion  being 
3certained 
,  Arriving 
i;  on  one 
speculates 
retirement 

,  succeeded 
ched  upon 
e's  agricul- 

ly  required 
ledging  the 
,he  incorpo- 
iny,  whose 
ilso  charters 
len's  Chari- 
he  building 
"  The  New 
,n  dollars— 
;he  swamps 
State  and 

iate  a  stock- 
le  extent  of 
kiations  for 

Justice,  and 

id  Banking 

$2,000,000; 

lAtchafalaya 

libertine," 

\de  qrace.    A 

m  Ave  to  ten 

pr  more  than 

fnity  throve ; 

iLouisianians 
idependence. 


ANNALS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


439 


Their  sympathies  were  so  ardent  as  to  call  from  the  governor  a  procla- 
mation of  neutrality.  Next  in  interest,  was  the  war  against  the  Seminol'^s 
in  Florida.  The  general  government  having  made  its  requisition  on  the 
State  for  troops,  ''  her  quota,"  says  Mr.  Gayarre,  "  was  furnished  with 
great  alacrity  in  ten  days."  Seventy-five  thousand  dollars  was  appro- 
priated by  the  State  for  the  equipment,  etc.,  of  its  military  contingent. 
At  its  session  this  year  the  general  assembly  chartered  the  Merchants 
Bank,  capital  one  million  dollars ;  conferred  banking  privileges  on  the 
New  Orleans  Improvement  Company,  capital  two  millions;  the  same 
upon  the  Pontchartrain  Railroad  Company,  and  allowing  an  addition  of 
one  million  to  its  capital,  and  pledged  the  credit  of  the  State  in  favor  of 
the  Citizens'  Bank,  "  an  overgrown  institution,  *  *  which  paid  its 
cashier  ten  thousand  dollars  a  year,  and  attempted  to  negotiate  a  loan  of 
twelve  million  dollars  in  Europe,  in  which  it  failed  for  want  of  security," 
and  the  St.  Charles  Hotel  Company,  born  of  the  Exchange  and  Banking 
Company. 

Six  railroad  companies  were  incorporated,  viz :  the  Springfield  & 
Liberty,  the  Livingston,  Lake  Providence  &  Red  River,  Baton  Rouge  & 
Clinton,  Iberville,  and  the  Orleans  &  Plaquemine,  the  latter  to  construct  a 
road  through  the  prairie  between  the  city  and  the  English  Turn. 

Mr.  Caldwell  got  a  charter  for  his  "  St.  Charles  Theati-e,  Arcade  & 
Arcade  Bath  Company ; "  Mr.  T.  J.  Davis  his  for  the  "  Orleans  Theatre 
Company,"  and  the  New  Orleans  Floating  Dry  Dock  Company  was 
launched. 

Cheneyville,  Rapides  parish,  and  Vermillicnville,  Lafayette  parish, 
incorporated. 
Robert  Carter  Nicholas,  was  chosen  United  State;:'  Senator. 
By  act  of  the  legislature  New  Orleans  was  "  divided  into  three  separate 
sections,  each  with  distinct  municipal  powers,"  the  Mayor  exercising  the 
same  powers  in  each  municipality,  and  ruling  as  chief  magistrate  of  the 
whole  city. 

The  aggregate  capital  of  the  institutions  chartered  by  this  twelfth 
gf*  icral  assembly,  amounted  to  $39,345,000.  "  The  mania  of  speculation 
had  now  seized  on  all  minds  and  turned  all  heads,  and  the  effervescence 
of  the  people  of  Paris,  excited  by  the  Mississippi  lands  in  the  time  of 
Law,  had  never  been  more  violent.  *  *  *  x  state  of  afiWrs  now 
existed  in  Louisiana  of  the  most  extraordinary  character.  An  enormous 
value  was  placed  upon  lands  covered  with  water ;  towns  were  laid  out  in 
the  midst  of  cypress  swamps ;  prairies  were  set  on  fire,  and  speculators 
were  ready  to  snatch  at  every  islet.  Some  few,  shrewder  than  the  rest,  or 
favored  by  fortune,  succeeded  in  amassing  riches,  but  a  far  greater  number 
were  irretrievably  ruined."  To  make  the  existing  state  of  things  in  the 
end  still  worse,  the  banks  were  profuse  in  their  discounts,  and  did  not 
scruple  to  issue  paper  to  five  times  the  amount  of  the  available  capital." 

1837.  At  length,  continues  our  authority,  on  the  13th  of  May,  the 
disaster  which  had  been  so  long  preparing  for  Louisiana,  fell  upon  her. 
Fourteen  of  the  banks  of  New  Orleans  suspended  specie  payments.  In 
this  emergency,  and  to  aiford  the  community  a  temporary  and  partial 
relief,  the  three  municipalities  each  issued  bills  from  the  value  of  one 
shilling  to  four  dollars,  and  in  a  short  time  companies  and  even  individ- 
uals claimed  the  same  privilege,  so  that  the  State  was  inundated  with  rag 


li      'l! 


440 


ANNALS   OF  LOUISIANA. 


money.  Another  cause  of  the  existing  distress  was  the  new  tariff,  which 
had  depreriatod  the  vahie  of  American  sugar  in  proportion  as  the  duty 
liad  been  reduced  on  the  foreign  article.  At  a  former  period  the  culture 
of  cotton  had  been  abandoned  for  that  of  sugar.  The  contrary  was  rioAv 
the  case ;  cane  was  destroyed  and  cotton  planted  in  its  place.  One 
hundred  and  sixty-six  sugar  plantations  were  given  up ;  and  cotton  alone 
was  destined  to  restore  prosperity  to  Louisiana.  The  crop  of  this  article 
in  1884  had  been  150,(X)0  bales — equivalent  to  sixty-two  million  pounds — 
and  this  year  it  increased  to  225,000  bales,  or  ninety-four  million  pounds. 
The  large  profits  that  had  been  realized  increased  the  rashness  of  si)ecu- 
lators,  and  their  eagerness  to  purchase  raised  the  price  to  18  and  20  cents. 
These  prices  were  wholly  unwarranted  by  the  state  of  the  markets  in 
Europe,  and  the  losses  were  immense.  Numerous  bankruptcies  followed, 
some  for  great  amounts.  Lands  could  no  longer  be  sold ;  plans  of  towns 
were  of  no  value  but  to  be  gazed  on  as  pictures,  and  the  fortunes  based 
on  them  fell  even  more  suddenly  than  they  had  risen.  Usurers  were 
now  the  only  class  that  prosperecl,  and  they  reaped  a  rich  harvest  from 
the  calamities  of  others. 

Still  associations  went  on  forming  for  this  or  that  more  or  less  legiti- 
mate venture,  and  were  duly  incorporated  by  the  legislature.  Among 
these  were  the  New  Orleans  &  Texas  Navigation,  and  Mexican  Gulf  Riiilway 
Companies ;  the  Madison  &  Covington,  Natchitoches  &  Sabine,  Vidaliii, 
Harrisonburg  &  Alexandria,  and  the  Louisiana  and  Mississippi  railroad 
projects ;  and  the  Lake  Borgne  Navigation  Company,  which  proposed  to 
dig  a  canal  from  a  point  in  the  lower  portion  of  New  Orleans  to  Bayou 
Bienvenu. 

A  loan  to  the  amount  of  five  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  State  bonds 
was  made  to  the  New  Orleans  &  Nashville  Railroad,  and  its  nominal 
stock  increased  by  three  million  dollars. 

The  State  accepted  her  allotted  portion  under  the  act  of  Congress 
making  distribution  of  the  surplus  revenue  of  the  general  government. 

Resolutions  approving  the  views  of  the  governor,  as  set  forth  in  his 
message,  respecting  abolition  societies,  concurring  in  the  declarations  of 
Kentucky  and  South  Carolina  on  the  same  crusading  organizations,  and 
recommending  a  convention,  were  adopted  by  the  general  assembly;  and 
Hon.  Alox.  Mouton  was  chosen  United  States  Senator,  vice  Hon.  Alex. 
Porter,  resigned. 

1838.  The  great  financial  crash  could  not  be  retrieved  in  a  day. 
Property  of  all  kind  was  more  or  less  depreciated  in  value,  and  industry 
was  all  but  paralyzed.  Doctors  of  finance,  or  financial  quacks,  were  on 
hand  with  their  nostrums,  and  many  were  looking  for  an  extra  session  of 
the  legislature,  expecting  relief  from  that  quarter.  There  was  no  extra 
session. 

A  bill  passed  the  senate,  at  the  regular  session  of  the  general  assembly, 
appointing  a  commission  to  examine  into  and  report  upon  the  conditions 
of  the  banks,  imposing  certain  restrictions  upon  the  privileges  of  these 
institutions,  but  allowing  them  to  issue  post-notes  payable  in  1840.  Rut 
the  house  and  senate  were  not  in  accord,  and  the  measure  fell  through. 
It  embodied  the  suggestions  of  Mr.  Albert  Hoa. 

Subseqnentl}',  the  banks  determined  upon  the  issue  of  post-notes,  the 
expedient  to  be  confined  to  the  period  of  suspension  of  specie  payments. 


ANNALS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


441 


The  Red  River,  Baton  Rouge  &  Clinton,  and  the  Mexican  Gulf  Railroad 
t)om})anie8,  were  recijncnts  of  State  aid,  in  bonds  to  the  amount  of 
$275,000,  and  the  "  Bath  Railroad  Company,"  a  charter.  "  Bath  "  is  now 
hut  a  little  known  name  of  some  indefinite  spot  on  the  shore  of  Lake 
I'onohartrain,  parish  of  Jefferson. 

Caldwell,  Caddo  and  Madison  parishes  were  erected,  and  Port  Hudson, 
Springfield  and  Thibodeaux,  incorporated. 

Preliminary  steps  toward  the  education  of  the  deaf  and  dumb — which 
culminated  in  the  State  asylum — were  authorized  at  this  session. 

The  agitation  of  the  slaverj'  question  was  spreading  and  growing.  The 
lower  house  of  Congress  was  becoming  the  scene  of  unseemly  debate. 
Kastern  and  Western  members  vituperatively  inveighed ;  Southern 
members  vainly  appealed  to  the  guarantees  of  the  federal  constitution,  or 
parliamentiiry  rules,  or,  when  some  negrophilis^t's  speech  exceeded  all 
license,  left  the  house.  The  general  assembly  of  Louisiana,  at  the  present 
session,  declared  in  emphatic  language,  its  approval  of  the  course  j)ursued 
by  the  Southern  members  of  Congress,  "  in  manifesting  their  determin- 
ation, manfully  and  with  energy,  to  resist  by  all  constitutional  means, 
any  attempt  which  may  be  made  to  abolish  slavery  in  any  portion  of 
the  Union  by  the  action  of  Congress." 

1S39.  The  banks  had  resumed  specie  payments,  and  the  general 
assembly,  recognizing  that  the  suspension  was  "the  result  of  a  general 
derangement  of  the  monetary  system  of  the  country,"  [as  the  act 
expressed  it,]  reinstated  them  in  their  chartered  rights,  privileges,  etc.  The 
general  assembly  also  passed  resolutions  in  endorsement  of  the  United 
States  Bank,  declaring  that  a  national  bank,  properly  constituted,  an 
important  auxiliary  in  carrying  into  effect  the  power  of  Congress  to 
create  and  regulate  a  currency  of  equal  value,  credit  and  use,  wherever 
it  may  circulate,  and  to  facilitate  the  fiscal  operations  of  the  government. 

The  Citizens'  Bank  was  required  to  establish  seven  branches,  with  an 
aggregate  capital  of  $3,000,000,  and  State  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $1,400,000, 
were  emittecl  to  the  three  municipalities  of  New  Orleans. 

"  To  promote  direct  intercourse  between  New  Orleans  and  Europe,"  the 
State  took  two  hundred  thousand  dollars  of  the  capital  stock  of  the 
'"Steam  Trans- Atlantic  Company  of  Louisiana,"  and  to  "expedite  the 
construction  of  Clinton  and  Port  Hudson  Railroad,"  issued  bonds  to  the 
amount  of  five  hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  Attakapas  Canal  [through 
Lake  Varret]  Company  received  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  of  State 
funds. 

Union  parish  was  created,  and  the  towns  of  Iberia  and  Shreveport 
incorporated.  The  Milne  Asvlums  for  Orphans,  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church  of  St.  Vincent  de  Paul,  and  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 
New  Orleans,  were  incorporated.  Among  the  trustees  of  the  latter  were 
Ed.  McGhee  and  T.  K.  Price. 

The  number  of  justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  was  raised  to  five,  the 
Commercial  Court  of  New  Orleans  created,  and  a  law  against  betting  on 
elections  enacted.  The  latter  forbade  any  person  to  stake  or  hazard  upon 
elections,  popular  or  in  legislature,  under  penalty  of  a  fine  equal  to  the 
amount  hazarded. 

The  office  of  auditor  on  auction  sales  in  New  Orleans  was  created. 

Emissaries  of  New  England's  intermeddling  philanthrophy  had  become 


:M:;'i 


442 


ANNALS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


objects  of  legislative  attention,  and  an  act  was  passed  respecting  the 
carrying  away  of  slaves,  making  the  captain  or  owner  of  any  vessel   on 
board  wnich  a  slave  should  be  found,  without  the  consent  of  his  owner 
responsible  to  the  latter  for  any  loss  he  might  sustain,  also  liable  to  a  fine 
of  nve  hundred  dollars  for  every  such  slave. 

On  the  12th  of  February,  the  New  Orleans  Exchange,  a  splendid 
edifice,  was  destroyed  by  fire.  The  loss  is  set  down  by  one  authority  at 
the  very  high  figure  of  six  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

February  4,  A.  B.  Roman  succeeded  Governor  White,  being  a  second 
time  elected  governor.  In  his  inaugural  he  referred  in  emphatic  language 
to  the  anti-slavery  agitation,  and  the  invasion  of  the  State  by  a  body  of 
armed  men  from  the  Republic  of  Texas. 

The  State  was  now  divided  into  thirty-eight  parishes  and  ten  judicial 
districts. 

1840.  The  fourteenth  legislature  signalized  itself  at  the  second  session 
by  abolishing  imprisonment  for  debt.  It  also  made  appropriations  for 
the  improvement  of  several  bayous,  the  cutting  of  a  channel  through  the 
falls  at  Alexandria,  and  for  the  removal  of  Red  River  raft ;  created  the 
parishes  of  Union  and  Calcasieu ;  incorporated  the  town  of  Mandeville 
and  the  old  Jefferson  &  Lake  Ponchartrain  Railroad,  and  gave  registrars' 
of  mortgages  to  Natchitoches  and  Jefferson  parishes. 

The  year  is  memorable  for  an  extraordinary  rise  of  the  Mississippi. 
"  Never  had  the  river  worn  so  terrific  an  aspect  since  1782,  when  the 
Attakapas  and  Opelousas  were  partly  covered  by  its  waters.  It  was  now 
swollen  to  within  a  few  inches  of  the  highest  levees,  and  in  several  places 
flowed  over  them,  and  inundated  the  country.  The  crevasses  were 
numerous,  and  some  of  them  of  great  width.  The  lands  of  Lafourche 
and  Concordia  were  completely  under  water.  The  Red  River,  driven 
back  by  the  increased  volume  of  the  Mississippi,  inundated  its  fine  cotton 
lands.  But  at  last  the  flood  subsided,  and  compensated  by  the  rich 
deposit  it  left  for  the  mischief  it  had  done.  New  fertility  was  given  to 
the  soil,  and  never  was  the  cron  more  abundant."     [Bunner.] 

The  number  of  sugar  plantations  at  this  time  amounted  to  525, 
employing  40,000  laborers,  and  a  mechanical  power  equal- to  ten  thousand 
horse.  The  population  of  the  State  amountea  to  350,000 ;  at  the  time  of 
its  cession,  the  number  of  inhabitants  of  the  Territory  was  but  60,000. 
Her  progress  was  as  undoubted,  as  were  her  resources  for  great  and 
enduring  prosperity.  But  the  banks,  unable  to  stem  the  tide  of  general 
financial  embarrassment,  again  suspended  specie  payments. 

1841.  Their  condition  was,  however,  daily  growing  better,  and  their 
reputation  for  solvency  widening.  Their  notes  were  but  little  below  par, 
and  circulated  extensively  through  the  Southwest. 

The  State  was  their  debtor  at  this  period  to  the  amount  of  $850,000, 
"  and  it  was  generally  believed  at  the  time,"  says  Gayarre,  "  on  the  auth- 
ority of  persons  who  had  made  the  calculation,  that  the  members  cf  the 
le^slature,  in  their  private  capacity,  owed  to  these  institutions  about  one 
million  dollars."  Such  relations  render  sound,  not  to  say  honest  banking, 
impossible.  Little  wonder  legislators  pledged  the  credit  of  the  State  so 
wantonly. 

The  Clinton  &  Port  Hudson  Railroad  was  ordered  forfeited  to  the 
State,  the  company  being  unable  to  meet  the  interest  on  the  bonds 


Bcting  the 
vessel,  on 
his  owner, 
•le  to  a  fine 

I  splendid 
ithority  at 

g  a  second 

ic  language 

a  body  of 

ten  judicial 

ond  session 
)riation8  for 
through  the 
created  the 
Mandeville, 
fe  registrars 

Mississippi. 
32,  when  the 
It  was  now 
everal  places 
vasses  were 
>f  Lafourche 
liver,  driven 
.8  fine  cotton 
by  the  rich 
[was  given  to 

Ated  to  525, 
fen  thousand 
the  time  of 
but  60,000. 
br  great  and 
le  of  general 

fcr,  and  their 
le  below  par, 

lof  $850,000, 
In  the  auth- 
libers  cf  the 
18  about  one 
lest  banking, 
Ihe  State  so 

jited  to  the 
the  bonds 


ANNALS  OF   LOUISIANA. 


443 


[$389,000]  authorized  by  the  legislature  to  expedite  the  construction  of 
the  road. 

The  work  of  opening  the  mouth  of  the  Atchafalaya  at  the  Mississippi, 
and  that  of  Grand  River  at  its  junction  with  Bayou  Plaquemines,  was 
undertaken  by  the  Board  of  Public  Works ;  the  cutting  off  of  points  on 
Red  River,  by  the  removal  of  which  its  navigation  might  be  improved, 
was  ordered,  and  appropriations  continued  for  the  cleaning  out  of  several 
navigable  bayous. 

Lotteries  were  aanin  "  generally  abolished." 

The  long  unheeded  claim  of  the  State  to  her  share  of  the  public  lands 
within  her  domain  had  been  at  length  acceded  to.  But  many  thousand 
acres  of  the  grant  were  of  little  or  no  value. 

A  bill  was  passed  at  this  session  [first  of  the  fifteenth  legislature]  sub- 
mitting to  popular  vote  the  question  of  calling  a  convention  to  amend  the 
constitution. 

1842.  The  closing  session  of  this  legislature  was  marked  by  earnest 
work ;  the  chief  matter  for  consideration  being  what  we  may  term  the 
financial  situation.  Some  remedial  measures  were  urgently  demanded. 
Banking  privileges  had  been  so  inconsiderately  accorded  and  so  reck- 
lessly used,  there  had  been  so  much  borrowing,  discounting,  and  of 
speculative  venture  based  on  unlimited  credit,  that  only  the  law-making 
power  could  interpose  with  the  needed  corrective  and  restrictive  legisla- 
tion. A  law  was  enacted  prohibiting  banks  from  further  violation  of 
their  charters,  providing  for  the  liquidation  of  such  as  were  insolvent, 
and  creating  a  '*  Board  of  Currency  to  see  that  they  rigidly  complied 
with  their  charters  and  by-laws.  Two  were  paying  specie ;  during  the 
year  seven  of  them  went  by  the  board,  leaving  nine  in  sound  financial 
condition,  with  a  reserve  of  $4,565,925  against  the  comparatively  trivial 
circulation  of  $1,261,514.  But  so  severe  had  been  the  lesson,  tKat  even 
with  this  strength  the  banks  would  not  venture  to  afford  the  usual  aid 
to  even  legitimate  commercial  and  industrial  enterprise. 

A  law  was  also  passed  retrenching  the  expenses  of  the  State  govern- 
ment. Its  expenditures  had  for  years  been  extravagant  and  in  excess  of 
revenue.  A  clirect  tax  upon  real  estate  in  the  several  parishes,  as  well  as 
other  levies  in  the  way  of  taxation,  made,  to  increase  the  resources  of  the 
government. 

According  to  the  apportionment  of  this  year,  the  house  of  representa- 
tives consisted  of  fiftj'^-nine  members,  the  parish  of  Orleans  senaing  ten. 
A  much  more  efficient  organization  of  the  militia — in  detail,  and  as  a 
whole — was  ordered  this  year. 

In  the  general  financial  scheme  of  retrenchment  and  reform,  the  public 
school  system  also  received  attention.  The  parishes  [Orleans  excepted] 
were  now  to  provide  each  a  school  fund  of  from  two  hundred  to  four 
hundred  dollars,  receiving  from  the  State  double  the  amount  it  raised ; 
Orleans  received  $7,500,  the  parish  being  required  to  tax  itself  for  the 
balance  necessary  to  meet  the  authorized  expenditure ;  the  sums  of  ten 
thousand  dollars  to  the  Louisiana  College,  five  thousand  to  the  College 
of  Franklin,  annually  to  each,  and  ten  thousand  a  year  to  the  College  of 
Jefferson,  were  voted.  The  cutting  of  a  channel  through  the  falls  at 
Alexandria  was  abandoned,  and  State  appropriations  for  several  other 
purposes  were  withdrawn. 


n 


11     I 


I 


•1  all 


m 


444 


ANNALS  OP  LOUISIANA. 


The  legislature  was  in  a  penitent  mood,  Asyluius,  however,  and  the 
Charity  Hospital,  were  not  neglected:  to  do  so  would  not  be  like 
Louisiana  in  any  period  of  her  nistory.  That  truly  philanthropic  hotly 
the  Howard  Association  of  New  Orleans,  organized  this  year,  and  tfie 
First  Presbyterian  Church  of  the  City  of  Lafayette — now  Fourth  District 
of  New  Orleans. 

The  Civil  Code  was  so  amended  that  it  was  no  longer  required  a' 
minister  of  religion  should  be  a  resident  of  the  parish  when  he  performed 
the  marriage  ceremony. 

A  disastrous  fire  having  occurred  in  Baton  Rouge,  the  legislature  voted 
the  sum  of  two  thousand  dollars  for  the  rehef  of  the  destitute  sulFerers : 
also  incorporated  the  towns  of  Bayou  Sara,  Farmerville  and  St.  Charles 
of  Grand  Coteau. 

Further  legislation  was  had  respecting  the  immigration  of  free  persons 
of  color  into  the  State,  and  resolutions  were  adopted  ns  to  the  action  of 
New  York  in  her  inter-State  obligations  under  the  fugitive  slave  law. 

1843.  Governor  Roman  was  succeeded  by  Alexander  Mouton  in  Janu- 
ary. The  new  executive  was  an  experienced  politician,  having  been 
United  States  Senator  for  several  years,  and  previously  speaker  of  the 
general  assembly.  His  outgivings  show  him  to  be  a  Democrat  of  pro- 
nounced Jeffersonian  type.  This  he  evidenced  in  his  inaugural,  wherein 
he  also  dwelt  upon  the  old  question  of  the  public  lands,  and  spoke  with 
unreserve  of  the  lamentable  condition  of  the  finances  of  the  State.  Her 
liabilities — loans  and  faith  pledged — amounted  to  some  millions,  while 
the  ordinary  expenses  of  the  government  exceeded  the  income  by  about 
one  hundred  th  jusand  dollars.  The  old  banking  system  was  at  fault, 
and  it  was  necessary  to  render  its  revival  impossible.  Acts  were  passed 
to  facilitate  the  liquidation  of  insolvent  banks — a  special  enactment  for 
the  property  banks — and  the  insolvent  laws  were  revived. 

Under  the  new  congressional  apportionment,  the  State  was  entitled  to 
four  members  in  the  lower  house,  and  accordingly  there  was  a  re-dis- 
tricting of  the  State. 

Louisianians  were  not  growing  unmindful  of  the  great  services  rendered 
them  by  "Old  Hickory."  Resolutions  were  adopted  by  the  legislature 
this  year,  pledging  the  State  to  refund  to  General  Jackson,  the  fine  (with 
interest)  imposed  upon  him  by  Judge  Hall,  of  the  United  States  District 
Court  at  New  Orleans,  in  the  event  congress  should  fail  to  do  so. 

Five  new  parishes  were  created,  viz  :  Bossier,  DeSoto,  Franklin,  Sabine, 
and  Tensas.    Marksville  and  St.  Martinsville  incorporated. 

A  court  of  errors  and  appeals  in  criminal  cases  was  organized. 

The  opening  of  a  road  around  the  raft  in  Red  River  was  authorized. 
The  Metropolis  had,  besides  other  attention  from  the  legislature,  incor- 

E oration  of  the    Medico-Chirurgical    Society ;  the    Medical  College  of 
lOuisiana ;    Medical  College  of  Orleans ;  the  French   Society,  and  the 
Association  of  Veterans. 

A  Glass  Manufacturing  Company,  parish  of  Jefferson,  received  a 
charter ;  and  in  this  year  the  New  Orleans  &  Carrollton  Railroad  was 
allowed  to  use  locomotives  in  the  running  of  cars  to  and  from  the  corner 
of  Baronne  and  Poydras  streets. 

1844-  The  project  of  a  State  Convention  to  revise  the  constitution 
having  been  carried,  an  election  for  members  was  held  in  July,  and  on 


ANNALS  OF   LOUISIANA. 


445 


August  5th,  those  chosen  convened  a*^^  Jackson,  East  Feliciana.  Subse- 
quently the  convention  adjourned  to  New  Orleans. 

Hon.  Henry  Johnson  was  elected  United  States  Senator. 

A  movement  towards  the  erection  in  New  Orleans  of  a  "  National 
Monument  of  1814-15,"  was  inaugurated  by  the  legislature. 

The  office  of  State  Librarian  was  created ;  also  the  parishes  of  More- 
house and  Vermillion ;  and  the  Agricultural  &  Mechanics'  Association  ; 
St.  Charles  Hotel  Company ;  and  the  Odd  Fellows'  Grand  Lodge  incor- 
porated. 

An  act  was  passed  providing  for  the  licjuidation  of  the  debts  proper  of 
the  State,  but  the  Bank  of  Louisiana  and  others,  declining  to  gu  into  the 
arrangement,  nothing  came  of  the  effort  till  the  succeeding  session. 
Governor  Mouton  was  able,  however,  to  congratulate  the  legislature  upon 
the  reviving  prosperity  of  the  State  and  a  greatly  improved  financial 
condition. 

18^5.  The  new  constitution  which  was  adopted  in  convention.  May 
14,  was  ratified  by  the  popular  vote.  It  did  away  with  many  of  the 
conservative  features  of  the  existing  regime,  while  it  imposed  wise  and 
marked  restrictions  upon  the  legislative  power  to  confer  charters,  and 
absolutely  prohibited  the  State  from  partnership  in  any  bank  or  other 
corporations.  No  monopoly  was  to  be  created,  nor  divorces  granted  by 
the  legislature,  and  lotteries  were  forbidden.  Suffrage  was  extended,  the 
term  of  judicial  office  reduced ;  a  public  school  system  ordained,  with  a 
State  University  at  New  Orleans ;  the  office  of  lieutenant-governor  created, 
and  a  new  apportionment  made.  Under  it,  the  general  assembly  consisted 
of  91  representatives  and  32  senators;  the  parish  of  Orleans  having 
twenty  members  of  the  house  and  four  of  the  senate.  An  election  was  to 
follow  for  a  new  general  assembly,  governor,  etc. 

Next  in  interest  was  the  final  disposal  of  the  relations  between  the  State 
and  the  banks.  Under  the  act  for  the  adjustment  and  liquidation  of  the 
debts  proper  of  the  State,  [which  was  revived  at  this  session,  with  amend- 
ments acceptable  to  the  banks]  there  was  an  adjustment  of  mutual 
obligations,  a  renunciation  by  the  State  of  all  interference  in  bank 
management ;  and  she  was  relieved  of  about  three  million  dollars  of  debt. 
Louisiana  was  steadily  emerging  from  her  financial  embarrassments. 
The  banks,  too,  were  extinguishing  their  bonded  debts ;  the  city  of  New 
Orleans  had  retired  her  depreciated  **  promises  to  pay ;  "  public  credit 
was  restored ;  a  sound  currency  in  circulation,  and  the  State  treasury  in 
a  most  prosperous  condition,  thanks  to  the  wonderful  resources  of  the 
State,  tne  commercial  advantages  of  the  metropolis,  the  recuperative 
powers  of  the  people,  and  the  able,  eminently  prudent,  watchful  and 
courageous  administration  of  Governor  Mouton. 

Can  it  be  believed  that  Louisiana  was  opposed  to  the  annexation  of 
Texas?  We  learn  from  Mr.  Gayarre,  that  it  was  with  difficulty  a  resolution 
favoring  such  measure  went  through  the  General  Assemblv,  even  "with  a 
proviso  tacked  to  it,  which  was  not  free  from  objections."  The  veteran 
historian  was  himself  the  chief  champion  in  the  house,  of  this  declaration 
of  the  undoubted  wishes  of  Louisianians. 

The  law  against  the  introduction  of  free  persons  of  color,  drew  remon- 
strances from  some  of  the  eastern  States  as  well  as  from  Great  Britain. 
It  was  a  measure  common  to  the  southern  States — certainly  to  the  seaboard 


■ :    tj!. 


!:  U< 


fii 


44('> 


ANNALS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


States — was  cnnrtcd  in  the  interest  of  domestic  tranquillity,  and  hold  to 
lie  clearly  within  the  scope  of  the  legislative  powers,  to  say  nothing  of 
their  inalienable  sovereignty.  Foreign  jwwers  might,  so  far  as  the 
enforeenient  of  the  law  affected  their  nniritime  interests,  enter  diplomatic 
jnotest  with  the  general  government,  but  the  Southern  States  rightlv 
rejected  interference  from  any  quarter.  Massachusetts,  in  her  anti- 
slavery  zealotry,  sent  an  agent  to  Ijouisiann  to  enquire  as  to  the  reported 
imprisonment  of  such  of  these  free  persons  of  color  as  were  citizens  of 
that  commonwealth,  with  the  view  of  making  up  a  case  which  might 
ultimately  b6  brought  before  the  United  States  Supreme  Court.  Hubbard'H 
[agent's  name]  presence  in  New  Orleans,  evokeu  a  deep  but  suppressed 
feeling  of  refecntment ;  there  was  no  violence  shown  him  nor  even  insult, 
and  his  stav.was  short.  He,  himself,  has  left  on  record  the  hopeless  and 
initating  crmracter  of  his  mission,  and  the  intense  excitement  nis  arrival 
created,  in  the  same  connection  bearing  handsome  testimony  to  "  the 
cGurteous,  bland  and  humane  manner  in  which  "  these  facts  had  been 
conveyed  to  him. 

The  legislature  passed  suitable  resolutions  upon  this  attempted  inter- 
pi  sition  of  Massachusetts  in  the  police  regulations  of  Louisiana. 

This  year  a  Board  of  Commissioners  for  the  better  organization  of  the 
])ublic  schools  was  created;  and  the  appropriation  to  those  in  New 
Orleans  doubled ;  the  City  of  Carrollton  was  incorporated,  likewise 
the  Polytedinic  School,  [now  no  more] ;  the  "  College  of  Louisiana," 
which  had  .received  many  thousands  from  the  State  treasury,  ordered 
sold  ;  an  appropriation  for  the  encouragement  of  silk  culture  in  the  State ; 
the  First  Baptist  Church,  of  New  Orleans,  incorporated ;  the  parish  of 
Jackson  created,  and  the  charter  of  the  Mexican  Gulf  Railway  Company 
renewed. 

18^6.  At  the  election  in  January,  held  under  the  new  constitution, 
Hon.  Isaac  Johnson  was  elected  governor,  and  Trasimon  Landry, 
lieutenant-governor. 

The  new  general  assembly  convened  on  the  9th  February,  and  the 
irauguration  took  place  on  the  12th. 

For  months  the  relations  between  Mexico  and  the  United  States  had 
l)cen  severely  strained,  and  the  attitude  of  their  respective  military  forces  on 
the  Rio  Grande  was  threateningly  hostile.  Early  in  the  year  hostilities 
broke  out,  and  General  Taylor,  who  held  the  American  lines,  was  in 
imminent  danger  of  being  crushed  by  a  greatly  superior  Mexican  force. 
News  of  his  critical  position  reaching  New  Orleans,  the  enthusiasm  of 
patriotic  men  fired  all  classes.  The  legislature  voted  $100,000  for  raising, 
equipping,  and  transporting  four  regiments  of  volunteers  to  the  army  of 
( Tcneral  Taylor.  "  In  an  incredible  short  space  of  time,"  says  Governor 
Johnson,  "  several  thousand  brave  and  devoted  men  were  forwarded  to 
the  seat  of  war,  where  they  happily  arrived  in  time  to  enable  General 
Taylor  more  confidently  to  assume  an  offensive  attitude  against  the 
enemy,  and  to  crown  the  brilliant  victories  of  the  8th  and  9th,  [of  May] 
already  achieved,  with  the  conquest  of  Matamoras." 

The  legislature  passed  resolutions  tendering  the  thanks  of  the  State  to 
General  Taylor  and  his  army,  for  the  additional  lustre  they  had  shed  j 
upon  American  arms  during  the  short  but  brilliant  campaign,  and  voted 
a  sword  to  the  General  himself. 


hold  to 
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\cv  tinti- 
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tion  of  the 
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Louisiana," 
iry,  ordered 
n  the  State ; 
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ly  Company 

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iry,  and  the 

States  had 
ary  forces  on 
kr  hostilities 
Rnes,  was  in 
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thusiasm  of 
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[ible  General , 
,  against  the ; 
^,  [of  May] 

Ithe  State  to 
ley  had  shed 
and  voted  i 


ANNALS  OF  LOUISIANA. 

Cicnerul  Gaines,  too,  was  voted  resolutions  of  thanks,  but  in  hmguago 
that  would  make  the  typical  sophomore  burst  with  envy. 

Jurisdiction  over  the  sites  of  Forts  Jackson,  St.  Philip,  Wood  and  I'lk.;, 
the  sites  of  Battery  Bienvenu  and  Tower  Dupre,  and  the  site  for  a 
fortification  at  or  near  Proctor's  Landing,  on  LaKe  Borgno,  was  granto  I 
or  ceded  to  the  United  States  for  military  purposes,  June  Ist. 

The  State  was  divided  into  seventeen  judicuil  districts ;  and  the  Court 
of  Errors  and  Appeals  in  Criminal  matters,  abolished,  its  jurisdiction 
being  transferred  to  the  Supreme  Court. 

The  new  constitution  having  decreed  that  the  scat  of  government 
should  be  moved  from  New  Orleans,  Baton  Rouge  was  selected  by  th ; 
legislature  as  the  new  capital.  But  no  change  was  to  take  place  till  after 
September,  1849. 

The  general  assembly,  at  this  session,  fixed  the  salaries  of  the  executive 
and  other  State  officers,  as  follows :  Governor,  $6,000 ;  Secretary  of  State, 
$2,000 ;  Treasurer,  $4,000 ;  Auditor,  $3,000.  The  new  constitution  fixed 
the  pay  of  the  Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  at  $6,000,  and  each  of 
the  three  Associate  Justices  at  $5,000. 

Unionville  and  Donaldsonville  were  merged  and  incorporated  as  the 
town  of  Donaldsonville,  Lafayette  was  made  the  seat  of  justice  of 
Jefferson  parish,  and  a  stretch  of  territory,  reaching  from  that  city  to 
Bloominguale,  in  same  parish,  and  fronting  the  river,  was  incorporated  as 
the  Borough  of  Frceport. 

The  seat  of  justice  of  Plaquemine  parish,  was  fixed  at  Point-a-la-Hacho, 
and  the  town  of  Plaquemine,  Iberville,  incorporat,ed. 

1847.  The  war  with  Mexico  continuing,  another  regiment  of  volunteers 
was  raised,  and  presented  by  the  State  with  a  stand  of  colors  costing 
three  hundred  dollars. 

Liberal  appropriations  had  been  made  through  several  years,  for  the 
improvement  of  mterior  navigation,  but  the  results  Avere  neither  commen- 
surate with  the  expenditure  nor  encouraging.  Money  was,  however,  still 
voted  for  this  purpose,  as  well  as  for  the  closing  of  the  crevasses  at  New 
Carthage  and  Grand  Levee ;  the  erection  of  a  breakwater  opposite  Bayou 
Lafourche,  the  Raccourci  Cut-off,  etc.,  and  work  continued  under  the 
superintendence  of  the  State  engineer. 

One  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  was  appropriated  for  the 
erection  of  the  new  State  House  at  Baton  Rouge ;  $37,000  for  the 
completion  of  the  Penitentiary  Cotton  Factory,  and  the  purchase  of  new 
macninery  for  the  same.  The  penitentiary  was  now  leased  out,  whereby 
the  State  was  relieved  of  the  annual  expenditure  of  several  thousand 
dollars  required  for  its  support. 

A  State  University,  witn  the  title  of  University  of  Louisiana,  to  be 
located  in  New  Orleans,  and  to  be  composed  of  four  faculties,  viz  :  law, 
medicine,  natural  science  and  letters,  with  an  academical  department,  was 
called  into  existence  this  year.  The  Medical  College  of  Louisiana  was 
merged  in  it,  and  an  appropriation  of  $25,000  made  for  the  erection  of  the 
central  of  that  group  of  wnite,  oblong  buildings,  fronting  on  Common 
street,  between  Baronne  and  Dryades  [then  Phillippa]  streets,  and  known 
as  the  University  buildings.  The  site  was  a  donation  from  the  State. 
After  many  and  chequered  years,  the  University  of  Louisiana,  seems  now, 
[1882]  to  nave  awakened  to  a  new  and  vigorous  life. 


;    i 


448 


ANNALS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


Hitherto,  judicial  luIvortiHcincntH  were  pultli^Iied  in  EngliHh  and 
Frenrii,  in  coniplinnoo  with  tho  InwH.  But  tho  Americnn  i)o)>ulution  was 
bt'coniinp  larj^or  year  l)y  ymir,  opening  extennive  oreas,  ereatinn  und 
giving  names  to  new  pariHheH,  and  irreHistihly  anserting  itself.  In  recog- 
nition of  the  nituation — as  the  phrase  now  is — the  legishiture  declared  the 
publication  in  French  not  necessary,  in  twenty  [specifiedj  i)ariHliPH 
mostly  northern,  in  which  the  American  population  was  largely  in  the 
ascendant. 

This  year  also  witnessed  tho  estahlishmcnt  of  the  State  Insane  Asylum 
at  Jackson,  East  Feliciana. 

A  census  of  the  population  of  the  Htatc,  with  varied  statistical  returns 
was  made. 

Bankrupt  banks  and  Hhattercd  corporations,  that  never  ought  to  have 
been  created,  were  still  liquidating.  To  facilitate  their  disappearance,  th(! 
Htate  appointed  a  liquidator  for  each  of  the  following,  viz  :  Exchange  and 
Banking  Company,  Atchafalya  Railroad  and  Banking  Company, 
Merchants'  Bank,  Bank  of  Orleans,  Clinton  &  J^ort  Hudson  Railnmd 
Company,  Mexican  Gulf  Railway  Company,  and  the  Nashville  Railroad 
Company.  There  were  in  liquidation  besides,  the  New  Orleans  Company 
of  Architects,  and  the  New  Orleans  Improvement  and  Banking  Company, 
which  latter  was  to  drain  the  swamp  regions  between  the  city  and  Lake 
Pontchartrain,  and  make  it  blossom  lika  the  rose.  They  built  the  St. 
Louis  hotel,  exchange  and  ball  room,  and  some  stores,  in  a  single 
structure,  which,  under  corrupt,  carpet-bag  rule,  was  bought  for  a  .State 
House. 

There  was  created  at  this  time,  a  Treasury  Department  in  the  State 
Government,  a  union  of  the  offices  of  auditor  ana  State  treasurer,  with 
these  officials  as  heads  of  the  Department.  Those  curious  in  the  matter, 
are  referred  to  Act  18,  second  session ;  approved  January  26th,  1847. 

Another  Act  of  the  same  session,  provided  for  the  disposal  of  the 
"  Improvement  lands  "  granted  by  Congress. 

Disposdl  of  the  public  school  lands  was  a  more  difficult  matter.  These 
grants  of  the  general  government  were  too  often  located  on  irreclaimable 
sea  marsh,  and  other  lands  of  no  value,  and  the  laws  of  congress  imposed 
such  restrictions  on  their  sale,  as  made  the  donation  all  but  barren.  An 
ordinance  of  the  new  constitution  required  the  establishment  of  a  system 
of  free  public  schools,  to  be  supported  mainly  by  the  proceeds  from  the 
sale  of  these  school  lands ;  ana  a  memorial  to  congress  was  adopted  by 
the  legislature,  praying  that  other  than  sea  marsh,  etc.,  be  appropriated, 
and  for  such  amendments  in  the  act  as  were  evidently  necessary  to  make 
the  system  of  free  public  schools  something  more  tnan  a  mere  scheme. 
At  this  session,  also,  an  Act  was  passed  in  accordance  with  the  require- 
ments of  the  constitution  in  this  matter  of  public  education,  and  a  school 
fund  created,  based  upon  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  public  lands. 
Additional  legislation  was,  however,  required  before  any  practical  results 
could  be  had. 

The  parish  of  Orleans  was  extended  to  Felicity  road,  which  was  then 
within  the  City  of  Lafayette,  parish  of  Jefferson,  and  three  municipalities 
of  New  Orleans,  were  authorized  to  fund  their  debts  in  thirty-year  bonds, 
bearing  seven  per  cent,  interest 

Houses  of  refuge,  for  vagrantiS  and  juvenile  delinquents,  were  established 
in  the  city. 


ANNALK  OF   LOUISIANA. 


440 


ManHflcld,  Do  Soto  parish,  waH  incorpornttMl. 

KcHolutioiiH  of  respect,  for  tho  inoinory  of  Ex-Oovornor  White,  were 
ndoitted  by  the  legiHlaturc. 

Tlio  Ntorininf^  niul  capture  of  Monterey  also  elicited  from  that  l>ody 
cuhtgiHtic  "  rusohitions  of  thanks,"  to  Ucneral  Taylor  and  tho  Louisiana 
otKcors  and  soldiers  engaged  in  that  brilliant  achievement.  General 
Worth  was  voted  a  sword,  in  recognition  of  his  services  in  the  same 
engagement,  (iencral  Scott  received  a  similar  testimonial  for  his  capture 
of  Vera  ('ruz  nnd  victory  of  Cerro  Gordo,  and  General  Taylor  a  gold 
medal,  in  recognition  of  his  victory  of  Buena  Vista. 

Hon.  Pierre  Sould  was  elected  United  States  Senator. 

184S-9.  The  general  assembly  consisted  at  this  time  of  thirty-three 
senators  and  ninety-seven  representatives,  on  un  apportionment  of  375 
electors  for  each  representative.  In  his  message  to  tne  legislature  at  tho 
opening  of  the  session,  Governor  Johnson  took  decided  ground  against 
the  adoption  of  the  "  Wilmot  proviso  " — a  virtual  declaration  of  exclusion 
of  the  South  from  all  territory  acquired  from  Mexico — which  had  boon 
introduced  in  the  Federal  House  of  Representatives  by  Mr.  Wilmot,  of 
Pennsylvania. 

Internal  improvements  were  pushed  with  much  vigor. 

We  spoke  above  of  how  little  had  been  accomplished,  in  proportion  to 
the  expenditures,  in  the  way  of  internal  improvements.  Much  reforma- 
tion had  been  had  in  this  direction.  But  the  abuses  must  have  been 
great  when  the  governor  could  sarcastically  observe  [January  message] 
that  the  State  engineer's  "report,  would  announce  the  startling  ana 
unprecedented  fact  that  he  had  performed  all  the  duties  imposed  on  him 
by  the  last  legislature." 

A  "  road  and  levee  fund  "  and  an  "  internal  improvement  fund  "  were 
created,  and  large  sums  voted  for  public  works.  Thirty-five  thousand 
dollars  in  the  erection  of  buildings,  purchase  of  apparatus,  books,  etc.,  for 
the  University  of  Louisiana.  A  Bureau  of  Statistics  was  created  in  con- 
nection with  the  office  of  Secretary  of  State,  and  measures  taken  for  the 
classification  and  preservation  of  the  archives  of  the  State.  The  records, 
surveys,  etc.,  of  Francis  Gonsoulin,  made  under  the  Spanish  domination, 
were  ordered  purchased.  We  may  note  in  connection  herewith  that  a 
large  quantity  of  printed  State  documents — including  even  the  decisions 
of  the  Supreme  Court — were  this  year  bestowed  upon  the  Louisiana 
Historical  Society.  The  volumes  were  deposited  with  the  society  "  for 
reference  and  preservation,"  says  the  act  authorizing  the  donation.  But 
this  society  is  long  since  defunct. 

An  act  of  the  legislature  placed  absentees  and  non-residents  on  the 
same  footing  with  residents,  in  relation  to  the  law  of  prescription. 

The  law  was  so  amended  that  married  persons  might  reciprocally  claim 
divorce,  when  their  marital  relations  were  such  as  rendered  their  living 
together  insupportable. 

Bienville  parish  was  created,  and  the  towns  of  Houma,  Vienna  and 
Providence  incorporated. 

General  Persifer  F.  Smith  was  voted  a  sword  by  the  legislature,  and  Pope 
Pius  IX.,  who  had  signalized  his  assumption  of  the  tiara  with  the  decla- 
ration of  a  decidedly  liberal  policy  and  tne  inauguration  of  many  reforms, 
was  warmly  eulogized  in  resolutions  adopted  by  the  same  body. 


4 


1  li! 


^1-  !i 


-  I, 


'i     ' 


I:  !*■ 


'fl 


450 


ANNALS  OP  LOUISIANA. 


Hiram  Powers,  the  sculptor,  received  a  commission  for  a  full  length 
statue  of  Washington.  This — one  of  the  finest  of  Powers'  efforts — stood 
for  years  in  the  Capitol  at  Baton  Rouge,  till  all-appropriating  General 
Butler  arrested  it  as  the  counterfeit  presentment  of  a  rebel,  and  as  rebel 
property  confiscated  and  shipped  it  North. 

An  extra  session*  of  the  legislature,  was  begun  December  4th  in 
compliance  with  the  proclamation  of  the  governor.  The  main  object  of 
the  session  was  to  complete  and  set  in  action  the  system  of  free  public 
schools,  though  considerable  other  legislation  of  interest  was  also  enocted. 

The  sum  of  five  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  was  appropriated 
for  the  organization  and  support  of  schools.  Liberal  sums  were  voted 
from  the  improvement  fund,  among  others,  $10,000  for  the  completion  of 
the  Barataria  &  Lafourche  Canal,  the  State  undertaking  the  work,  and 
securing  itself  by  a  lien  on  the  property  of  the  company. 

A  revision  of  the  Statutes  ana  Codes  was  ordered,  and  twelve  thousand 
dollars  voted  for  the  purpose. 

Mr  Caldwell  was  granted  the  exclusive  privilege  of  lighting  the  City  of 
Lafayette  with  gas,  for  the  term  of  twenty  years. 

A  measure  looking  towards  the  establishment  of  a  "  State  Seminary  of 
Learning,"  was  also  adopted  by  the  legislature. 

1850-2.  The  legislature  convened  in  the  new  State  House  at  Baton 
Rouge — now  the  capital — on  the  21st  January.  On  the  28th,  Hon. 
Joseph  Walker,  who  had  been  elected  successor  of  Gov.  Johnson,  was 
inaugurated.  The  session  was  a  busy  one,  no  fewer  than  355  acts  and  reso- 
lutions being  the  outcome.  Among  those  most  deserving  of  note  was  the 
grant  of  the  right  of  way  through  lands  belonging  to  the  State,  to  the 
New  Orleans  &  Jackson  Railroad  Company. 

The  Mechanics'  &  Traders'  Bank  and  the  City  Bank  were  authorized 
to  go  into  liquidation. 

Very  liberal  appropriations  were  made  for  the  opening  up  of  new  roads, 
the  construction  of  levees,  and  the  improvement  of  interior  navigation; 
twenty  thousand  dollars  being  granted  for  the  completion  of  the  Bara- 
taria &  Lafourche  Canal. 

The  towns  of  Abbeville,  Bayou  Sara,  Homer,  Minden,  Shreveport, 
Trinity  and  Vernon  were  incorporated.  The  latter  was  also  made  the 
seat  of  justice  of  Jackson  parish.  This  year  Jefferson  City,  too,  came 
into  corporate  existence. 

The  limits  of  the  parish  of  Orleans  was  extended  "  to  that  portion  of 
Felicity  road,  *  *  falling  within  the  northern  and  middle  lines  thereof, 
extenaing  parallel  from  Levee  street  to  the  rear  of  the  city."  A  new 
charter  was  adopted  for  the  city  of  New  Orleans,  under  which  the  three 
municipalities  were  re-united.  An  act  providing  for  the  liquidation  of 
their  debts  was  also  paF*od,  and  a  Board  of  Health  created.  The  New 
Orleans  Navigation  Company's  charter  was  declared  forfeited  and  the 
governor  authorized  to  lease  ont  the  Bayou  St.  John  and  Canal  Caron- 
delet.  The  Mechanics'  Society  of  New  Orleans  received  from  the  State  a 
grant  of  the  lot  upon  which  was  erected  the  Mechanics'  Institute.  Some 
two  million  acres  of  the  swamp  and  overflowed  lands  within  her  limitfi 


4^:' 


*  Under  the  new  constitution  the  sessions  were  triennial. 


re  authcrizeJ 


ANNALS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


451 


had  been  granted  to  the  State  by  Congress,  on  condition  of  their  reclama- 
tion, etc.     The  grant,  with  its  conditions,  was  accepted. 

Gen.  Philemon  Thomas,  a  soldier  of  the  revolution  and  of  the  war  of 
1814-15,  the  leader  in  the  capture  of  Baton  Rouge  from  the  Spaniards  in 
1810,  and  who  had  served  for  many  years  in  the  legislature  and  Congress, 
having  passed  away,  appropriate  resolutions  were  adopted  by  the 
legislature. 

The  constitution  of  1845  did  not  give  unqualified  satisfaction.  What 
form  of  government  does  ?  It  was  not  Democratic  enough — not  up  with 
the  spirit  of  "  progressive  Democracy."  There  was  at  this  period  much 
bosh  in  the  air  about  the  infallibillity  and  omnipotence  of  the  ballot. 
Divine  right  of  monarchy  had  given  place  to  divine  right  of  manhood 
suffrage,  and  in  keeping  therewith,  every  functionary  was  to  owe  his  office 
to  popular  vote.  This  radicalism  which  had  its  birth  in  the  Eastern  and 
Western  States,  invaded  the  slave-holding,  conservative  South,  and 
Louisiana,  by  popular  vote,  called  another  convention  to  revise  her  con- 
stitution in  accordance  with  the  "spirit  of  the  age."  This  body  met  at 
the  capital  early  in  July ;  gave  to  the  people  as  radical  a  charter  of  the 
organic  law  as  could  well  be  carried  out  at  the  time.  All  offices  were 
made  elective — the  judiciary  even  becoming  the  foot-ball  of  popular 
caprice,  and  sessions  of  the  legislature  again  made  annual. 

In  the  matter  of  State  aid  to  enterprises,  more  or  less  legitimate,  incor- 
porating of  banks,  etc.,  the  State  was  once  more  free  "  to  foster  and 
promote  "  progress  backwards. 

A  re-districtmg  for  congressional  representation  was  made.  The  parish 
of  Orleans  [left  bank]  constituted  the  first,  the  other  parishes  making  up 
the  three  remaining  districts. 

The  Bureau  of  Statistics  was  abolished,  and  may  be  it  was  out  of  the 
saving  thereof,  that  $138,000  was  given  for  school  expenses.  The  City  of 
Lafayette — now  Fourth  District — was  annexed  to  New  Orleans,  and  the 
Lafayette  &  Lake  Pontchartrain  Railroad  Company  given  the  right  of 
way  through  streets  and  public  scjuares.  New  Orleans  took  her  muni- 
cipalities together  again  and  constituted  herself  one  city. 

A  pension  of  $6  per  month,  to  be  paid  semi-annually,  in  advance,  was 
granted  the  veterans  (or  widows^  of  1813-15.  Any  person  making  a  cut- 
off, from  the  Mississippi  river,  without  authority  of  law,  was  made  liable 
to  a  fine  of  from  one  hundred  to  one  thousand  dollars,  with  imprisonment 
not  less  than  one  week,  nor  more  than  one  year. 

The  towns  of  Alexandria,  Bastrop,  Clinton,  Farmerville,  Madisonville, 
Mansfield,  Port  Hudson,  Sparta,  Trenton,  Trinity  and  Vernon  were 
incorporated. 

Another  chimerical  project  of  connecting  the  Mississippi  with  Lake 
Borgne,  by  way  of  Bayou  Bienvenu,  was  authorized  by  the  legislature. 
A  State  institute  for  the  deaf,  dumb  and  blind  was  founded  by  tlie  State, 
this  year,  at  Baton  Rouge. 

Chairs  constructed  from  the  platform  of  a  battery  in  the  Castle  of  San 
Jua  de  UUoa,  harbor  of  Vera  Cruz,  were  presented  by  Gen.  Persifer  F. 
Smith  for  the  presiding  officers  of  the  legislature.  The  thanks  of  this 
body  are  on  record,  but  what  has  become  of  the  chairs  ?  Ten  thousand 
dollars  were  appropriated  towards  the  erection  of  the  equestrian  statue  of 
Jackson,  in  Jackson  Square ;  five  hundred  dollars  for  a  block  for  the 
Washington  monument,  and  measures  taken  for  securing  a  site  whereon 


li 
I: 


t'      I 


il    ' 


452 


ANNALS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


to  erect  the  monumant  in  commemoration  of  the  victory  of  January  8th 
1816.  *        ' 

1853.  Paul  0.  Hebcrt,  who  had  been  chosen  governor,  in  the  election 
held  under  the  new  constitution,  was  inaugurated  early  in  January.  W. 
W.  Farmer  was  elected  lieutenant-governor. 

The  year  is  memorable  in  our  annals,  from  the  prevalence  of  the  most 
appalling  epidemic  of  yellow  fever  that  had  ever  ravaged  Louisiana.  It 
raged  during  summer  and  autumn,  extended  in  various  directions  into 
the  interior,  and  subsided  only  after  its  victims  could  be  counted  by  the 
thousands.  "  Notwithstanding  the  heavy  blow,"  says  Mr.  Gayarre,  "she 
[the  State]  was  otherwise  prosperous,  and  energetically  engaged  in  the 
construction  of  railroads,  and  in  carrying  on  the  works  of  internal 
improvement." 

The  State  at  this  time  was  divided  into  four  congressional  and  eighteen 
judicial  districts. 

A  general  system  of  free  banking  received  the  sanction  of  the  legislature, 
but  the  issue  or  circulation  of  any  note  less  than  the  denomination  of  five 
dollars  was  prohibited. 

There  was  had  a  reorganization  of  the  public  school  system,  and  ample 
provision  was  made  for  its  support ;  the  reclamation  of  the  swamp  and 
overflowed  lands  granted  by  congress  was  begun;  the  New  Orleans, 
Jackson  and  Great  Northern,  the  New  Orleans,  Opelousas  and  Great 
Western,  the  Vicksburg,  Shreveport  and  Texas,  and  the  New  Orleans  and 
Baton  Rouge  Railroad  Companies,  were  incorporated,  with  State  aid  for 
the  three  first. 

Parishes  and  municipalities  were  forbidden  to  contract  any  debt 
without  at  the  same  time  making  provision  to  meet  the  principal  and 
interest,  and  the  homestead  law  was  repealed.  The  State  Seminary  of 
Learning,  at  Alexandria,  was  this  year  practically  projected. 

The  suffix  Interior  was  henceforward  to  be  discarded,  and  the  parish  to 
be  designated  simply  Lafourche.  The  town  of  Mount  Lebanon,  Bienville 
parish,  and  that  noble  charity,  St.  Anna's  Asylum,  New  Orleans,  were 
incorporated. 

These  were  the  days  of  filibustering  expeditions,  and  New  Orleans  was 
the  headquarters  and  jmnt  d'appui  of  the  filibusters,  Cuba  was,  in  the 
language  of  our  late  war  correspondents,  the  objective  point.  It  was 
hoped,  with  the  aid  of  the  disaffected  on  the  island,  to  start  an  uprising 
that  would  blaze  into  successful  revolution,  culminating  not  only  in  the 
overthrow  of  Spanish  rule,  but  in  the  annexation  of  Cuba  to  the  United 
States.  The  tragic  ending  of  the  Lopez  expedition,  and  others  equally 
disastrous,  must  still  be  fresh  in  the  memory  of  the  American  people. 

The  news  of  the  fate  of  Lopez,  young  Crittenden  and  others,  reaching 
New  Orleans,  riotous  demonstrations  took  place  at  the  Spanish  Consulate. 
President  Fillmore  had,  in  accordance  with  international  obligations, 
issued  his  proclamation  denouncing  these  filibustering  expeditions.  It 
was  as  ineffective  as  the  mythical  Papal  bull  against  the  comet. 

1854.  This  was  another  yellow  fever  year,  but  the  epidemic  did  not 
rage  with  the  virulence  that  marked  the  scourge  of  1853. 

The  apportionment  of  this  year  gave  to  the  general  assembly  thirty-two 
senators  and  eighty  representatives ;  the  latter  on  a  representative  number 
of  seven  thousand. 


ANNALS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


453 


The  opinion  was  prevalent  that  Spain  intended  abolishing  slavery  in 
Cuba.  The  South,  at  least,  was  apprehensive  of  such  a  measure,  and 
Louisiana  but  gave  expression  to  the  views  of  her  sister  slave-holding 
States,  in  the  resolution  adopted  by  her  general  assembly.  It  was  ehiimed 
that  the  consummation  of  the  policy  of  abolition  in  Cuba,  would  have  a 
most  pernicious  effect  on  the  institutions  and  interests  of  the  United 
States,  and  that  the  situation  called  for  energetic  action  on  the  part  of  the 
Federal  Government. 

The  notable  Ostend  Conference,  in  which  figured  three  United  States 
Ministers  to  the  European  courts,  Messrs.  Soule,  Buchanan  and  Mason, 
was  the  response  of  the  Federal  Government  to  the  demand  of  the  South 
for  "  the  most  decisive  and  energetic  measures." 

Up  to  this  date  no  practical  system  of  free  public  schools  had  been 
established.  Acts,  original  and  mandatory,  had  passed  the  general 
assembly  year  after  year,  but  they  sketched  no  broad  and  practical  scheme, 
nor  could  any  amount  of  legislation  evoke  the  genius  of  organization. 
This  year  was  created  the  "  Free  School  Accumulating  Fund." 

The  City  of  New  Orleans  was  empowered,  by  legislative  act,  to  take 
stock  of  the  New  Orleans,  Opelousas  &  Great  Western,  New  Orleans  & 
Jackson,  and  the  Pontchartrain  Railroad  Companies,  in  the  aggregate 
amount  of  five  million  dollars. 

Besides  the  sum  of  $50,000,  for  the  reclamation  of  the  swamp  and 
overflowed  lands,  appropriations  on  an  unusually  liberal  scale  were  made 
for  internal  improvements  of  various  character,  and  fifteen  thousand 
dollars  placed  to  the  credit  of  the  pension  fund  for  the  veterans  of 
1814-15. 

It  was  decreed  that  in  the  parish  of  Orleans,  death  sentences  should  be 
carried  out  within  the  precincts  of  the  parish  prison,  in  presence  of  the 
sheriff  and  at  least  four  witnesses,  residents  therein,  who  should  duly 
attest,  under  oath,  the  fact  of  the  execution  to  the  court  which  rendered 
the  sentence. 

A  revision  of  the  Statutes  of  a  general  character  was  authorized. 

A  "  local  option  law,"  passed  the  legislature  this  year.  It  is  doubtful 
whether  such  an  enactment  could  be  procured  in  this,  the  j'ear  of  grace, 
1882. 

That  "  blessing  in  disguise  "  for  the  real  estate  owners  of  New  Orleans, 
the  drainage  tax,  was  now  for  the  first  time  imposed.  All  the  swamp 
lands  within  the  corporate  limits  were  to  be  drained,  and — still  are  to  be. 

"  Man  never  i«,  but  always  to  be,  blest." 

The  employees  in  the  United  States  Mint  at  New  Orleans  were  exempted 
from  jury  duty.  Abbeville  was  made  the  seat  of  justice  of  Vermillion 
parish,  and  the  Grand  Conclave  of  the  S.  W.  M.  was  incorporated. 

John  Mitchell,  the  sterling  Irish  patriot  and  brilliant  writer,  was  invited 
by  the  legislature  to  visit  the  seat  of  government. 

1855.  Mr.  Gayarre  notes  this  year  as  being  marked  by  the  demolition 
of  the  "  Know-Nothing  "  Party  in  Louisiana.  As  a  sop  to  "nativeism," 
no  doubt,  the  act  prohibiting  aliens  from  holding  office  of  honor  or  profit 
was  re-enacted,  and  a  very  proper  enactment  it  was. 

The  legislature  was  prodigal  in  its  appropriations  this  year,  voting  the 
sum  of  $50,000  to  establish  quarantine ;  $30,000  to  the  State  Seminary  of 
Learning ;  $13,000  for  the  completion  of  the  University  buildings  in  New 
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454 


ANNALS   OF  LOUISIANA. 


Orleans  ;  $10,000  to  Centenary  College ;  $15,000  for  merely  setting  up  in 
the  capitol  Powers'  statue  of  Washington,  and  upwards  of  $20,000  for 
improving  the  grounds  around  the  State  House.  Another  act,  establishing 
a  system  of  free  banking,  was  passed,  a  requisition  of  births  and  deaths 
made  obligatory,  and  the  State  Insane  Asylum  established. 

New  Orleans  was  empowered  to  establish  public  schools ;  there  was 
another  re-organization  of  the  State  system  of  free  public  education,  and 
once  more  tlie  permanent  fund  was  established.  Cemeteries  were 
exempted  from  taxation,  seizure  for  debt,  and  declared  non-susceptible 
of  being  mortgaged.  Judges  of  the  District  Courts  were  authorized  to 
celebrate  marriages,  married  women  enabled  to  contract  debts,  a  Recorder 
of  Mortgages  and  Registrar  of  Conveyances  for  the  parish  of  Orleans 
appointed ;  Arcadia  and  Ringgold,  Bienville  parish  ;  Monroe,  Claiborne 
parish ;  Winfield,  Winn  parish ;  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad ;  the 
Louisiana  College,  St.  James  parish,  and  that  noble  benefaction,  the  Town 
Aims-House,  were  incorporated.  Let  us  also  make  note,  that  this  year 
witnessed  the  incorporation  of  the  New  Orleans  Savings'  Institution, 
which  a  few  years  ago  made  so  disastrous  a  wreck. 

1856.  Governor  Hebert,  in  his  January  message  to  the  legislature, 
deplores,  and  in  nervous  terms  condemns,  the  mockeries  of  the  freedom 
of  the  ballot.  In  the  same  paper — in  which  was  his  final  message — he 
testifies  to  the  solid  and  advancing  prosperity  of  the  State,  and  takes  a 
decidedly  advanced  Southern  position  on  the  anti-slavery  agitation. 

Hon.  Robert  C.  Wickliffe,  who  succeeded  Governor  Hebert  in  the 
executive  office,  gave  expression,  in  his  inaugural,  to  sentiments  even  more 
strongly  pro-southern  on  this  issue,  and  though  not  wishing  to  speak 
highly  of  the  Union,  did  not  shrink  from  calculating  the  value  of  the  bond 
to  the  South. 

There  is  but  little  deserving  of  note  in  the  legislation  of  this  year. 
Registration  of  voters  in  the  parish  of  Orleans  was  provided,  and  assess- 
ment and  collection  of  taxes  authorized  for  public  improvements  in 
Algiers,  which  was  then  coming  prominently  into  notice.  The  usual  lib- 
eral appropriations  were  made,  including  $50,000  for  the  State  Seminary 
of  Learning  at  Alexandria.  Bellevue,  Bossier  parish,  Floyd,  Carroll  parish, 
and  Natchitoches,  were  incorporated.  Charters  were  granted  the  Louisiana 
Central  Stem  of  the  Pacific,  and  the  Vicksburg,  Shreveport  &  Texas 
Railroads ;  and  a  site  for  the  Marine  Hospital,  in  New  Orleans,  ceded  to 
the  general  government.  The  Kane  Arctic  Expedition  was  the  object  of 
generous  recognition  in  joint  resolutions  of  the  general  assembly. 

This  year  is  made  sadly  memorable  in  our  annals  by  that  appalling 
calamity,  the  Last  Island  storm.  This  island  is  the  last  of  a  chain 
extending  westward  from  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi — hence  the  name. 
It  is  some  twenty-five  miles  long  by  three-fourths  to  one  mile  in  width, 
and  distant  about  five  to  six  miles  from  the  nearest  shore.  It  was 
the  summer  resort  of  planters  and  their  families  from  the  Lafourche  and 
Attakapas  regions;  and  on  Saturday,  August  9,  1856 — the  eve  of  the 
frightful  visitation — there  were  gathered  thereon  some  three  hundred 
souls.  On  the  night  of  that  day,  a  strong  N.  E.  wind  set  in,  and  continued 
to  grow^  in  violence  up  to  10  a.  m.,  Sunday,  when  it  swelled  into  a  terrific 
hurricane,  accompanied  with  rain  that  beat  like  hail.  Every  building 
was  prostrated,  and  everything  afloat  wrecked.  But  the  worst  was  yet  to 
come.    About  4  p.  m. — the  storm  still  raging — the  waters  of  the  Gulf  and 


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Ingislature, 
he  freedom 
lessage— he 
antl  takes  a 
itation. 
jbert  in  the 
ts  even  more 
ng  to  speak 
fei  of  the  bond 

f  this  year. 
and  assess- 
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le  usual  hb- 
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irroU  parish, 
le  Louisiana 
.rt  &  Texas 
ns,  ceded  to 
the  object  of 

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<e  the  name, 
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[re.     It  was 
iourche  and 
eve  of  the 
■ee  hundred 
id  continued 
nto  a  terrific 
|ery  building 
st  was  yet  to 
;he  Gulf  and 


ANNALS  OP  LOUISIANA. 


455 


bay  met,  rose,  and  rolled  their  whelming  waves  over  the  whole  island, 
sweeping  over  one  hundred  human  beings  into  eternity,  and  leaving  but 
a  waste  of  waters,  where,  but  yesterday,  was  the  pleasant  and  healthful 
retreat  of  happy  summer  idlers.  Those  who  were  not  swallowed  up  in 
the  rush  of  the  devouring  waves,  found  refuge  aboard  a  wrecked  steamboat, 
or  escaped  by  clinging  to  floating  spars,  timbers  of  the  demolished 
houses,  etc. ;  many  were  carried  into  the  neighboring  marshes,  and  some 
found  precarious  refuge  in  trees.  When  news  of  this  dire  catastrophe 
reached  the  mainland,  measures  looking  to  the  rescue  of  the  survivors 
were  promptly  set  afoot.  Some  days,  however,  elapsed  before  the  several 
places  of  refuge  of  many  of  the  unfortunates  were  discovered,  and,  in  the 
meantime,  not  a  few  perished  from  exhaustion  or  exposure.  The  number 
who  were  finally  rescued  bore  but  a  small  proportion  to  the  number  of 
victims.  The  latter  were  estimated  to  have  amounted  to  nearly  two 
hundred.  They  yielded  up  the  spirit  in  lone  and  scarce  accessible  spots, 
whither  the  surging  waves  had  carried  them,  or  with  loosened  grasp  of 
spar — or  other  straw  of  hope — sunk  into  the  remorseless  deep;  many 
were  buried  beneath  the  whirling  sand  and  debris  of  the  island,  but,  by 
far,  the  greater  were  suddenly  entombed  in  the  Gulf. 

1857.  Governor  Wickliffe,  in  his  January  message,  bears  this  strong 
official  testimony :  "It  is  a  well  known  fact  that  at  the  two  last  general 
elections,  many  of  the  streets  and  approaches  to  the  polls  were  completely 
in  the  hands  of  organized  ruffians,  who  committed  acts  of  violence  on 
multitudes  of  naturalized  fellow-citizens  who  dared  to  venture  to  exercise 
the  right  of  suffrage.  Thus,  nearly  one-third  of  the  registered  voters  of 
New  Orleans  have  been  deterred  from  exercising  their  highest  and  most 
sacred  prerogatives."  Such  an  election  he  denounced  as  an  open  fraud 
on  the  popular  will,  and  called  upon  the  legislature  to  adopt  the  needed 

.  repressive  measures. 

No  less  a  sum  than  one  hundred  and  thirty  thousand  dollars  was 
taken  from  the  State  treasury  this  year  for  the  penitentiary.  It  would  be 
an  interesting  calculation  to  ascertain  how  many  hundreds  of  thousands 
of  dollars  this  institution  has  cost  the  taxpayers  of  Louisiana.  And, 
apropos,  let  it  be  noted  down,  that  only  $50,000  were  given  this  year  to 
charitable  institutions. 

There  were  incorporated,  the  American  Hook  and  Ladder  Company,  No. 
2;  Mechanics'  &  Dealers'  Exchange;  Pha:'nix  Fire  Company,  No.  8;  St. 
Mary's  Orphan  Boys'  Asylum :  the  Carondelet  Canal  &  Navigation  Com- 
pany ;  and  the  Washington  Monument  Association,  all  of  New  Orleans. 
The  latter  body  died,  and  gave  no  sign. 

The  Towns  of  Campte,  Natchitoches,  and  Winnsborough,  Franklin 
parish,  received  incorporation. 

1858.  For  this  year,  political  antagonism,  for  a  few  days,  threatened 
New  Orleans  with  fearful  disaster. 

On  the  night  of  the  fourth  of  June,  an  armed  body  of  men,  about  five 
hundred,  claiming  to  act  under  the  orders  of  a  Vigilant  Committee,  took 
possession  of  the  courthouse  and  State  arsenal  at  Jackson  Square,  fortified 
themselves  by  barricading  the  streets,  and  were  the  next  day  joined  by 
about  one  thousand  more  men,  under  the  same  authority,  and  also  armed 
for  deadly  strife. 

The  Native  American,  or  Know-Nothing  Party,  took  possession  of 


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456 


ANNALS  OP  LOUISIANA. 


Lafayette  Square,  planted  cannon  there,  and  arming  thennselves,  prepared 
for  the  expected  conflict. 

Wiser  counsels,  however,  prevailed,  and  the  city  election  was  held  on 
the  seventh  of  the  same  month,  and  was  concluded  in  the  most  quiet  and 
orderly  manner,  not  even  the  slightest  disturbance  occurring,  Gerard 
Stith,  the  Native  Anjcrican  candidate,  being  elected  mayor.  Colonel  G. 
T.  Beauregard  being  the  candidate  of  the  Vigilant  Committee  party. 

The  "financial  crisis  "  of  1857  [common  to  the  United  States]  had  been 
completely  tided  over  by  the  opening  of  the  year  1858.  But  the  State 
treasury  was  not  in  a  healthy  condition,  the  expenditures  for  some  years 
past  exceeding  the  revenues.  And  yet  the  old  extravagant  rate  of  appro- 
priation went  on  for  expenses  of  general  assembly,  internal  improvements, 
education,  etc.,  while  the  returns  were,  indeed,  beggarly.  Many  of  the 
beneficiaries  of  the  public  funds  had  no  legitimate  claim  upon  State 
support.  Here,  for  instance,  we  find  Mount  Lebanon  University  getting 
$10,000 ;  the  New  Orleans  School  of  Medicine  a  like  sum  ;  and  State 
bonds  to  the  amount  of  $40,000  were  issued  to  the  Baton  Rouge,  (iross 
Tete  &  Opeiousas  Railroad.  Let  us  not  omit  to  note,  however,  that  $15(X) 
was  appropriated  for  the  instruction  of  the  deaf  and  dumb  of  the  State 
Asylum  in  the  art  of  printing. 

Within  this  period  were  incorporated  the  towns  of  Shiloh  and  Spearsville, 
Union  parish ;  Ville  Platte,  St.  Landry ;  Breaux  Bridge,  St.  Martin ; 
Vernon,  Jackson,  Waterproof,  Tensas,  Creola,  [name  subsequently 
changed  to  Montgomery]  Winn;  and  that  pleasant  suburb  of  New 
Orleans — the  City  of  Carrollton. 

The  breed  of  dogs  in  Louisiana  in  those  days  must  have  been  of  far 
more  worth  than  that  of  which  she  can  now  boast,  for  an  act  of  the  legis- 
lature declared  them  personal  property. 

1859.  "  Quaint  and  curious  "  reading,  in  the  light  of  these  after-years, 
is  the  act  of  the  legislature  of  1859,  permitting  "  free  persons  of  African 
descent  to  choose  their  own  masters  and  become  slaves  for  life." 

Judah  P.  Benjamin  was  elected  United  States  Senator  the  same  year. 

The  apportionment  of  1859  gave  to  the  general  assembly  thirty-two 
senators  and  ninety-eight  representatives — the  latter  "  at  a  representative 
number  of  six  thousand  nine  hundred  and  twenty," 

1860.  This  year,  which  opened  on  a  prosperous  and  contented  common- 
wealth, closed  in  gloom  and  apprehension.  The  returns  of  agricultural 
industry  were  unusually  large ;  money  was  abundant ;  city  and  country 
alike  basked  in  the  smiles  of  good  fortune;  and  the  metropolis  was 
blessed  with  a  summer  of  exceptional  healthiness,  and  with  exeinption 
from  the  yellow  fever. 

The  presidential  canvass  of  that  year  was  heated,  notably  so  in 
Louisiana,  where  fear,  and  dread  of  the  future,  were  beginning  to  take 
possession  of  the  public  mind.  But  this  high-toned,  gallant  and  chival- 
rous people,  conscious  of  being  a  republic,  and  able  to  govern  themselves, 
canvassed  with  dignity ;  voted  with  entire  freedom  and  order;  and  the 
voice  of  the  commonwealth  met  no  dissent  or  murmur.  Breckinridge 
received  22,681  votes ;  Bell,  20,204 ;  and  Douglas,  7,625.  The  electoral 
vote  was  cast  for  the  first. 

The  vote  of  the  country  at  large  is  thus  given:  Lincoln,  1,857,610; 
Douglas,  1,365,976;  Breckinridge,  847,953 ;  Bell,  500,631. 


ANNALS  OF   LOUISIANA. 


457 


It  could  but  be  seen  that  the  dividing  and  conquering  of  the  conserva- 
tive strength  of  the  country,  must,  as  it  did,  result  from  the  split  in  the 
Charleston  convention  ;  but,  in  spite  of  that,  Louisiana,  as  we  shall  see, 
not  only  exhibited  high  republican  character  in  the  election,  but  she 
afterwards  proceeded  with  due  deliberation  and  dignity,  in  accordance 
with  her  political  nature,  to  exercise  (perhaps  with  impolicy)  that  self- 
defense  Avhich  the  Creator,  in  making  her  a  society  of  people,  had  charged 
her  with. 

At  the  election  referred  to,  the  choice  for  a  go^'ernor  to  succeed  Robert 
('.  Wickliffe,  fell  upon  Thomas  Overton  Moore,  a  wenlthy  planter  of 
Kapides  parish,  with  conservative  views,  and  some  legislative  experience. 
He  called  an  extra  session  of  the  legislature,  which  met  December  10th, 
and  within  a  few  days,  passed  an  act  for  an  election  on  January  7,  1861, 
for  delegates  to  a  State  convention.  It  also  appropriated  $5(X),000  for  the 
arming  and  equipping  of  volunteers ;  the  purchase  of  military  stores,  etc. 
A  military  commission  was  also  provided  for  and  appointed. 

On  the  12th,  Hon.  Wirt  Adams,  commissioner  for  Mississippi,  addressed 
the  legislature  in  joint  session,  announcing  the  course  of  action  determined 
on  by  his  State,  and  urging  the  co-operation  of  Louisiana. 

Meanwhile,  the  long  continued  anxiety  and  fear  of  the  masses,  together 
with  gloomy  "  thought  for  the  morrow,"  resulting  from  anti-slavery  agi- 
tations and  aggressions,  were  giving  rise  to  n  Y)opular  conviction  that  the 
"  domestic  tranquillity  "  and  "  the  blessings  of  liberty  "  the  federal  system 
was  devised  to  secure,  could  not  be  enjoyed  in  the  Union.  The  public 
mind  became  much  excited,  especially  in  New  Orleans,  where,  on  the  21st 
of  December,  an  immense  popular  meeting  was  held  ;  one  hundred  guns 
were  fired ;  the  pelican  flag  was  unfurled ;  and  various  other  enthusiastic 
demonstrations  were  made,  upon  the  news  of  the  secession  of  South 
Carolina. 

1861.  The  result  of  the  election  of  January  7th,  to  the  State  Convention, 
showed  20,448  for  the  professedly  "southern  rights"  candidates  against 
17,296  for  opponents  favoring  various  policies,  the  leading  one  of  them 
))eing  a  co-operation  of  the  Southern  States  within  the  Union.  This  was 
futile  then,  because  South  Carolina  and  other  States  had  already  seceded, 
which  seemed  to  make  it  necessary  for  all  the  South  to  do  likewise,  and 
stand  or  fall  together ! 

The  Convention  met  at  the  capital  January  23,  and  with  little  delay, 
organized  itself  by  the  election  oi  the  venerable  and  universally  respected 
Ex-Governor  Alexander  Mouton  as  president. 

On  the  fourth  day,  or  January  2Gth,  an  ordinance  of  secession  was 
adopted,  by  a  vote  of  113  yeas  against  17  nays,  the  president  voting  with 
the  majority.  Upon  the  proposition  to  submit  the  ordinance  to  the 
popular  vote,  the  yeas  were  45,  nays  84.  One  hundred  and  twenty-one 
(U'legates  signed  the  Ordinance  of  Secession,  only  seven  refusing. 

When  the  vote  was  declared,  the  president  said :  '"  In  virtue  of  the 
vote  just  announced,  I  now  decliire  the  connection  between  the  State  of 
Louisiana  and  the  Federal  Union  dissolved,  and  that  she  is  a  free, 
sovereign  and  independent  power."* 

Immediataly  after  the  adoption  of  this  Ordinance,  the  following  reso- 
lution passed  unanimously  :     Resolved,  That  we,  the  people  of  the  State 

"  The  Oi'dinuuce  of  Scceasiou  aud  the  numos  of  the  siguers  will  be  found  in  the  Ax>pendix. 


:J 


•\      ' 


I'Hii 


458 


ANNALS  OF  LOUISIANA. 


of  Louisiana,  recognize  the  right  of  the  free  navigation  of  the  Mississipiji 
rivtr  and  its  tributaries  by  all  friendly  States  bordering  thereon.  And 
we  also  recognize  the  right  of  egress  and  ingress  of  the  mouth  of  the 
Mississippi  by  all  friendly  States  and  Powers,  and  we  do  hereby  declare 
our  willingness  to  enter  into  any  stipulations  to  guarantee  the  exercise  of 
said  rights. 

On  the  same  da}'  the  Convention  adjourned,  to  re-assemble  in  New 
Orleans,  January  29th. 

The  legislature  met  in  regular  session,  January  21st.  The  Governor,  in 
his  message,  gave  a  succinct  history  of  the  decisive  measures  which  ho 
deenied  the  situation  called  upon  him  to  adopt.  "  Respecting  the  manifest 
will  of  the  people,"  "  and  convinced,  moreover,  that  prompt  action  was 
the  more  necessary  in  order  to  prevent  a  collision  between  the  federal 
troops  and  the  people,"  he  had  taken  possession  of  the  military  jjosts 
and  munitions  of  war  within  the  State,  "  without  opposition  or  difficulty." 

In  order  that  the  deliberations  of  the  Convention  should  not  be  over- 
awed by  the  presence  of  a  federal  garrison,  the  barracks  and  arsenal  at 
Baton  ilouge  were  the  first  occupied.  These  were  quietly  surrendered  to 
the  State  troops,  January  11,  the  federal  forces — far  too  feeble  for  resistance 
— departing  on  the  13th.  About  the  same  time.  Forts  Jackson,  St.  Philip, 
Pike  and  other  posts,were  occupied.  A  resolution,  approving  the  Governor's 
course,  was  adopted  by  the  legislature ;  and  later,  acts  were  passed  trans- 
ferring the  State  forces  and  munitions  of  war  to  the  Confederate 
Government. 

The  Convention  re-assembled  January  29th,  in  New  Orleans,  and  the 
following  day  elected  delegates  to  the  Convention  called  to  meet  in 
Montgomery,  for  the  formation  of  a  Southern  Confederacy.  March  22d, 
it  ratified  the  Constitution  adopted  by  that  body. 

Louisiana,  at  this  period,  was  enjoying  remarkable  prosperity.  Her 
banks  were  among  the  soundest  in  the  Union,  and  her  finances  were  in  a 
most. satisfactory  condition,  there  being  a  surplus  in  tho  St.'ite  Treasury. 
Her  chief  city  exhibited  a  great  increase  of  commercial  activity,  attracting 
capital,  mercantile  enterprise,  and  desirable  immigrants  from  other 
sections,  and  from  foreign  parts.  Her  population  notably  increased,  the 
census  of  1860  showing  666,431. 

Moreover,  her  character  Avas  high,  her  credit  good,  and  her  faith  untar- 
nished. She  had  a  fair  proportion  of  religious  and  educational  institutions. 
Her  lawyers,  doctors,  preachers  and  great  men  were  at  least  up  to  the 
average,  while  the  charitable  institutions  of  her  principal  city  were,  in 
number,  character  and  beneficence,  unequalled.  The  Charity  Hospital, 
the  Howard  Association  and  the  Free  Riarket,  to  say  nothing  of  many 
others,  would  have  added  glory  even  to  the  greatest  of  cities.  Nay,  more, 
she  had,  for  two  generations,  shown  full  competency  for  self-government, 
not  only  at  home,  but  by  sending  a  quota  to  the  federal  agency  that  woul«l 
have  done  credit  to  any  of  her  sisters. 

This  annalist  here  gladly  concludes  his  task,  because  the  annals  of  war 
and  reconstruction,  and  the  changes  wrought  thereby,  have  no  attractions 
for  his  pen.  If  "  history  is  philosophy  teaching  by  example,"  it  can  be 
properly  written  only  by  him  who  can  do  it  with  judicial  temper  and 
fairness. 


aaa 


APPENDIX. 


TREATY  AND  CONVP]NTIONS  BETWEEN  THE  UNITED  STATES 
AND  THE  FRENCH  REPUBLIC. 


Treaty  between  the  French  Rrpuhlic  and  the    United  States^,  concerning  the 
Cession  of  Louisiana,  signed  at  Paris  the  30lh  of  Ajtril,  1803. 


The  President  of  the  United  States  of  America,  and  the  first  consul  of 
the  French  republic,  in  the  name  of  the  French  people,  desiring  to  remove 
all  source  of  misunderstanding  relative  to  objects  of  discussion,  mentioned 
in  the  second  and  fifth  articles  of  the  convention  of  the  8th  Vendemiaire, 
an  9,  (30th  of  September,  1800)  relative  to  the  rights  claimed  by  the 
United  States,  in  virtue  of  the  treaty  concluded  at  Madrid,  the  27th  of 
October,  1795,  between  his  Catholic  Majesty  and  the  said  United  States, 
and  willing  to  strengthen  the  union  and  friendship  which  at  the  time  of 
the  said  convention  was  happily  re-established  between  the  two  nations, 
have  respectively  named  their  plenipotentiaries,  to-wit :  the  President  of 
the  United  States  of  America,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the 
fienate  of  the  said  States,  Robert  R.  Livingston,  minister  plenipotentiary 
of  the  United  States,  and  James  Monroe,  minister  j)lenipotentiary  and 
envoy  extraordinary  of  the  said  States,  near  the  government  of  the  French 
republic ;  and  the  first  consul,  in  the  name  of  the  French  people,  the 
French  citizen,  Barbe  Marbois,  minister  of  the  public  treasury,  who,  after 
having  respectively  exchanged  their  full  powers,  have  agreed  to  the 
following  articles : 

Article  1.  Whcrens,  by  the  article  the  third  of  the  treaty  concluded 
at  St.  Ildephonso,  the  9th  Vendemiaire,  an  9,  (1st  October  1800)  between 
the  first  consul  of  the  French  republic  and  His  Catholic  Majesty,  it  was 
agreed  as  follows :  "  His  Catholic  Majesty  promises  and  engages,  on  his 
part,  to  retrocede  to  the  French  republic,  six  months  after  the  full  and 
entire  execution  of  the  conditions  and  stipulations  herein  relative  to  his 
Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of  Parma,  the  colony  or  province  of  Louisiana, 
with  the  same  extent  that  it  now  has  in  the  hands  of  Spain,  and  that  it 
had  when  France  possessed  it ;  and  such  as  it  should  be  after  the  treaties 
subsequently  entered  into  between  Spain  and  other  States."  And, 
whereas,  in  pursuance  of  the  treaty,  and  particularly  of  the  third  article, 
the  French  republic  has  an  incontestable  title  to  the  domain,  and  to  the 
possession  of  the  said  territory.  The  first  consul  of  the  French  republic, 
desiring  to  give  to  the  United  States  a  strong  proof  of  his  friendship,  doth 
hereby  cede  to  the  said  United  States,  in  the  name  of  the  Fi'ench  republic, 
forever  and  in  full  sovereignty,  the  said  territory,  with  all  its  rights  and 
appurtenances,  as  fully  and  in  the  same  manner  as  they  had  been 
acquired  by  the  French  republic,  in  virtue  of  the  above-mentioned  treaty 
concluded  with  His  Catholic  Majesty. 


, 


)A\ 


I     I 


400 


ArPKNDIX. 


Art.  2.  In  the  ocsHion  niiulc  liy  tlio  preceding  article  are  included  llie 
adjacent  inlands  belonging  to  Louifiana,  all  public  lots  and  wciuares,  vaciuit 
landn,  and  all  public  buildings,  tortifications,barrackH,  and  other  editlccs, 
which  aw.  not  private  i)roperty.  The  andiivcH,  papers,  and  documents, 
relative  to  the  (loinain  and  sovereignty  of  Louisiana  and  its  dependencies, 
will  be  left  in  the  possession  of  tlie  coinniissaries  of  the  United  States, 
and  copies  will  be  afterwards  given  in  due  form  to  the  magistrates  and 
municipal  officers  of  such  of  the  said  papers  and  documenti;  as  may 
be  necessary  to  them. 

Art.  8.  The  inhabitants  of  the  ceded  territory  shall  he  incorporated 
in  the  Union  of  the  United  States,  and  adniitted  as  soon  as  possible, 
according  to  the  principles  of  the  federal  constitution,  to  the  enjoymeni 
of  all  the  rights,  advantages,  and  immunities  of  citizens  of  the  Unit('(l 
States;  and  in  the  menntime  they  shall  be  maintained  and  protected  in 
the  free  enjoyment  of  their  liberty,  property,  and  the  religion  which  th(;y 
profess. 

Art.  4.  There  shall  be  sent  by  the  government  of  France  a  conniiis- 
sary  to  Louisiana,  to  the  end  that  he  do  every  act  necessary,  as  well  to 
receive  from  the  officers  of  His  Catholic  Majesty,  the  said  country  and  its 
dependencies,  in  the  name  of  the  French  republic,  if  it  has  not  been 
alreadv  done,  as  to  transmit  it  in  the  name  of  the  French  republic  to  the 
commissary  or  agent  of  the  United  States. 

Art.  5.  Innnediately  after  the  ratification  of  the  present  treaty  by 
the  President  of  the  United  States,  and  in  case  that  of  the  first  consul 
shall  have  been  previously  obtained,  the  commissary  of  the  French 
republic  shall  remit  all  the  military  posts  of  New  Orleans,  and  other 

Earts  of  the  ceded  territory,  to  the  commissary  or  commissaries  named 
y  the  President  to  take  possession ;  the  troops,  whether  of  France  or 
Spain,  who  may  be  there,  shall  cease  to  occupy  any  military  post  from 
the  time  of  taking  possession,  and  shall  be  embarked  as  soon  as  possible, 
in  the  course  of  three  months  after  the  ratification  of  this  treaty. 

Art.  6.  The  United  States  promise  to  execute  such  treaties  and 
articles  as  may  have  been  agreed  between  Spain  and  the  tribes  and  nations 
of  Indians,  until,  by  mutual  consent  of  the  United  States  and  the  said 
tribes  or  nations,  other  suitable  articles  shall  have  been  agreed  upon. 

Art.  7.  As  it  is  reciprocally  advantageous  to  the  commerce  of  France 
and  the  United  States  to  encourage  the  communication  of  both  nations 
for  a  limited  time  in  the  country  ceded  by  the  present  treaty,  until 
general  arrangements  relative  to  the  commerce  of  both  nations  may 
be  agreed  on,  it  has  been  agreed  between  the  contracting  parties,  that  the 
French  ships  coming  directly  from  France  or  any  of  her  colonies,  loaded 
only  with  the  produce  or  manufactures  of  France  or  her  said  colonies ; 
and  the  ships  of  Sp.ain,  coming  directly  from  Spain  or  any  of  her  colonics, 
loaded  only  with  the  produce  or  manufactures  of  Spain  or  her  colonies, 
shall  be  admitted,  during  the  space  of  twelve  years,  in  the  ports  of  New 
Orleans,  and  in  ail  other  legal  ports  of  entry  within  the  ceded  territory, 
in  the  same  manner  as  the  ships  of  the  United  States  coming  directly 
from  France  or  Spjiin,  or  any  of  their  colonies,  without  being  subject  to 
any  other  or  greater  duty  on  merchandise,  or  other  or  greater  tonnage 
than  those  paid  by  the  citizens  of  the  United  States, 

During  the  space  of  time  above  mentioned,  no  other  nation  shall  have.i 
right  to  the  same  privileges  in  the  ports  of  the  ceded  territory ;  the  twelve 


APPRNDIX. 


401 


years  shnll  commence  three  months  nftor  the  exchange  of  ratifications,  if 
it  shall  take  place  in  Franco,  or  three  months  after  it  shall  have  been 
notified  at  Pans  to  the  French  government,  if  it  shall  take  place  in  the 
United  States ;  it  is,  however,  well  understood,  that  the  object  of  the 
above  article  is  to  favor  the  manufactures,  commerce,  freight  and  naviga- 
tion of  France  and  of  Spain,  so  far  as  relates  to  the  importations  that  tlio 
French  and  Spanish  shall  nmke  into  the  said  ports  of  the  United  States, 
without  in  any  sort  afl'ecting  the  regulations  that  the  United  States  may 
make  concerning  the  exportation  of  the  i)roduce  and  merchandise  of  the 
United  States,  or  any  right  they  may  have  to  make  any  such  regulations. 

Art.  8.  In  future,  and  forever  after  the  expiration  of  the  twelve  years, 
the  ships  of  France  shall  be  treated  upon  the  footing  of  the  most  favored 
nations  in  the  ports  above  mentioned. 

Art.  9.  The  particular  convention,  signed  this  day  by  the  respective 
ministers,  having  for  its  object  to  provide  for  the  payment  of  debts  due  to 
the  citizens  of  the  United  States  by  the  French  republic,  prior  to  the  30th 
of  September,  1800,  (8th  Vendemiaire,  an  9)  is  approved,  and  to  have  its 
execution  in  the  same  manner  as  if  it  had  oeen  inserted  in  the  present 
treaty,  and  it  shall  be  ratified  in  the  same  form,  and  in  the  same  time,  so 
that  the  one  shall  not  be  ratified  distinct  from  the  other. 

Another  particular  convention,  signed  at  the  same  date  as  the  present 
treaty,  relative  to  the  definitive  rule  between  the  contracting  parties,  is  in 
the  like  manner  approved,  and  will  be  ratified  in  the  same  form,  and  in 
the  same  time,  and  jointly. 

Art.  10.  The  present  treaty  shall  be  ratified  in  good  and  due  form, 
and  the  ratifications  shall  be  exchanged  in  the  space  of  six  months  after 
the  date  of  the  signature  by  the  ministers  plenipotentiary,  or  sooner,  if 
possible. 

In  faith  whereof,  the  respective  iilenipotentiaries  have  signed  these 
articles  in  the  French  and  English  languages ;  declaring,  nevertheless, 
that  the  present  treat}'^  was  originally  agreed  to  in  the  French  language ; 
and  have  thereunto  put  their  seals. 

Done  at  Paris,  the  tenth  day  of  Floreal,  in  the  eleventh  year  of  the 
French  republic,  and  the  30th  of  April,  1803. 

Robert  R.  Livingston, 
James  Monroe, 
Barbe  Marbois. 


Convention  between  the  United  States  of  America  and  the  French 
Republic,  op  the  same  date  with  the  preceding  Treaty. 

The  President  of  the  United  States  of  America,  and  the  first  consul  of 
the  French  republic,  in  the  name  of  the  French  people,  in  consequence  of 
the  treaty  of  cession  of  Louisiana,  which  has  been  signed  this  day,  .vishing 
to  regulate,  definitively,  everything  which  has  relation  to  the  said  cession, 
have  authorized  to  this  effect  the  plenipotentiaries,  that  is  to  say :  the 
President  of  the  United  States  has,  oy  and  with  the  advice  and  consent 
of  the  senate  of  the  said  States,  nominated  for  their  plenipotentiaries, 
Robert  R.  Livingston,  minister  plenipotentiary  of  the  United  States,  and 
James  Monroe,  minister  plenipotentiary  and  envoy  extraordinary  of  the 
said  United  States,  near  the  government  of  the  French  republic ;  and  the 

61 


il:  i- 


i 


i;     i 


iil^ 


1 

i 

1 

1 

i 

462 


Ari'KNIUX. 


first  coiiHul  of  tlir  French  rcjuiMic,  in  tlm  nainc  of  llu;  F'^ciicli  ix-oplc,  Ims 
huiiumI  art  plcnijiotentiary  of  tlu>  saiil  rcpuMic.  the  Krcuch  citizen,  Harlit' 
]Slarl>ois,  who,  in  virtue  of  th«'ir  full  powers,  which  havt?  heen  exchanged 
this  (lay,  have  a^ireeil  to  the  followin}^  artich^n: 

Aitru'i.K  1.  The  >j;overnnicnt  of  the  rnitetl  States' en^raK^s  to  pay  tothe 
French  govcrninent,  in  the  manner  Hpecified  in  the  fo||(»win}:  artii'les,  the 
hUm  of  nixty  inillionH  of  francH,  iiuh^pendent  of  the  Hum  which  shall  he 
tixed  hy  another  eonv(>ntion  for  the  payment  of  dehts  diie  hy  France  to 
citizens  of  the  I'nited  States. 

AuT.  2.  For  tlu!  payment  of  tlu^  sum  of  sixty  niillions  of  francs, 
mentioned  in  the  precedinj^  article,  the  rnited  States  shall  create  a  stock 
of  eleven  millions  two  hundred  and  lifty  thousand  (htllars,  l)eariii<,'  mii 
intercHt  of  six  per  cent,  per  annum,  payahle  half  yearly  in  litHuloii, 
Amsterdam,  or  I'aris,  anu»untin<j;  hy  the  half  year  to  three  hundriMl  iuid 
thirty-seven  thousand  live  hiiiKlred  dollars,  according  to  the  proportions 
which  flhall  he  di'ti'miiniid  hy  the  French  government,  to  he  paid  at  either 
placi' ;  the  principal  of  the  said  stock  to  he  reimhursed  at  the  treasury  of 
the  Ihiited  States,  in  annual  payment  of  not  less  than  thn-e  millions  of 
«lollars  each ;  of  whi(di  the  first  payment  shall  commence  lifteen  years 
lifter  the  date  of  the  exchange  of  ratilleations ;  this  stock  shall  he  trans- 
ferred to  the  government  of  Franco,  or  to  such  person  <»r  pctrsons  as  shall 
he  authorized  to  receivi;  it,  in  three  months  at  most  after  th(>  exchange  of 
the  ratifications  of  this  treaty,  and  after  Fjouisiana  shall  !)e  taken  posses- 
^;ion  of  in  the  nanu;  of  the  government  of  the  Fnited  States. 

It  is  farther  agreed,  that  if  the  FnMKdi  governnuMit  should  Ik?  desirous 
of  disposing  of  the  said  stock  to  receive  the  canital  in  Europi;,  at  shorter 
terms,  that  its  measures  for  that  puri)OHO  shall  ue  taken  so  as  to  favor,  in 
the  greatest  degree  possihle,  the  creilit  of  the  Ignited  States,  and  to  raise 
to  the  liighi'st  price  the  said  stock. 

Aht.  3.  It  is  agreed  that  the  dollar  of  the  United  States,  spocilled  in 
the  present  eonvention,  shall  he  tixed  at  live  franca  jVcmm))  or  five  livrcs 
eight  sous  touruois.  The  in-esent  conv(>ntion  shall  he  ratilied  in  good  and 
due  form,  and  the  ratifications  shall  he  (exchanged  in  the  space  of  six 
months,  to  date  from  this  day,  or  sooner  if  possihle. 

In  faith  of  which,  the  respective  i)leiiipotentiaries  have  signed  the  ahovc 
articles  hoth  in  the  French  und  English  languages  ;  declaring  nevertheless, 
that  the  present  treaty  has  heen  originally  agrec<l  on  and  written  in  the 
French  Language;  to  which  they  have  hereunto  ailixed  their  seals. 

Done  at  I'aris,  the  tenth  of  Floreal,  eleventh  year  of  the  French  rcpublii . 
(30th  April,  1803.) 

[l.  S.]  ItoiUCUT.    K.    I.IVINUSTON, 

[l.  s.J  Jamks  Mo.nhok, 

[l.  s.]  Haubk  Makhois. 


Convention  between  the  United  States  of  America  and  the  FuExtii 
Republic,  also  ok  the  same  date  with  the  Louisiana  Tukatv. 

The  President  of  the  United  States  of  America,  and  the  first  consul  of 
the  Frencli  republic,  in  the  name  of  tlie  French  people,  having  hy  a  treaty 
of  tliis  date  terminated  all  difTieulties  relative  to  Louisiana,  and  estab- 
lished on  a  solid  foundation  the  friendship  which  unites  the  two  nations, 


AI'I'KNIilX. 


468 


and  licitiji  (h'siroiis,  in  nniniliaMcc  with  (ho  sccoiul  ami  lil'tli  iirticlt'H  ut' 
tilt'  cuMvi'iitiitu  of  tlu'  Sth  \'rnil(Miiiiiin',  niiitli  yciuor  tlic  Krcncli  rcjjuli'if, 
(;i(>tli  St'|»t('iiil»('r,  1S(K))  to  Hctiirt'  the  piiymont  of  the  Himi  due  l»y  Fiiinco 
to  the  citi/.riis  of  the  rnited  Stntcs,  liavc  n'spc'tivcly  noniiiuit«Ml  us  plciii- 
ootriitiarics,  timt  in  to  say  :  the  I'rcsidciit  of  tlic  United  Sliilfs  of  Aiut'i'ica, 
liy,  uiul  with  the  advice  and  <'ons('Mt  of  the*  senate,  llohcrt  U.  Liviuj^'ston, 
iniiustcr  )il(>ni|iot(>Mtiary,  and  .laiiirs  Moin'oe,  ndnistiT  plenipotentiary  and 
envoy  extraordinary  of  the  said  States,  near  the  j^overninent  of  the  French 
repuiilic,  and  the  first  eonsnl,  in  tlu^  name  of  the  French  people,  the 
French  citizen  Marix'  Marhois,  ndnister  of  the  pnhlic  treasury;  who, 
after  having  e.\<diun5;cd  their  full  powers,  have  a.grc(;(l  to  the  followini; 
articles  : 

AiiTici.K  1.  Thedchtsdue  h^'  France  to  tin;  citizens  of  the  United  States, 
contracted  l»efor(>  the  Sth  Vcndetniaire,  ninth  year  of  the  French  repuhlic, 
(liOth  Septend)er,  IH(K))  sliall  \>v.  paid  accordin^j  to  the  following  regu- 
lations, with  interest  ut  six  per  cent.,  to  conmience  from  the  j)eriod  when 
th(!  ac(U)unts  and  vouchers  were  presented  to  the  Frencdi  govtM*nm(;nt. 

Airr.  2.  The  dehts  providctl  tor  by  th(>])r(!C(;dingarti(d(.'ur(-' those  whoso 
result  is  comprised  in  theeonjc(!tural  nob;  annexed  to  the  pr(>sent  conven- 
tion, and  which,  with  the  interest,  cannot  exceed  tin;  sum  of  twentv 
millions  of  fran<'s.  The  cluims  compriscMl  in  the  said  note,  whi(di  fall 
within  the  exci'ptions  of  the  ftdlowing  articdes,  Bhiill  not  ho  admitted  to 
tlu!  henelit  (d'this  provision. 

Akt.  11  The  princijtal  and  int(>restof  the  said  dehts  shall  ho  diseliarged 
Ity  the  United  States,  hy  orders  drawn  hv  their  minister  plenipotcmtiury, 
on  their  treasury;  thest*  orders  shall  ik;  payable  sixty  days  ufter  the 
I'xchunge  of  the  ralilications  of  the  treaty  and  the  conventions  signed  this 
(lay,  and  after  possession  shall  he  givcni  of  Louisiana  by  the  commis- 
sioners of  France  to  those  of  tlu?  United  States. 

AuT.  4.  it  is  ex[)ressly  agre(!d,  that  the  preceding  arti(d(!S  shall  conipn;- 
liend  no  debts  but  such  as  are  due  to  citizens  of  tlu^  United  States,  who 
have  been  and  are  yet  creditors  of  France,  for  supplies,  end)argoes,  and 
for  ])rlzes  made  at  sea,  in  whicdi  the  appeal  h«s  ocen  properly  lodgcid 
within  the  time  mentioned  in  the  said  convention  of  the <Sth  Vendemiaire, 


ninth  year,  ^;{()th  Si^ptcmber,  l.S(K).) 
AiiT.  5.     Ihe  preceding  articles  shall  apply  only :  1st, 


to  captures  of 


which  the  conned  of  iirizes  shall  have  ordered  restitution  ;  it  being  well 
understood  that  the  claimant  cannot  have  recourse  to  the  Uiuted  States 
otherwise  than  he  might  have  had  to  the  government  of  the  French 
republic,  and  only  in  case  of  the  insuflicicmey  of  the  captors;  '2d,  the 
debts  mentioned  in  the  said  fifth  article  of  the  convention,  contracted 
before  the  <Sth  Vendemiaire,  an  1>,  (J-JOth  September,  18()0)  the  payment  of 
which  has  been  hcrct<»fore  claimed  of  the  actual  govermnent  ot  France, 
iind  for  which  the  creditors  have  a  right  to  the  protection  of  the  United 
States;  the  said  fifth  article  does  not  comprehend  prizes  whoso  condem- 
nation has  been  or  shall  be  confirmed  ;  it  is  the  exjircss  intention  of  the 
lontracting  parties  not  to  extend  the  benefit  of  the  present  convention  to 
reclamations  of  American  citizens,  wlio  shall  have  established  houses  of 
coinmerce  in  France,  England,  or  other  countries  than  the  United  States, 
in  i)artnership  with  foreigners,  and  who  by  that  reason  and  the  nature  of 
their  commerce,  ought  to  be  regarded  as  domiciliated  in  the  places  where 
such  liouses  exist.     All  agreements  and  bargains  concerning  merchandise, 


464 


APPENDIX. 


which  shall  not  be  the  property  of  American  citizens,  are  equally  excepted 
from  the  benefit  of  the  said  convention,  saving,  however,  to  such  persons 
their  claims  in  like  manner  as  if  this  treaty  had  not  been  made. 

Art.  6.  And  that  the  different  questions  which  may  arise  under  the 
preceding  article  may  be  fairly  investigated,  the  ministers  plenipoten- 
tiary of  the  United  States  shall  name  three  persons,  who  shall  act  from 
the  present  and  provisionally,  and  who  shall  have  full  power  to  examine, 
"without  removing  the  documents,  all  the  accounts  of  the  difterent  claims 
already  liquidated  by  the  bureau  established  for  this  purpose  by  the 
French  republic;  and  to  ascertain  whether  they  belong  to  the  classes 
designated  by  the  present  convention  and  the  principles  established  in  it, 
or  if  they  are  not  in  one  of  its  exceptions,  and  on  their  certificate,  declaring 
that  the  debt  is  due  to  an  American  citizen  or  his  representative,  and  that 
it  existed  before  the  8th  Vendemiaire,  ninth  year,  (30th  September,  *1800) 
the  creditor  shall  be  entitled  to  an  order  on  the  treasury  of  the  United 
States  in  the  manner  prescribed  by  the  third  article. 

Art.  7.  The  same  agents  shall  likewise  have  power,  without  removing 
the  documents,  to  examine  the  claims  which  are  prepared  for  verification, 
and  to  certify  those  which  ought  to  be  admitted  by  uniting  the  necessary 
qualifications,  and  not  being  comprised  in  the  exceptions  contained  in  the 
present  convention. 

Art.  8.  The  same  agents  shall  likewise  examine  the  claims  which  are 
not  prepared  for  liquidation,  and  certify  in  writing  those  which  in  their 
judgments  ought  to  be  admitted  to  liquidation. 

Art.  9.  In  proportion  as  the  debts  mentioned  in  these  articles  shall 
be  admitted,  they  shall  be  discharged  with  interest  at  six  per  cent,  by 
the  treasury  of  the  United  States. 

Art.  10.  And  that  no  debt  which  shall  not  have  the  qualifications 
above  mentioned,  and  that  no  unjust  or  exorbitant  demand  may  be 
admitted,  the  commercial  agent  of  the  United  States  at  Paris,  or  such 
other  agent  as  the  minister  plenipotentiary  of  the  United  States  shall 
think  proper  to  nominate,  shall  assist  at  the  operations  of  the  bureau, 
and  co-operate  in  the  examination  of  the  claims ;  and  if  this  agent  shall 
be  of  opinion  that  any  debt  is  not  completely  proved,  or  if  he  shall  judge 
that  it  is  not  comprised  in  the  principles  of  the  fifth  article  above 
mentioned ;  and  if,  notwithstanding  his  opinion,  the  bureau  established 
by  the  French  government  should  think  that  it  ought  to  be  liquidated, 
he  shall  transmit  his  observations  to  the  board  established  by  the  United 
States,  who,  without  removing  the  documents,  shall  make  a  complete 
examination  of  the  debt  and  vouchers  which  support  it,  and  report  the 
result  to  the  minister  of  the  United  States.  The  minister  of  the  United 
States  shall  transmit  his  observations,  in  all  such  cases,  to  the  minister 
of  the  treasury  of  the  French  republic,  on  whose  report  the  French 
government  shall  decide  definitively  in  every  case. 

The  rejection  of  any  claim  shall  have  no  other  effect  than  to  exempt 
the  United  States  from  the  payment  of  it,  the  French  government 
reserving  to  itself  the  right  to  decide  definitively  on  such  claim  so  far  as  it 
concerns  itself. 

Art.  11.  Every  necessary  decision  shall  be  made  in  the  course  of  a 
year,  to  commence  from  the  exchange  of  ratifications,  and  no  reclamation 
Bhall  be  admitted  afterwards. 


appk:ndix. 


4G5 


Akt.  12.  In  case  of  claims  for  debts  contracted  by  the  government  of 
France  with  citizens  of  the  United  States,  since  the  8th  Vendemiaire, 
ninth  year,  (30th  September,  1800)  not  being  comprised  in  this  convention, 
they  may  be  pursued,  and  the  payment  demanded  in  the  same  manner 
as  if  it  had  not  been  made. 

Art.  13.  The  present  convention  shall  bo  ratified  in  good  and  due 
form,  and  the  ratifications  shall  be  exchanged  in  six  months  from  the 
date  of  the  signature  of  the  ministers  plenipotentiary,  or  sooner,  if 
possible. 

In  faith  of  which,  the  respective  ministers  plenipotentiary  have  signed 
the  above  articles,  both  in  tne  French  and  English  languages,  declaring, 
nevertheless,  that  the  present  treaty  has  been  originally  agreed  on  and 
written  in  the  French  language ;  to  which  they  have  hereunto  affixed 
their  seals. 

Done  at  Paris,  the  tenth  day  of  Floreal,  eleventh  year  of  the  French 
republic,  (30th  April,  1803.) 

[l.  s.]  Robert  R.  Livingston, 

[l.  s.j  James  Monroe, 

[l.  s.]  Barbe  MARnois. 


"  ORDINANCE  OF  SECESSION." 

The  State  op  Louisiana. 

An  Ordinance  to  dhsolve  the  Union  between  the  State  of  Louisiana  and  other 
States  united  ivith  her,  under  the  compact  entitled  : 

"  The  Constitution  of  the  United  States  of  America." 

We,  the  people  of  the  State  of  Louisiana,  in  Convention  assembled,  do 
declare  and  ordain,  and  it  is  hereby  declared  and  ordained,  that  the 
Ordinance  passed  by  us  in  Convention  on  the  22d  day  of  November,  in 
the  year,  Elightocn  Hundred  and  Eleven,  whereby  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  and  the  amendments  of  the  said  Constitution, 
were  adopted ;  and  all  laws  and  ordinances  by  which  the  State  of 
Louisiana  became  a  member  of  the  Federal  Union,  be  and  the  same  are 
hereby  repealed  and  abrogated ;  and  that  the  Union  now  subsisting 
between  Louisiana  and  other  States,  under  the  name  of  "  The  United 
States  of  America,"  is  hereby  dissolved. 

We  do  further  declare  and  ordain^  That  the  State  of  Louisiana  hereby 
resumes  all  rights  and  powers  heretofore  delegated  to  the  Government  of 
the  United  States  of  America;  that  her  citizens  are  absolved  from  all 
allegiance  to  said  government;  and  that  she  is  in  full  possession  and 
exercise  of  all  those  rights  of  sovereignty  which  appertains  to  a  free  and 
independent  State. 

We  do  farther  declare  and  ordain,  That  all  rights  acquired  and  vested 
under  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  or  any  acts  of  Congress,  or 
treaty,  or  under  any  law  of  this  State,  and  not  incompatible  with  this 
Ordinance,  shall  remain  in  force  and  have  the  same  effect  as  if  this  Ordi- 
nance had  not  been  passed. 


I 'I:  i 


4:  I 


■ 

i»' 

i 

! 
1 

466 


APPENDIX. 


The  Legislature  met  at  Baton  Rouge  on  the  21st  of  January,  1861,  and 
on  the  18th  of  February,  the  following  Joint  Resolution  was  signed  by 
the  Governor : 

1st.  Be  it  resolved  hij  the  Senate  and  Home  of  Representatives  of  the  State 
of  Louisiana,  in  General  Assembly  eonvened,  That  the  right  of  a  sovereign 
State  to  secede  or  withdraw  from  the  Government  of  the  Federal  Union 
and  resume  her  original  sovereignty  when  in  her  judgment  such  act 
becomes  necessary,  is  not  prohil)ited  by  the  Federal  Constitution,  but  is 
reserved  thereby  to  the  several  States,  or  people  thereof,  to  be  exorcised, 
each  for  itself,  without  molestation. 

2d.  Be  it  farther  resolved,  ete.,  That  any  attempt  to  coerce  or  force  a 
sovereign  State  to  remain  within  the  Federal  Union,  come  from  what 
quarter  and  under  whatever  pretense  it  may,  wijl  be  viewed  by  the  people 
of  Louisiana,  as  well  on  her  own  account  as  of  her  sister  Southern  States, 
as  a  hostile  invasion,  and  resisted  to  the  utmost  extent. 

C.  H.  Morrison, 

Speaker  of  the  House  of  Represcatatlccs. 

B.  W.  Pearce, 

President  pro  tern,  of  the  Seiude. 
Approved,  February  18th,  1861. 

Thos.  0.  MooRE, 
(xovcraor  of  the  State  of  Louisiana. 
A  true  copy : 

Pliny  D.  Hardy, 

Secretary  of  State. 


A  Joint  Resolution  was  also  passed  approving  the  action  of  the 
Governor  in  taking  possession  of  the  Forts  and  Arsenals  within  tlic 
limits  of  the  State. 

An  act  was  passed  authorizing  the  Governor  to  transfer  and  cause  to  bo 
mustered  into  the  service  of  the  Provisional  Government  of  the  Confed- 
erate States  of  America,  the  regular  military  force  of  this  State,  organized 
under  an  ordinance  of  the  Convention  of  the  people  of  Louisiana,  passed 
on  the  5th  of  February,  1861. 

Two  hundred  and  seventy-three  acts  in  .all  were  passed,  but  few  of 
which  were  of  general  interest  or  worthy  of  mention  here. 


CONVENTION  OF  1861. 

On  the  23d  day  of  January,  1861,  in  pursuance  of  an  Act  of  the  Legis- 
lature, passed  at  its  Special  Session  of  1860,  the  Convention  of  the  peojilc 
of  the  State  of  Louisiana,  met  at  Baton  Rouge  ;  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
eight  of  the  one  hundred  and  thirty  delegates  answering  roll  call  at  the 
opening  Session. 


APPENDIX. 


List  ok  Delegates. 


467 


Adams,  W.  R Orleans. 

Anderson,  W.  D Tensas. 

Avegno,  ]J Orleans. 

Jiarbin,  Ad Avoyelles. 

IJarrow,  W.  R West  Feliciana. 

l>erniudez,  E Orleans. 

Uienvenu,  C St.  Bernard, 

Plaquemines,    Orleans,    Right 

Bank,  and  Jefferson. 

Jiont'ord,  P.  R Orleans. 

Bonner,  A Franklin. 

iiriscoe,  C.  C Madison. 

Burton,  W. St.  Landry. 

Bush,  L Lafourche, 

St.  Charles. 

Butler,  E.  G.  W Iberville. 

Caldwell,  T.  J Bossier. 

(!annon,  F Avoj'elles. 

Carr,  W.  C Union. 

(Uark,  George Orleans. 

Cook,  T.  A St.  Landry. 

Connelly,  G.  F Terrebonne. 

C'onner,  L.  P Concordia, 

Tensas  and  Sladison. 

Conner,  S.  S St.  Tammany. 

('ottman,  T Ascension. 

Davidson,  W.  A Livingston. 

Davison,  E.  C Sabine. 

Declouet,  A St.  Martin, 

Vermillion. 

DeBlanc,  A St.  Martin, 

Dorsey,  S.  W Tensas. 

Duffel,  E Ascension. 

Diipre,  L.  J St.  Landry, 

Calcasieu  and  Lafayette. 

Klam,  J.  B DeSoto. 

Fjliice,  J.  K Rapides. 

Kstlin,  W.  R Orleans. 

Fusilier,  G.L St.  Mary. 

Fu(iua,  J.  O East  Feliciana, 

East  and  West  Baton  Rouge. 

(iiadden,  A.  H Orleans. 

(Jardere,  F Plaquemines, 

St.  Bernard  and  Orleans,  Right 

Bank. 

(Jarrett,  J OUachita. 

(iuudet,  J.  K St.  Jan\es. 

(ivaves,  Y.  W .  .  . DeSoto. 

(!ray,  A.  M Avoyelles,  Pointe 

Coupee  and  West  Feliciana. 


Gill,  W.  E Calcasieu. 

Gii-ard,  M.  E Lafayette. 

GriHin,  S.  H Union. 

Hernandez,  J Orleans. 

Herron,  A.  S .  .  .  p]ast  Baton  Rouge, 

East  Feliciana  and  West  Baton 

Rouge. 
Hough,  W.  H .Caldwell, 

Catahoula  and  Winn. 
Hodge,  B.  L Caddo,  Natch- 
itoches, Sabine  and  DeSoto. 

Hodges,  R Bienville,  Bossier. 

HoUingsworth,  S . .  St.  John  Baptist. 

Johnston,  F Iberville. 

Kennedy,  T.  H Orleans. 

Kidd,  W.  M Jackson,  Union. 

Labutut,  F Orleans. 

LaNvrence,  E Plaquemines. 

Lagroue,  C.  T .Jefferson. 

LeBlanc,  CO Orleans. 

Le Bourgeois,  L.  S St.  James. 

Lewis,  F Bienville. 

Lewis,  J.  L Claiborne. 

Lewis,  G.  W . .  Orleans,  Right  Bank. 

Manning,  T.  C Rapides. 

Marshall,  H DeSoto,  Caddo, 

Sabine  and  Natchitoclies. 

Marrero,  A St.  Bernard. 

Marks,  L.  D Caddo. 

Marks,  I.  N Orleans. 

Martin,  N.  C Assumption, 

Ascension  and  Terrebonne. 

Martin,  J.  H (Carroll. 

Magee,  N Wasliington. 

Melan(;on,  O.  E .\ssuiuption. 

Meredith,  C.C Caldwell. 

Miles,  W.  R Orleans. 

Michel,  J.  J Orleans. 

Miller,  J.  E Concordia. 

Moore,  J St.  Martin. 

Mouton,  A Lafayette, 

St.  Landry  and  Calcasieu. 

McCloskcy,  J. Orleans. 

McCollani,  A Terrebonne. 

McFarland,  H Bossier. 

McXeely,  S.  AV Pointe  Coupee. 

Norton,  M.  0.  H Orleans. 

Olivier,  J.  G St.  Mary. 

O'Brien,  D Vermillion. 

Patterson,  W East  Feliciana. 


\ 


!r:fi 


468 


APPENDIX. 


List  of  Delegates. — Continued. 


Perkins,  J.  S Lafourche. 

Perkins,  J.,  Jr Madison, 

Tensas  and  Concordia. 

Perkins,  W.  M Orleans. 

Peck,  W.  R Madison. 

Pemberton,  J Orleans. 

Pierson,  A.  H Natchitoches. 

Pierson,  D Winn. 

Pike,  W.  S East  Baton  Rouge. 

Polk,  H.  M .  . .  Morehouse,  Ouachita. 
Pope,  N.  W .  . . .  West  Baton  Rouge. 

Provosty,  A Point  Coupee. 

Pugh,  W Assumption. 

Richardson,  H Washington, 

St.  Helena,  Livingston  and  St. 

Tammany. 
Roman,  A.  B St.  James, 

St.  John  Baptist. 

Roselius,  C Jefferson. 

Rozier,  J.  Ad Orleans. 

Slawson,  J.  B Orleans. 

Smart,  W.  W Rapides. 

Swayze,  E.  L St.  Landry. 

Semmes,  T.  J Orleans. 

Stewart,  CD Point  Coupee. 

Scott,  T.  W East  Feliciana. 

Avoyelles  and  West  Feliciana. 

Of  the  above.  Manning,  of  Rapides,  and  Gladden,  of  Orleans,  were  the 
only  delegates  absent  at  the  opening  of  the  Convention.  Alexander 
Mouton,  of  Lafayette,  was  elected  President  on  the  first  ballot.  J.  T. 
Wheat,  of  Orleans,  was  elected  Secretary. 


Sparrow,  E Carroll. 

SompayracJ Natchitoches. 

Scott,  N.  G Claiborne. 

Stocker,  W.  T Orleans. 

Smith,  W.  M.  M St.  Mary. 

Tappan,  B.  S Orleans. 

Talbot,  A Iberville. 

Taliaferro,  J.  G Catahoula. 

Taylor,  R St.  Charles. 

Taylor,  J.  A St.  Landry. 

Texada,  L Rapides. 

Thomasson,  J.  S Claiborne. 

Todd,  R.  B Morehouse. 

Towles,  J.  T West  Feliciana. 

Tucker,  C.J Lafourche. 

Valentine,  M Carroll,  Franklin. 

Verret,  A Terrebonne, 

Ascension  and  Assumption. 

Warren,  W.  B Jackson. 

Walker,  A Orleans. 

Williams,  LA..  East  Baton  Rouge. 

Williams,  J.  A St.  Helena. 

Williamson,  G Caddo. 

Wilkinson,  J.  B.,  Jr.   Plaquemines. 

Wiltz,  P.  S Orleans. 

York,  Z Concordia. 


V 


.i^ 


APPENDIX. 

Roster  of  Louinlana  Troops  in  the  Confederate  Service. 


469 


No. 


l8t 
iHt 


l8t 

Ist 

M 
M 

4tb 
5th 
(Stb 

7th 

8th 
■Jth 

lOtli 

nth 
IJIh 
13th 

14th 

loth 

liith 

nth 

leth 

nith 
aoth 

aist 

•iM 
•24tli 

•jr.th 

•JHth 
•J7th 

•iOth 

;iuth 


1st 
1st 
1st 

U 

MX 
4tli 
5tli 
6th 


Command 


Regiment 

5  c.  c.  J 

ijliilitited 
Men. 

Regimeut 


Aim 

OF 

Seuvice. 


Cavalry 
Artillery 

lufantry 


Battaliou. 


Cavalry 

Artiller 
Iiitautry 
Zouaves 
lul'autry 


COMMANUEK. 


Col.  John  S    Scott. 
Col.  C.  A.  Fuller. . 

Col.  M.  .I.Smith... 


(  Col.  Jas.  Strawbridso. . . . 
iCol.  Daul  W.  Adams... 


C  Col. 
)  Col. 
<Col. 
iCol. 

Col. 
5  Col. 
\  Col. 
(  Col. 
\  Col. 
^Col. 
)Col. 
<Col. 
i  Col. 

Col. 

Col. 
<;  Col. 
>  Col. 

Col. 

Col. 

Col. 
(  Col. 
\  Col. 

Uol. 
S  Col. 
)  Col. 

<;  Col. 

)  Col. 
<  Col 
1  Col. 
{  Cot. 
)Col. 
(  Col. 
)Col. 
(  Col. 
<Col. 
(  Col. 
(  Col. 
iCol. 


W.R.  Shivers 

A.  R.  Harrison 

J .  M.  "Williams 

W.  M.  Levy 

J.  H.  Gilraore 

A.  C.  Huuter 

R.  J  Barrow 

Henry  Foruo 

T.  Gr.  Hunt 

Wm.  Mouagham .... 

I.  G.  Seymour 

Davidson  1$.  Penn... 
Harry  T.  Hays 

II.  B.  KeUy.' 

Ltnoy  A.  Stafford.  . 
Eugene  Wagganuin . 

M.  Marigiiy 

S.  F.  Marks 

Thos.  M.  Seott 

R.  L.  Gibson 

^.  \  ork  ..*•••••••••  • 

R.  W.Jones 

Fdmuiid  Pendleton. 

Dau'l  Gober 

P.  Fond 

Robt.  Richardson  . . . 

S.  S.  Hwird 

L.  L.  Arinant 

A.  Moiiton 

■\V.  P.  Winans 

JJ.  L.  Hodge 

Leon  Von  Zincken  . . 

Aug.  Reichard  

Isaac  W.  Patton . . . . 

M.  L.  Smith.... 

Edward  lliggins  . . . . 
Charles  H.  Herrick. 
PaulE.  Theard 


Col.  J.  C.  Lewis 

{  Col.  Winchester  Hall.. 
I  Col.  Alex'r  Declouet. . . 

Col.  Leon  D.  Marks.  •  •  • 

Col.  Henry  Gray 

Col.  Allen  Thomas 

('oi.  G.  A.  Breaux 

Col.  Chas.  H.  Mon'ison.. 

Col.  J.  C.  Denis 


Date 
OK  Rank. 


May   •»,    1801. 
Aug.  14,  18G1. 

ilay  31,  186-i 

Feb.  16,  ie03, 


June  IC,  1862, 
June    C,  l&OiJ, 


.Nov.    5,  It^GJ. 
Mob.  2'J,  ItHiX 


July  31,  1862 
Nov!  "7,'iVg2. 


July  20,  1862. 


June  10,  1861. 
Apr.  24,  1862. 
Oct.       1,  1862 

Aug.  9,  1861. 
Aug.  9,  1861, 
Sept.  16,  1861. 
Aug.  15,  1862. 


Oct.    14,  1862. 
May     8.  1862. 


May  23,  1862, 
Sept.  26,  1862. 


July  17,  1862 
July  7,  1862, 
May 'i.i,is62 


May  26,  1862 


Dec.   31.  1862 
Nov.  2.i,  1862, 


Apr.  19,  1862, 
May  1,  1.-62 
May     3,  1862. 


Col.  W.  G.  Vincent... 

Lt  Col.  J  n.  Walton. 

Lt.  Col.  Rightor 

Lt.  Col.  Coppens 

Mfljor  Wheat 


June  10,  1862 


Sept.    1,  1862. 


Lt.  Col.  J.  McEnery . . . . 

Lt.  Col.  Kennedy 

Lt.  Col.  C.  H.  Morrison. 


Remaukh. 


Promoted  BrigadierG eneral. 


Promoted  MajorGeneral. 
Promoted  Brigadier-General. 


Promoted  Brigadier-General. 
I'roiuoted  Brigadier-General. 
Promoted  Brigadier-General. 


Promoted  Brigadier-General. 


Delegate  to  Provisional  Congress  at 
Montgomery. 

Promoted  Brigadier-General. 


Afterwards  changed  to  15th  regim't 


nm 


Me 

A  I 
Disc 


c 
J 
\ 
I 
B 

h 
tJ 

G 

G 


T]ie  B 

Tr 

de 

Po 

Ro 

Ca] 

Poi 

Poi 

Jan 

tive 

Jan 

Hu( 

colo 


rf^ 


CONTENTS. 


Memoir  of  Frangois-Xavier  Martin . 


I'AOR 

vii 


PRELIMINARY  CHAPTER. 

A  topographical  view  of  the  State  of  Louisiana . . . . 


CHAPTER  I. 

Discovery  of  America.  Charles  VIII.  Henry  VII.  Ferdinand  and 
Isabella.  Cabot.  Prima  Vista.  Lewis  XII.  Denys.  Aubert. 
Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence.  Indians  carried  to  France.  Henry  VIII. 
Francis  I.  Ponce  de  Leon.  Florida.  The  Baron  de  Levy. 
Sable  Island.  Vasques  de  Aillon.  Velasquez.  Vcranzany. 
Narvaez.  Apalachians.  The  peace  of  Cambray.  Cartier.  River 
of  St.  Lawrence.  Hernandez  de  Soto.  Chickasaws.  Alabamas. 
Mobilians.  Choctaws.  The  Mississippi.  Red  river.  Robert- 
val.  Canada.  Luis  de  Muscoso.  Los  Vaqueros.  Edward  VI. 
Henry  II.  Mary.  Philip  II.  Elizabeth.  Charles  IX.  Coligny. 
Ribaud.  Caroline.  Albert.  Barre.  Laudoniere.  Sir  John 
Hawkins.  Pedro  de  Menendez.  St.  Augustine.  Destruction  of 
the  French  Colony.  De  Gourgups.  Henry  III.  Sir  Humphrey 
Gilbert.  Sir  Walter  Raleigh.  Ocracock.  Virginia.  Sir  Richard 
Grenville.    De  la  Roche.    Acadie ol 

CHAPTER  IL 

The  Bourbons.  Henry  IV.  Philip  III.  Pontgrave  and  Chauvin. 
Trois  rivieres.  Gosnold.  Cape  Cod.  James  I.  Commandeur 
de  la  Chatte.  Champlain.  Hochelaga.  Dumontz.  Acadie. 
Port  Rossignol.  Port  Mouton.  Penobscot.  Pentagoet.  Port 
Royal.  Poutrincourt.  Earls  of  Southampton  and  Arundel. 
Captain  Weymouth.  Ill  success  of  a  colony  sent  to  Acadie. 
Pontgrave  sails  with  the  colonists  for  France;  he  is  met  by 
Poutrincourt  and  returns.  The  Marchioness  of  Guercheville. 
James'  patents  to  the  northern  and  southern  companies.  Abor- 
tive effort  of  the  northern.  First  attempt  of  the  southern. 
James  Town.  Quebec.  Expedition  against  the  Iroquois.  Henry 
Hudson.  Chauvin.  JJew  France.  Prosperous  state  of  the 
colony.    Second  expedition  against  the  Iroquois.    Louis  XIII. 


ii'- 


ii 


CONTENTS. 


I'Ann 


Jc'suitH  sent  to  Acndic.  Lake  Ohaiiiplain.  Nova  Bclgien.  New 
AiuHtonlani.  LaHaiiHuio.  Acadio.  La  Hevo.  Port  Uoyal. 
liocancourt.  St.  Sauveur.  Argal  drivcH  the  Frencli  from  Acadie. 
Tlio  Karl  of  Soinsoiis.  Prince  of  Cond(?.  Montreal.  Company 
<tf  St.  MalocH.  New  England.  Third  expedition  against  the 
Iro<iuoi.><.  They  murder  three  Frenchmen  and  jilot  the  destruction 
of  the  colony.  Brt)ther  Pacific.  Marshal  of  Montmorency.  New 
Plymouth.  Philip  TV.  Sir  William  Alexander.  First  irruption 
of  the  Irocjuois.  William  and  Edward  de  Caen.  Fort  of  Quebec. 
Jesuits  sent  to  Canada.  Charles  I.  Swedish  colony.  Conjpany 
of  New  France.  Kertz.  Captureof  a  French  fleet.  Famine  and 
dissensions.  The  capture  of  Quebec.  Sir  Robert  Heath.  Caro- 
lana.  New  Hampshire.  Peace  of  St.  Germain.  Canada  and 
Acadie  restored 4.") 

CHAPTER  III. 

Emery  de  Caen.     Maryland.    Acadie.     Commandeur  de   Razilly. 
New  Hami)shire.     Maine.     Rhode  Island  and  Providence  plan- 
tations.    Connecticut.    College  of  Quebec.     Montmagny.    The 
Duchess  of  Aiguillon.     Ursuline  Nuns.     Sisters  of  the  Congre- 
gation.   Fort  Richelieu.    Louis  XIV.    Union  of  the  New  England 
colonies.    Their  treaty  with  Acadie.     D'Aillebout.    Offer  of  a 
treaty  to  Canada.     Oliver  Cromwell.    Commissioners  of  New 
England.    Indians.    Missionaries  among  them.    Godefroy  and 
Dreuillettes  sent  to  Boston.      De  Lauson.      Irruption  of  the 
Iroquois.     Swedish  colony  abandoned.     D'Argenson.     Bishop  of 
Petra.     Vicar  General.    Seminary  of  Montreal.      The  English 
from  Virginia  discover  the  Ohio.      Charles   II.   proclaimed  in 
Virginia.     Irruptions  of  the  Iroquois  near  Quebec.     Epidemic. 
Meteors.    D'Av.augour.    Dissensions  among  the  chiefs.    Sale  of 
ardent  spirits  to  the  Indians.    Earthquake.     Vision  of  a  nun. 
The  charter  of  the  company  of  New  France  surrendered.    De 
Gaudais.     Superior  and  inferior  courts  of  justice.    Grant  to  the 
Duke  of  York.    The  Dutch  driven  from  New  Belgica.    New  York. 
Albany.    New  Jersey.    Fresh  dissensions  among  the  chiefs.    De 
Courcelles.    De  Tracy.    Viceroy  of  New  France.    Regiment  of 
Carignan   Salieres.      New   colonists.      Horses,  oxen  and  sheej) 
brought  from  France  to  Canada.    Fort  Sorel.    Fort  St.  Theresa. 
Expedition  against  the  Iroquois.    Another  earthquake.    Carolina. 
Charles  II.  of  Spain.    West  India  Company.    Quebec  erected 
into  a  Bishop's  See.     French  and  English  Plenipotentiaries  in 
Boston.     Frontenac.    Fort  at  Catarocoui.     Salem.     Father  Mar- 
quette.   Joliet.    Lake  Michigan.    Outagami  river.    Ouisconsing. 


£LJL 


I'Aflir. 

New 

oyul. 

adie. 

pany 

i  the 

iction 

New 
iptiou 
ueboc. 
npiiny 
lie  and 

Caro- 
\\\  and 


45 


Razilly. 

e  plan- 

y.    The 

Congre- 

5ngland 

Ter  of  a 

of  New 

■roy  and 
of  the 

lishop  of 
English 
med  in 
(idemic. 
Sale  of 
a  nun. 
ted.    De 
lit  to  the 
BW  York, 
fefs.    De 
Iment  of 
\a  sheep 
Theresa. 
;^arohna. 
erected 
Jiaries  in 
Iher  Mar- 
Iconsing. 


C0NTKNT8. 


Ill 

I'AIIR 


MiHsiHsippi.    IllinoiH.    MissouriH.    Arkansan.    Oreat  rejt)ii'ings 

in  Quebec  on  the  discovery  of  the  MissiHsippi 58 

CHAl'TKK  IV. 

The  French  are  driven  from  Acadie.  Coinphiints  of  the  Canadiana 
against  their  (Jovernor.  The  Abbe  do  FeiU!U»n.  Sale  of  8pirit- 
uoUB  liquors  totJic  Indians.  Representations  of  the  Clergy.  The 
Archbishop  of  Paris  and  Father  do  la  Chaise.  Lasalle  proposes 
to  explore  the  course  of  the  Mississippi.  He  goes  to  France.  The 
Prince  of  Conti.  The  Chevalier  de  Tonti.  Lasalle  returns.  Fort 
Frontenac.  Adventurers  from  New  England  cross  the  Mississippi 
and  visit  New  Mexico.  Lakes  Ontari(v,  Erie,  Huron  and  Michigan. 
Little  Miami  river.  Illinois.  Lasallc's  men  endeavor  to  in^ . '  >- 
1)086  the  Illinois  against  him.  He  defeats  their  plan.  The 
intrigue  of  a  Mascoutan  Indian.  Attempt  to  poison  Lasalle, 
Arkansas.  Dacan.  Hennepin.  Mississippi.  Falls  of  St. 
Anthony.  Sioux.  Pennsylvania.  Miamis.  Outagamis.  Ainous. 
Mascoutans.  Fort  Crevecojur.  Irruptions  of  the  Iroquois  into 
the  country  of  the  Illinois.  Acadie  restored  to  the  French.  Fort 
Penkuit.  Chicagou.  Illinois.  Mississippi  river.  The  Miami. 
Chickasaws.  Fort  Prudhonmie.  Cappas.  Arkansas.  Alligators. 
Taensas.  Red  river.  Quinipissae.  Tangipaos.  (hilf  of  Mexico. 
Lasalle  takes  possession  of  the  country  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Mississippi.  He  calls  the  river  St.  Louis  and  the  country  Louiii-  •.  '. 
iana.  He  is  visited  by  Indians  from  several  tribes.  He  returns; 
His  party  is  attacked  by  the  (iuinipissas,  who  are  routed.  The' 
Natchez.  Taensas.  Arkansas.  Chickasaw  Bluffs.  Lasalle  xA. 
detained  there  by  sickness.  The  Chevalier  de  Tonti  proceed?} 
with  part  of  the  men.  They  meet  at  Michillimackinac.  The 
Chevalier  goes  to  Fort  St.  Louis,  and  Lasalle  to  Quebec.  Count 
de  Frontenac.     Lasalle  sails  for  France 08 

CHAPTER  V. 

Le  Febvre  de  la  Barre.  De  Mcules.  Lasalle  arrives  in  France.  The 
Marquis  of  Seignelai.  Expedition  for  the  Mississippi.  Volun- 
teers, soldiers,  colonists,  mechanics  and  priests.  The  fleet 
weighs  anchor.  Beaujeu.  Hispaniola.  Cuba.  Beaujeu  misses 
the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  and  is  driven  westwardly.  Bay  of 
St.  Bernard.  Lasalle  attempts  to  find  the  Mississippi  by  land. 
Indians.  One  of  the  vessels  is  cast  ashore.  James  II.  Com- 
merce of  Canada.  Champigny  de  Norroy.  Card  money. 
Beaujeu  sails  for  France.  A  fort  built  at  the  western  extremity  of 
the  bay  of  St.  Bernard.     Another  attempt  to  find  the  Mississippi. 


Iv 


C0NTKNT8. 


I'Ana 


Point  Hurler. 


Ki 


An  ('Htul)lir<hni<Mit  (!onin)onc(Ml  on  the  hanks  of 
o  ('olorado,  or  riviuri;  aux  vu(!I)c»h.    Tho  fortiflcationdt  on  tli«» 


gulf  aro  (UMnoliHhcd,  and  all  the  colonistH  rctnovo  to  Colorado, 
whcrn  they  huild  a  now  fort.  Tho  ('hovulior  (h;  Tonti  dosconds 
th((  MiHHJrtsipi)!  in  scandi  of  tho  colonlHtM.  Thoy  aro  diwtrossod 
hy  diHoasc,  Indian  hostiliticH  and  fannno.  Last  attempt  to  find 
tlio  MissisHippi.  Irruptions  of  tho  Iroquois  in  Oanada.  Tho 
Maniuis  do  Dononvillo.  His  oorrospondenoo  with  tho  (Jovernor 
of  Now  York.  I'astohonrd  money.  Lttsallo  loses  liis  last  vessel, 
and  sets  off  for  tho  Illinois.  JJuffaloos.  Biseatonj^e  Indians. 
Chinonoas.  Rattle  Snake,  ('enis.  Nassonites.  Sicskness  and 
return  of  Lasalle.  State  of  tho  colonj'.  Lasallo  determines  to 
return  to  France  hy  the  way  of  Canarhi.  One  of  his  party  falls 
sick,  is  sent  hack,  and  killed  hy  the  Indians.  Resentment  of  his 
hrother.  Tho  party  stops  to  kill  huft'aloes,  and  cure  the  moat. 
Mutiny.  Lasalle  and  his  nejjhcw  aro  murdered.  Division  of  tho 
party.  The  murderers  quarrel  and  some  of  them  aro  killed,  the 
others  seek  refuge  among  tho  Indians.  Lasalle's  l)rother.  Father 
Athanaso  and  five  others  reach  tho  Arkansas.  Couture  and 
Delaunay.  Lasalle's  hrother  and  his  companions  go  to  the 
Illinois,  and  from  thence  to  Quebec,  and  embark  for  France. . . . 

CHAPTER  VL 

The  English  excite  tho  Iroquois  against  tho  Indian  allies  of  the 
French.  Proposals  of  James  II.  to  Louis  XIV.  for  the  neutrality 
of  their  American  dominions.  Instructions  to  Denonvillo.  The 
English  attack  Iberville,  in  Hudson's  Bay,  and  he  repels  them. 
Iroquois  Chiefs  decoyed,  made  prisoners  and  sent  to  the  gallies 
at  Marseilles.  Vaudrcuil  leads  the  Canadian  forces  against  the 
Iroquois.  Correspondence  between  Denonvillo  and  tho  Governor 
of  New  York.  The  French  are  attacked  in  a  defile.  Good  con- 
duct of  their  red  allies  and  the  militia.  The  Irocjuois  are  routed, 
one  of  their  villages  is  burnt  and  their  plantations  laid  waste. 
Denonvillo  marches  back  to  Niagara  and  builds  a  fort.  Epidemic 
disease.  The  Iroquois  ravage  the  plantations  near  Fort  Fron- 
tenac.  Thoy  sue  for,  and  obtain  peace.  Population  of  Canada. 
Abdication  of  James  II.  William  and  Mary.  Distress  of  the 
colony  on  tho  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Alonzo  de  Leon  scours  the 
country.  Province  of  Texas.  Frontenac  returns  to  New  France. 
Commissioners  for  settling  the  boundaries  of  the  French  and 
English  Colonies  in  North  America.  Frontenac's  instructions. 
Do  Callicre.  La  Caffiniere.  Projected  attack  of  New  York. 
Irruptions  of  the  Iroquois.    Declaration  of  War  between  France 


7!> 


CONTENTS. 


V 

I'AIIK 


ui\(l  Kn^land.  Corlnor,  Sorincntelaiul  Kawkohe.  Medal.  Fam- 
iiu'.  Vaudrouil  takes  pohhohhIoii  of  Arcadio.  Du  Palais.  Th« 
Kn^UHh  poHHCHH  thcniHclvcH  of  HudHun'H  Day.  Ihurville  rciakcH 
it  imd  winters  thon\  Scurvy.  II)orville  ri'ducos  tho  Fort  of 
IVnta^oot.  The  Kn^lish  land  in  Ac^adic  and  distress  tho  planters, 
llierville's  success  in  New  Foundland.  The  Fort  in  Hudson's 
Hay  taken  by  the  Knglish,  and  retaken  by  Iberville.  Peace  of  \ 
Riswick.     I)e  Callicro 88 

CHAPTKK  Vir. 

Iherville's  offers  to  jdant  a  French  colony  in  Louisiana  arc  accepted. 
An  expedition  is  prepared,  sails  from  La  Uochollo,  and  touches 
at  llispaniola.  Andres  du  Ja  RioUe.  Pensacola.  Massacre, 
Horn,  Ship,  Chandeleur  and  Cat  islands.  A  settlement  begun 
on  Ship  island,  bay  of  Pascagoula.  Biloxi  and  Bayagoulu 
Indians.  Iberville  and  Bienville  enter  and  ascend  the  Missis- 
nippi.  Fork  of  Chetimachas.  Washas.  Pla<iuemineH.  Bayou 
Manshac.  Oumas.  Point  Coupee.  Portage  de  la  Croix.  Lakes 
Maurepas  and  Pontchartrain.  Bay  of  St.  Louis.  A  fort  l)uilt  on 
the  Bay  of  Biloxi.  Iberville  leaves  Sauvolle  in  command  and 
sails  for  France.  Scotch  colony  at  Darien.  Sauvolle  sends  a 
small  vessel  to  Hispauiola  for  provisions.  Colapissas,  Chicka- 
saws.  Missionaries  among  the  Yazous  and  Tunicas.  Mobile 
and  Thome  Indians  visit  Sauvolle.  English  Turn.  French 
Protestants.  Return  of  Iberville.  Boisbriant.  St.  Denya. 
Malton.  A  fort  built  on  the  Mississippi.  The  Chevalier  de 
Tonti.  The  Natchez  and  Taensas.  St.  Come.  Rosalie.  Yatas- 
sees.  Protest  of  the  Governor  of  Pensacola.  Washitas.  Red 
river.  Iberville  sails  for  France.  Philip  V.  War  of  the 
Spanish  succession.  St.  Peter  and  Green  rivers.  Fort  Thuillier. 
Sagan.  Sauvolle  dies.  Choctaws,  Chicasaws  and  Alibamons. 
Return  of  Iberville.  Headquarters  removed  to  Mobile.  Dauphine 
island.  Iberville  departs  for  France.  Queen  Anne.  Declara- 
tion of  War.  Irruption  from  Canada  into  Massachusetts  and 
New  Hampshire.  Attack  of  St.  Augustine.  Wabash.  Apalach- 
ian  Indians.  Bienville  chastises  the  Alibamons.  Recruits. 
Grey  Sisters.  Fire  at  Biloxi.  Disease.  Destruction  of  the 
French  settlement  on  the  Wabash.  Chickasaws  and  Choctaws. 
Cherokees.  Illinois.  Father  Gratiot.  Bayagoulas.  Hurons. 
I  Arkansas.  Iberville's  death.  Tunicas.  Taensas.  Attack  on 
Pensacola.  Touaches.  Abikas.  Alibamons.  Another  attack 
on  Pensacola.  Irruption  from  Canada  into  Massachusetts. 
General  Nicholson.     De   Muys  and  Diron   D'Artaguette.     The 


VI 


CONTENTS. 


l'\(iK 


English  take  Port  Royal  in  Acadie.  The  settlement  on  Mobile 
river  removed  higher  up.  The  Chickasavvs  attack  the  Choctavvs. 
Failure  of  the  English  in  an  attempt  against  Quebec  and  Mont- 
real.   La  Ville  Voisin.    Anthony  Crozat.     Peace  of  Utrecht ... .     OG 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Charter.  Lamotte  Cadillac,  Duclos,  Lebas,  Dirigoin,  Laloire  do* 
Ursins.  Superior  Council.  Arrangements  with  Crozat.  His 
plans.  Misunderstanding  between  the  new  governor  and  Bien- 
ville. Indians.  Card  money  of  Canada.  Part  of  the  Choctaws 
drawn  to  the  British.  Fort  Toulouse.  St.  Denys.  George  I, 
Lamotte  Cadillac  goes  to  the  Illinois  in  search  of  a  silver  mine, 
and  is  disappointed.  The  Choctaws  are  prevailed  on  to  drive 
the  British  traders  from  their  villages.  Massacre  of  the  Indian?^ 
in  South  Carolina.  Bienville  reconciles  the  Choctaws.  Arrival 
of  two  companies  of  infantry.  Marigny  de  Mandeville.  Begot. 
Rouzant.  Bienville  commandant  general  on  the  Mississippi. 
Ships  from  La  Rochelle  and  Martinico  not  allowed  to  trade. 
Louis  XV.  The  Duke  of  Orleans.  The  Cherokees  attack  the 
French  on  the  Wabash.  Bienville  goes  to  the  Mississippi.  Has 
a  conference  with  the  Chaouachas.  Reaches  Natchez.  Is 
informed  of  the  murder  of  two  Frenchmen,  and  demands  the 
head  of  a  sun.  An  Indian  consents  to  die  in  his  room  and  his 
head  is  brought  to  Bienville,  who  refuses  to  receive  it.  The 
same  deception  is  attempted  with  as  little  success  on  the  next 
day.  Six  pirogues  from  the  Illinois  are  prevented  from  falling 
into  the  hands  of  the  Indians.  The  Natchez  kill  one  of  their 
reliefs  who  participated  in  the  murder.  Bienville  goes  to  their 
village.  He  builds  Fort  Rosalie,  and  leaves  a  garrison  in  it.  One 
of  Crozat's  ships  arrives  at  Mobile.  St.  Denys  returns  from 
Mexico.  Re-establishment  and  new  modelling  of  the  Supreme 
Council.  Ordinances  relating  to  redemptioners  and  muskets. 
Delery,  Lafreniere,  and  Beaulieu  go  on  a  trading  journey  to  the 
Spanish  provinces.  Dutisne  goes  with  a  detachment  to  build  a 
fort  at  Natchez.  L'Epinai  and  Hubert  and  three  companies  of 
infantry  arrive.  New  colonists.  Trefontaine,  Gimel,  Dubreuil 
and  Mossy.  The  bay  of  Ship  island  is  stopped  up.  Misunder- 
standing between  Bienville  and  L'Epinai  and  Hubert.  Crozat's 
agents  make  a  last  but  unsuccessful  attempt  to  trade  with  Vera 
Cruz.    He  surrenders  his  privilege 114 


r.    -y . 


CONTENTS. 


Vll 


I*Al>K 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Charter  of  the  Western  Company.  Card  money  of  Canada.  Bienville, 
Hubert  and  Boisbriant.  New  Leon.  Bay  of  St.  Joseph.  New 
Orleans.  Large  grants  of  land.  New  settlers.  Rich))ourg. 
(handval.  Accession  of  population.  Laharpe.  Bizart.  Deser- 
tion. Spaniards  defeated  on  the  Missouri.  L'Archanibault.  St. 
])enys.  Bay  of  St.  Bernard.  San  Fernandes.  New  Philipines. 
War  between  France  and  England.  Pensacola  taken  and  retaken. 
Dauphine  island.  Champmeslin.  Pensacola  taken  again.  Supe- 
rior Council  and  inferior  Tribunals.  A  Mineralogist  sent  to  the 
Illinois.  New  Biloxi.  Dutisne.  Delochon.  Mine.  Union  of 
the  Western  and  Eastern  Companies.  Proclamation  fixing  the 
price  of  goods  and  produce.  Laharpe.  Chickasaw  hostilities. 
Illinois,  Repeal  of  the  edict  respecting  the  transportation  of 
convicts  to  Louisiana.  Plague.  Father  Laval.  Natchitoches. 
Negroes.  Mines.  Choctaws  and  Alibamons.  Accession  of 
population.  Beaumonoir.  Bouteux.  Laloire.  Boispinel.  Bay 
of  St.  Bernard.  Headquarters  removed  to  New  Biloxi.  Girls 
from  the  Salpetriere.  Deserters.  German  settlers.  Bellisle. 
Survey  of  the  passes  of  the  Mississippi.  Guineaman.  Irruptions 
of  the  Spaniards  from  Santa  Fe.  Marigny  de  Mandeville. 
D'Arensbourg.  German  passengers.  Failure  of  Law.  Another 
Guineaman 124 

CHAPTER  X. 

Duvcrgier.  Bernard  de  Laharpe.  Bay  of  St.  Bernard.  De  Marsil- 
liere,  Dudemaine  and  Duplesne.  A  Cuineaman.  Principal 
establishment  ordered  to  be  removed  to  New  Orleans.  Survey  of 
the  river  of  the  Arkansas.  The  Marquis  de  Gallo.  Chickasaw 
hostilities.  Father  Charlevoix.  Toulouse  island.  Loubois. 
Latour.  Price  of  negroes,  tobacco  and  rice  fixed.  Copper  coinage. 
Military,  civil  and  religious  divisions  of  the  province.  Larenau- 
diere.  German  coast.  Peace  with  Spain.  Pensacola  restored. 
Chickasaw  hostilities  among  the  Yazous.  Fort  on  the  Missouri. 
Capuchins.  A  hurricane.  Hostilities  committed  b^' the  Natchez. 
An  unexpected  crop  of  rice.  The  Directors  remove  to  New 
Orleans.  A  Swiss  company  deserts  to  Charleston.  Large  grants 
of  land.  Indigo.  St.  Joseph  abandoned.  Spanish  force  in  the 
province  of  Texas.  The  Choctaws  defeat  the  Chickasaws.  Alter- 
ations in  the  value  of  coin.  Jesuits.  The  Catholic  the  only 
religion  tolerated.  Expulsion  of  the  Jews.  Black  Code.  Edict 
relating  to  correspondence.  Edict  relating  to  horses  and  cattle. 
De.  la  Chaise  and  Perrault.     Phillip  V.  abdicates  the  throne. 


J 


VIH 


CONTENTS. 


I'ACiE 


Louis  ascends  it  and  dies.  Philip  resumes  the  crown.  Superior 
Council.  Treaties  with  the  Jesuits,  Capuchins  and  Ursuline 
Nuns.  Perrier.  George  II.  Girls  de  la  Cassette.  Improvement 
in  New  Orleans.     Land  regulations 148 

CHAPTER  XL 

The  Chickasaws  meditate  the  overthrow  of  the  colony.  They  engage 
other  nations  in  the  plot.  The  Choctaws  discover  it.  Perrier 
sends  for  some  of  the  chiefs.  They  deceive  him.  He  represents 
the  helpless  condition  of  the  province.  His  representations  arc 
disregarded.  The  Chickasaws  abandon  or  delay  their  plan.  Ill 
conduct  of  Chepar  at  the  Natchez.  They  determine  on  the 
slaughter  of  the  French,  and  engage  the  neighboring  tribes  in 
the  plot.  A  female  discovers  imd  discloses  it.  Boats  arrive 
from  New  Orleans.  Massacre  at  .'"^ort  Rosalie  and  Fort  St.  Peter. 
Father  Doutresleau.  Perrier  sends  a  vessel  to  France  and 
two  up  the  Mississippi.  He  dispatches  couriers  to  the  Illi- 
nois and  his  Indian  allies.  He  fortifies  New  Orleans  and  collects 
a  small  force.  Apprehension  from  the  negroes.  Loubois.  Mis- 
pleix.  The  Natchez  make  propositions  of  peace.  Their  high 
pretensions.  Lesueur  arrives  with  the  Choctaws.  They  cannot 
be  restrained,  and  make  a  bold  charge  with  some  success.  The 
army  arrives ;  the  trenches  are  opened.  Loubois  is  compelled  to 
accept  the  propositions  of  the  Natchez.  He  builds  a  fort  and 
returns.  The  Chickasaws  afford  an  asylum  to  the  Natchez  and 
endeavor  to  gain  the  Illinois.  Fidelity  of  the  latter.  The  Chou- 
achas,  influenced  by  the  Chickasaws,  attempt  to  rise  against  the 
French.  The  negroes  are  employed  to  destroy  them.  Succor 
from  France.  Perrier  goes  to  Mobile.  His  call  on  the  militia. 
Some  of  the  Natchez  cross  the  Mississippi.  Symptoms  of  insur- 
rection among  the  negrr-ts.  Perrier  goes  with  a  small  army  to 
Black  river.  He  reaches  an  Indian  fort.  Opening  of  the 
trenches.  A  i)arley.  The  Great  Sun  and  two  other  cliiefs  come 
and  are  detained.  One  of  them  escapes.  Part  of  the  Indians 
leave  the  fort.  The  wife  of  the  Great  Sun  comes  to  the  camp. 
Part  of  the  remaining  Indians  surrender;  the  rest  leave  the 
fort.  They  are  pursued  and  some  prisoners  taken.  The  army 
returns  to  New  Orleans.  Four  .hundred  prisoners  sliipped  to 
Hispaniola.  Surrender  of  the  Company's  charter.  State  of  the 
province toS 


I'AOE 


enor 
aline 
ment 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


IX 

I'AUK 


ngagc 
erricr 
3Pents 
IS  arc 
1.    Ill 
n  the 
Lies  in 
arrive 
,  Peter. 
!e   and 
ic   Illi- 
jollects 
.    Mis- 
ir  high 
cannot 
,.     The 
died  to 
r>rt  and 
licz  and 
Chou- 
nst  the 
Succor 
militia, 
f  insur- 
rniy  to 
of  the 
:s  come 
ndians 
camp, 
we  the 
c  army 
Dped  to 
of  the 


Halnion  takes  possession  of  the  province  for  the  king.  Property  of 
the  company  purchased.  Kedemptioners  and  muskets.  8ui)c- 
rior  council  reorganized.  The  Natchez  are  repulsed  at  Xatclii- 
toches.  Negro  plot.  Exem})tion  from  duties.  IMilitary  ix-ace 
establishment.  Georgia  settled.  War  in  Europe.  Bienville 
re-appointed  governor.  Troops.  Furlouglis  and  grants  of  land. 
Scarcity  of  provisions.  Card  money.  Irruption  of  the  Natchez. 
Bienville  prei)ares  to  march  against  them.  Cons[)iracy  among 
the  soldiers  at  Tombeckbe.  Bienville's  unsuccessful  attack  on  a 
fort  of  the  Chickasaws.  The  Chevalier  d'Artaguette.  Spanish 
hostilities  againit  the  British  in  the  West  Indies.  The  French 
cabinet  approves  the  plan  of  a  new  expedition  against  the  Chick- 
asaws. Peace  in  Europe.  The  garrison  of  St.  Augustine  rein- 
forced. Bienville  at  the  head  of  the  colonial  force  ascends  the 
Mississippi.  Detachments  from  Canada  and  the  Illinois.  Inju- 
dicious delay.  Disease.  Famine.  Celeron  marches  against  the 
westernmost  fort  of  the  Chickasaws.  They  sue  for  peace.  Bien- 
ville destroys  his  forts  and  the  army  returns.  Death  of  Charles 
VI.    Maria  Theresa.    War  in  Europe 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

The  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil.  Superior  Council.  fJeorgia.  Nova 
Scotia.  War.  Irruption  from  Canada.  Paper  securities.  The 
Island  of  Cai)e  Breton  taken.  D'Anville's  fleet.  Ferdinand  VI. 
Hurricane.  Dearth.  Relief  from  the  Illinois.  Overseer  of  the 
highways.  Surveyor  General.  Olivier  Duvezin.  Civil  Regula- 
tions. Peace  of  Aix-la-Chapelle.  Redemptioners  and  muskets. 
Larouvillierc.  Ohio  Company.  Complaint  of  the  Governor 
General  of  New  France.  Quota  of  troops  in  Louisiana.  Tlio 
culture  of  tobficco  encouraged.  British  traders  among  the  Twig- 
twees  arrested.  Exemptions  of  duty.  Recruits  from  France. 
Sugar  Cane.  Myrtle  Wax.  Irruption  of  the  Chickasaws. 
Vaudreuil  marches  into  their  country.  A  fort  built  on  French 
creek.  Governor  Dinwiddle.  Major  Washington.  Kerlerec. 
Des(;loseaux.  Jumonville.  Villiers.  Fort  Necessity.  Murder 
of  the  jCommandant  on  Cat  Island.  Beausejour.  The  Acadian 
Coast.  General  Braddock.  Fort  Duquesne.  Crown  Point  and 
Niagara.  Declaration  of  War.  The  Earl  of  Loudoun.  The 
Marquis  de  Montcalm.  Forts  Oswego  and  William  Henry  taken 
by  the  French,  and  the  Islands  of  Cape  Breton  and  St.  John  taken 
by   the    Briti.sh.       Fort    Frontenac.      General    Forbes.      Fort 


169 


CONTEXTS. 


I'AOK 


DiKjiiosno,  Fort  Massac.  Barracks  in  New  Orleans.  Rochc- 
morc.  Diaz  Anna.  Helot.  Marigny  de  Mandevillo.  Lahoupe. 
Ticonderoga.  Crown  Point,  Niagara  and  Quebec  taken.  Charles 
III.  (ieorge  III.  Attakapas,  {)[)el()usas  and  Avoyelles.  Depre- 
ciat(Ml  i)ai)er.  Unsuccessful  negotiation  between  (ireat  Britain 
and  France.  The  family  conii)act.  ^fartinico,  St.  Lucie,  Grenada 
and  Havana  taken.  Treaty  between  France  and  Si)ain.  Peace 
of  Paris 171) 


rAPTER    XIV^ ^ 

Treaty  of  Paris.  Eaht  and  A\'est  Florida,  flovernor  Johnson.  Pen-  — — 
sacola.  Mc  jilc  and  Fort  Toulouse.  Indian  allies  of  the  French. 
D'Abadie.  Major  Loftus.  Baton  Rouge.  Natchez.  Feliciana. 
jNIanshac.  Petit  Afanshac.  The  king's  letter,  (consternation  of 
the  colonists.  General  meeting.  Public  seciu'ities.  Jean 
Milhet.  Sugar  planters.  Dissensions  in  the  British  provinces. 
Aubry.  Pirates  in  the  West  India  seas.  JMadamc  Desnoyers. 
Ulloa.  Introduction  of  African  negroes.  Census.  Fort  Bute. 
A  Peruvian  lady,  Spanish  troops.  New  forts.  Great  cold. 
General  meeting.  Petition  to  the  council.  Thoughts  of  resis- 
tance. Aid  asked  ffoni  Governor  Elliot.  Decree  of  the  council. 
Ulloa  embarks.  The  cables  of  the  ship  he  was  in  cut.  General 
meeting.  A  deputation  to  France.  Spanish  troops  destined  for 
Louisiana  arrive  .at  the  Havana.  Urissa.  Ill  success  of  the 
deputation.  Edict  relating  to  paper  securities.  Alternate  hopes 
and  fears.  A  Spanish  fleet  arrives  at  the  Balizc.  O'Reilly's 
message.  Town  meeting.  A  deputation  is  sent.  The  fears  of 
the  inhabitants  subside.  The  Spanish  fleet  reaches  New  Orleans. 
O'Reilly  lands  and  takes  possession 19o 

CHAPTER    XV. 

Commission  and  powers  of  O'Reilly,  His  assessors.  Census  of 
New  Orleans.  Arrest  of  Foucaultand  others.  Death  of  Villere. 
Proceedings  against  the  prisoners ;  their  pleas,  sentence  and 
execution.  The  superior  council  abolished.  A  cabildo  established. 
The  Spanish  laws  substituted  to  the  French.  Regidors.  Alcades. 
Attorney-general  syndic  and  clerk.  Alferez  Real.  Principal  pro- 
vincial Alcade.  Alguazil  mayor.  Depository  General.  Receiver  of 
fines.  Regiment  of  Louisiana.  Dearth  of  provisions.  Oliver  Pol- 
lock. Don  Louis  de  Ij^nzaga.  CJovernor.  Commandants.  O'Reilly 
visits  the  (!crman  and  Acadian  coasts.  Iberville  and  Pointe 
Coujic'c.  Bobc  Descloscaux.  French  i)aper  money.  Ordinances 
for  the  grant  of  land  and  police  regulations.      Slavery  of  Indians, 


TACIK 


XI 

l'A<iK 


OC'llC- 

oupe. 
liarles 
)epre- 
;ritiuu 
•on  lid  11 
Tcace 


CONTENTS. 

Black  Code.  DonCocilioOdoardo.  Ecclesiastical  arrangonicnt. 
Hospital.  Nuns.  Revenue  of  New  Orleans.  Departure  of 
O'Reilly.     Massacre  in  Boston 205 

CHAPTER    XVI. 

Buecarell3\  Doucet  and  his  companions  released.  Commerce  of 
New  Orleans.  Royal  Schedule.  Marcjuis  de  la  Torre.  Hurricane. 
Spanish  language.  Bishopric;  of  (!ul>a.  Bobe  Descloseaux. 
Daniel  Boone.  Tea  destruyed  in  Boston.  Fagot  de  la  Gariniere. 
(Jrant  of  lands.      Creeks  and  Chiekasaws.      First  Congress  in 

Philadelphui.       Parliamentary     proceedings.       (Jeneral    Ciage. 

(leneral  Lynum.  Battles  of  Lexington  and  Bunker  Hill.  Inva- 
sion of  Canada.  Olivier  de  Vezin.  La  Barre  de  la  Cestiero. 
Don  Bernard  de  (Jalvez.  Un/aga  promoted.  The  British  land 
on  Long  Island.  Battle  of  Brooklyn.  Washington  evacuates 
New  York  and  crosses  the  Hudson.     Attack  at  Trenton 216 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
Don  Bernard  de  Galvcz.  Don  Diego  J.  Navarro.  Commercial  regula- 
tions. Captain  Willing.  Counties  of  Illinois  and  Washington. 
Battles  of  Princeton  and  Brandywine.  Philadelphia  taken. 
Battle  of  Germantown.  Surrender  of  Burgoyne.  Migrations  from 
the  Canary  islands.  Royal  Schedule.  Vincennes  taken.  French 
treaty.  Philadelphia  evacuated.  Savannah  taken.  Don  Diego 
D.  del  Postigo.  Migration  from  Malaga.  War  between 
Great  Britain,  France  and  Spain.  Galvez's  success  at  Mansliae. 
Baton  Rouge  and  Natchez.  Hurricane.  First  settlement  on 
Cumberland  river.  Mobile  taken.  Attack  on  St.  Louis.  Charles- 
ton taken.     Don  Juan  M.  de  Cagiga.     Siege  of  Pensacola 222 

CHAPTER    XVIIL 

The  garrison  driven  out  of  Fort  Panmure.  Distress  of  the  inhal)it- 
ants.  Hurricane.  Excessive  flood.  Battle  of  Guilford.  Sur- 
render of  the  liritish  army  at  York.  Galvez's  promotion. 
Father  Cyrillo.  Don  Estcvan  Miro.  C'ommercial  regulations. 
Preliminary  articles.     Don  Joseph  de  Kspeleta.     Treaty  of  peace.  233 

CHAPTER    XIX. 

Galvez's  promotion.  Lepers.  Tnzaga's  r;!sidence.  Census.  Colo- 
nial expenditures.  A  commissary  of  the  holy  office.  Acadians. 
Commerce.  Bando  de  buen  gobierno.  Don  Pedro  Piernas, 
Kentucky.  Irish  priests.  Don  Diego  de  Guardocjui.  Trade  with 
the  western  part  of  the  United  States.  General  Wilkinson. 
Trade  with  Philadelphia.  Northwestern  territory  of  the  United 
States 239 


xn 


CONTENTS, 


tfxnu 


CHAPTER    XX. 

Confla<];ration.  Permission  given  to  Wilkinson  to  trade.  Emi- 
grants. Census.  Navarro's  departure.  Ilis  ideas  in  regard  to  tlie 
l)eoj)le  of  Kentueky.  Tlieir  plans.  Ciiarles  IV.  Wilkinson. 
Encouragement  to  migration.  Irish  emigrants.  Federal  consti- 
tution of  the  United  States.  Washington.  Nootka  Sound. 
Negotiations  at  Madrid.  Southwestern  territory.  Don  Francisco 
de  Bouligny.  Don  Nicholas  ^laria  Vidal.  Indian  affairs.  Insur- 
rection in  Hispaniola.     State  of  Vermont 250 

CHAPTER    XXI. 

The  Baron  de  Carondclet.  Baudo  <Jc  hvcn  r/nhicnio.  Regulations  as 
to  slaves.  (Jen.  Wayne.  (Juinea  trade.  Louis  XVI.  War 
against  France.  Fortifications.  Militia.  New  commercial 
regulations.  Don  Francisco  de  Rendon.  Bishopric  of  Louisiana. 
Don  Louis  de  Penalvert.  (ienet's  meditated  expedition  against 
Louisiana.  The  Floridas.  Monltvitr  de  la  Loiiixianc.  Canal 
Carondclet.  Manufacture  of  sugar  resumed.  Conflagration. 
Negro  plot  at  Pointe  Coui)ee.  Police  regulations.  Extensive 
grants.  The  INFarquis  de  Maisonrouge.  Gayoso  sent  to  confer 
wItlrKetiitUiky4)atriots.     Treat\  of  San  Lorenzo 2'u 

CHAPTERr~XXIL_ 

Treaty  between  Spain  and  the  United  States.     The  Count 

Clara.  The  Baron  de  Bastrop.  Lighting  of  the  city.  Power's 
mission  to  Kentucky.  Clark  and  Lachaisc's  expeditions.  Royal 
audience  at  Puerto  del  Prineipe.  NeAV  Regidors.  Ellicot,  Lieu- 
tenant M'Leary.  The  Baron  seeks  to  delay  the  evacuation  of 
the  Spanish  posts.  Lieutenant  Pope.  Power's  second  mission. 
His  instructions.  The  Baron  reinforces  the  garrisons  of  Fort 
Panmure  and  Walnut  Hill.  Commotion  at  Natchez.  Gayoso 
retires  into  the  fort.  His  proclamation.  General  meeting  of  the 
people.  Conniiittee  of  safety.  Their  propositions  are  approved 
by  Gayoso.  The  Baron  accedes  to  them.  His  departure.  State 
of  Tennet?see.    John  Adams 207 

CHAPTER    XXin. 

Don  flannel  Gayoso  de  Lemos.  Don  (Jarlos  de  Grandpre,  Power's 
report.  General  Collet.  Instructions  to  commandants.  The 
French  princess.  Ca})tain  Guio:)  brings  a  reinforcement  to 
Natchez.  Line  of  demarcation,  ^fississipp'  territory.  Georgia 
claim.  Schedule  for  the  disi)osal  of  vacant  land.  Deposit  sus- 
pended. Arrangement  as  to  deposit.  Land  regulations.  Death 
of    Gayoso.     The   Mari^uis   de   Casa  Calvo.     Upper  Louisiana. 


CONTENTS. 


I'AOB 


XIU 

I*AUB 


Emi- 

to  tlio 

msun. 

■onsti- 

<ound. 

ncisco 

Insur- 


250 


ions  as 
War 
nicrcial 
lisiaua. 
against 
(Janal 
t^ration. 
xtensive 
o  confer 


Power's 
Royal 
Lieu- 
liation  of 
I  mission, 
of  Fort 
Gayoso 
|ng  of  the 
Improved 
State 


2G7 


Power's 
Its.     The 
tmcnt  to 
Georgia 
losit  sus- 
Death 
Louisiana. 


Don  Ramon  de  TiOjJcz.  Warlike  measures  of  the  United  States. 
Vacant  land.  Division  of  the  northwestern  territory.  Deposit 
restored.  Louisiana  ceded  to  Spain.  Grant  of  land  to  the  city. 
Thomas  Jeflerson.  Treaty  between  the  United  States  and 
France 274 

CHAPTER    XXIV. 

Don  Juan  M.  de  Salccdo.  Treaties  with  the  Chickasaws  and  Choc- 
taws.  Don  Carlos  dc  Jaen.  Royal  schedule.  The  land  office 
shut.  The  deposit  disallowed.  The  State  of  Ohio.  The  deposit 
partially  restored.  Form  of  government.  Laussat.  His  proc- 
lamation. Address  of  tlie  inhabitants.  The  Marcjuis  de  Casa 
Calvo.  Commissioners'  proclamation.  Cession  of  Louisiana  to 
the  United  States.  Possession  delivered  to  the  conmiissioner  of 
France.  His  j)roclamation.  Municipal  body.  Claiborne  and 
Wilkinson  receive  possession  for  the  United  States 287 

CHAPTER    XXV. 

A  view  of  the  province  at  the  cession.  Boundaries.  Civil  division. 
Land.  Population.  Indians.  Officers.  Clergy.  Paper  securities. 
Taxes.     Duties.    Expenditures.    Imports.    Exports.    Shipping.  298 

CHAPTER    XXVI. 

^]^aiborne's  first  proclamation.  Superintendent  of  the  revenue, 
^lourtnjf-pleas, — Comnivmication  from  the  Spanish  minister. 
Spanish  convention.  FirsHerritofiirir:for«v©fLgQxernment.  Col- 
lection and  navigation  laws.  Proclamation  of  pardon  to^leserlers 
Departure  of  Laussat  and  W^ilkinson.  Dissatisfaction  of  the 
inhabitants.  General  meeting.  Memorial  to  Congress.  A 
deputation  chosen  to  carry  it.  Bank  of  Louisiana.  Military 
associations.  Expedition  to  the  Pacitic  Ocean.  Insurrection  at 
Bayou  Sara.  The  new  government  put  into  operation.  First 
session  of  the  legislative  council.  Exploring  parties  to  the 
Washita  and  Red  /ivers.  Bishop  of  Montelrey.  Second  form  of 
territorial  government.  Amendments  proposed  by  the  deputation. 
Land  laws.  Office  of  discount  and  deposit  of  the  Bank  of  the 
United  Stntes.  Second  session  of  the  legislative  council.  Ex- 
ploring party  to  the  sources  of  the  Mississippi,  ('aptain  Lewis 
ronclies  the  Pacific  Ocean.  The  Marquis  de  Casa  Calvo  and  the 
remaining  Spanish  troops  leave  Xew  Orleans.  Pope's  bull.  The 
Kenipers  seized  at  Pinckneyville  and  liberated  near  Point  Coup'^e.  318 


_^(ifc^--<5?«V.„ 


I 


XIV 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

New  form  of  govcrninont.  Oflicere.  Meeting  of  the  liouso  of  ropro- 
sentatives.  Bishoj)  of  Baltimore.  Vicar  (Jeneral,  Ueturnoftho 
Marquis  of  Casa  Calvo.  Encroachment  of  the  Spaniards  in  tlio 
Ave8t.  Major  Porter.  Don  Simon  do  Oordero.  Dun  Antonio  do 
Herrera.  First  territorial  legislature  under  the  new  government. 
Secretary  of  war's  orders  to  Wilkinson.  Pike's  exijcdition  up  the 
Missouri.  Claiborne  goes  to  Natchitoehes.  His  communication 
to  Herrera.  Cushing  sent  to  Natchitoches.  Wilkinson  arrives 
there.  His  communication  to  Cordero.  First  rumors  of  liurr's 
movements.  Wilkinson  marches  towards  the  Sabine.  The 
President  sends  a  confidential  agent  to  the  western  states.  Proc- 
lamation. Wilkinson  enters  into  arrangement  with  Cordero  and 
Herrera,  and  sends  the  troops  to  New  Orleans.  He  proceeds  to 
Natchez.  Burling  sent  to  Mexico.  Wilkinson  goes  down  to  New 
Orleans.  He  fortifies  that  city.  Sends  an  ofiicer  to  Jamaica. 
Meeting  of  the  merchants.  Arrest  of  Bolman,  Swartwout  and 
Ogden.  Writs  of  hal)eas  corpus.  The  prisoners  shii)ped  to  the 
United  States.  Judge  Workman.  Second  session  of  the  legis- 
lature. Arrest  of  Adair,  Workman,  Kerr  and  Bradford.  Burr 
arrested  at  Natchez,  is  bound  over,  escapes,  and  is  retaken. 
Burling  returns  from  Mexico,  and  Swann  from  Jamaica 

CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

Court  of  inquiry  on  Wilkinson's  conduct.  Clark's  statement.  Legis- 
lature. Civil  Code.  Hostile  appearances.  Trooi)S  ordered  to 
New  Orleans.  Wilkinson  sent  to  command  them,  (.'anal  Caron- 
delet.  James  Madison.  Great  migration  from  Cul^a.  Camp  at 
Terre-Aux-BcBufs.  Siokness  among  the  troops.  Their  removal 
to  the  Mississippi  territory.  Terrible  mortality.  Clark's  pamphlet. 
"Wilkinson  ordered  to  W^ashington  City.  Hampton  takes  the 
command.  Legislature.  Claiborne's  departure.  Robertson, 
The  Spanish  garrison  driven  from  Baton  Rouge.  Skipwith. 
Proclamation  of  the  President  of  the  United  States.  Claiborne's 
return.  He  takes  pcssession  of  St.  Francisville  and  Baton 
Rouge.  Parishes  of  Feliciana,  East  Baton  Rouge,  St.  Helena 
~aiid~Bt.JVimmany.  Insurrection  among  the  negroes.  Legislature. 
The  inhabitants  of  the  territory  authorized  to  form  a  State 
Constitution 

CHAPTER    XXIX. 

First  steamboat  on  the  Mississippi.  Apostolic  administrator. 
Wilkinson's  acquittal.  Louisiana  admitted  into  the  Union. 
Conditions.    Extension   of  limits.     Proclamation  of   the  presi- 


I'AI.K 


320 


344 


^'^^     ':^,^ 


^,. 


*";&£ 


COXTKNTS. 


XV 


pro- 

thc 

tlio 
o  do 
lent. 
)  tho 
ition 
rivort 

Tho 
Proc- 

0  and 
ds  to 
)  New 
uaica. 
t  and 
to  the 

1  legis- 

Burr 
itakcn. 


320 


LcgiH- 
>red  to 
Jaron- 
[vnip  at 
jnioval 
iiphlet. 
les  the 

jrtson. 

[pwith. 

H)rne's 

Baton 
[elena 

llature. 
State 


:J44 


Hrator. 

Union. 

presi- 


dent of  tlie  convention,  ordering  elections,  nnder  the  autliority  of 
the  State.  War  tleclared  against  (treat  liritain.  Wilkinson . 
assumes  tiie  coTuniand  of  the  Seventh  Military  District.  First 
session  of  the  first  Stati;  l(!gislature.  (loveruor  Claihorne.  The 
extension  of  limits  assented  to.  Hurricane.  Second  session  of 
the  legislature.  Judicial  system.  Congress  directs  possession 
to  l)e  taken  of  the  territorv  west  of  the  llio  I'erdido.  Wilkinson 
drives  the  Spanish  garrison  from  Fort  Charlotte,  at  Mohile.  Ho 
is  ordered  to  the  northern  frontier  of  the  United  States,  and  is 
fsuceecded  hy  General  Flournoy.  Attack  of  Fort  Mimms.  The 
Creeks  chastised  at  Tallusatche  and  other  i)lacc."..  Emhargo. 
One  thousand  militia  of  Louisiana  called  into  the  service  of  the 
Ignited  States.  Third  sesssion  of  the  legislature.  The  Indians 
further  chastised.  A  further  re(iuisition  of  the  Militia.  Peace 
with  the  Creeks.  Brig  Orpheus.  Colonel  Nichols.  His  procla- 
mation. He  attem])ts  to  secure  the  assistance  of  tho  Barataria 
people.  Attack  on  Fort  Bowyer.  The  Barataria  poojde  dispersed. 
Committee  of  defense  in  New  Orleans.  Jacksoi\  marches  to 
Pensacola,  and  compels  the  Governor  to  receive  garrisons  of  his 
army  in  the  forts 354 

CPIAPTER    XXX. 

First  session  of  tho  second  legislature.  Jackson  arrives  at  New 
Orleans.  British  fleet  off  Pensocola.  Capture  of  the  llotilla  on 
Lake  Borgne.  Barataria  men  join  the  army.  Proceedings  of  the 
legislature.  Generals  Coffee  and  Carroll.  Major  Hinds. 
Emhargo.     Affair  of  the  twenty-third  of  Decemher 364 

CHAPTEPv    XXXI. 

Jackson  estahlishes  a  line  of  defense.  Morgan  crosses  the  river  with 
his  detachment.  Destruction  of  the  Carolina.  Action  of  the  28th 
of  Decemher.  The  legislature  prevented  sitting.  Affair  of  New 
Year's  day.  Both  armies  reinforced.  Battle  of  the  8th  of  January. 
British  operations  on  the  right  hank  of  the  ^lississippi.  Suspen- 
sion of  hostilities.  Armistice.  Bombardment  of  Fort  St.  Phillip. 
Retreat  of  the  British  army 376 

CHAPTER    XXXII. 

The  legislature  adjourns.  Fort  Bowyer  taken.  First  intelligence  of 
])eace.  Jackson's  proclamation.  Confirmation  o'f  the  intelligence. 
French  subjects  demand  their  discharge  from  military  service. 
Apply  to  the  consul,  and  are  discharged  on  his  certificate.  The 
consul  and  thoni  ordered  into  the  interior.  They  remain  at 
home.    Louaillier's  publication.     His  arrest.     Writ  of  habeas 


.|^*4«*«^  "s^ 


,<s  ^  ^. 


XVI  CONTENTS. 

corpus  issued  hy  Hall,  who  is  also  arrested.  The  clerk  of  the 
court  brought  to  lieadquartcrs.  A  record  taken  and  withheld 
from  him.  He  avows  his  intention  to  issiu  the  writ  and  is 
threatened.  The  marshal  avows  his  intenti(»n  >  ex(  i-ute  it,  and 
is  threatened.  Intellifjence  of  the  treaty  being  ratiliid.  State 
Militia  discharged.  I'meeedings  against  Hall  and  Louaillior. 
Order  against  the  French  subjects  suspended.  L(;wis  and  Dick 
ordered  to  be  arri'sted.  Orders  against  Lewis  and  Dick  counter- 
manded. Su[»reme  '^'ourt.  Hollander  discharged.  Louaillier 
acquitted.  The  sentence  disapproved.  Hall  sent  out  of  the  city. 
Peace  proclaimed ;>!S8 

CHAPTER    XXXni. 

A  rule  to  show  cause  why  an  attachment  for  lontemjjt  issued  against 
Jackson.  He  shows  cause.  The  rule  is  made  absolute.  He 
declines  answering  interrogatories,  and  is  fined -1U5 

Annals  of  Louisiana 413 

Appendix 459 


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d  Dick 
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against 
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405 

413 

450 


